Donald Trump was elected the 47th president of the United States early Wednesday, achieving his goal of upending the country’s political norms after his loss to President Joe Biden four years prior.
Trump’s victory over Vice President Kamala Harris concluded a campaign marked by high drama, including felony convictions and two assassination attempts. His win became official just after 5:30 a.m. (EDT), when he crossed the 270-electoral-vote threshold, securing crucial battleground states including Georgia, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin.
“This will forever be remembered as the day the American people regained control of their country,” Trump declared to supporters at his campaign headquarters in West Palm Beach, Fla., around 2:30 a.m. Wednesday.
Surrounded by star-spangled banners, Trump took the stage before most networks had called the race, calling the election a “historic realignment” for America and a “massive victory for democracy and for freedom.”
He pledged to deliver a “strong, safe, and prosperous America,” describing the upcoming years as the “golden age of America.” His platform focused on immigration and economic reform, appealing to voters who felt neglected by the political establishment.
Trump promised to secure the Southern border, revive the U.S. manufacturing sector, and adopt an isolationist approach on the global stage. His slogan, “Kamala Broke It. Trump Will Fix It,” highlighted Harris’ role in the Biden administration while positioning himself as the candidate of change.
Despite a high turnout of 137 million voters, it was a challenging night for Democrats. Trump reclaimed Pennsylvania, Georgia, and Wisconsin – all Democratic wins in 2020 – by comfortable margins. He held onto Michigan and North Carolina, while Republicans took control of the Senate after key victories by Tim Sheehy in Montana, Deb Fischer in Nebraska, Bernie Moreno in Ohio, and Jim Justice in West Virginia. The House remained undecided as vote counting continued, though Republicans hoped to maintain their majority.
Vice President Harris’s campaign staff had expressed cautious optimism Tuesday night, but by Wednesday, it was clear Democrats faced a disappointing outcome. The loss marked the second time in eight years that a woman at the top of the Democratic ticket failed to secure the presidency.
The reaction to Trump’s win was polarized. Political analysts, rights advocates, and conservative strategists weighed in on the election’s significance. “This is a dark and scary moment for American democracy,” said Stanford University political scientist Hakeem Jefferson on X, noting concerns about the administration’s impact on democratic principles.
Nancy Northup, President of the Center for Reproductive Rights, labelled Trump’s victory a “deadly threat” to reproductive rights and equality, pledging to oppose potential rollbacks on abortion access.
Conservatives, however, celebrated what they saw as a rebuke to elitism and a triumph for everyday Americans. “This is the revenge of the regular working-class American,” said conservative strategist Scott Jennings on CNN. He argued that the results reflected voters’ frustration with inflation and a perceived disconnect from the concerns of the working class.
As Trump prepares to enter his second term, the future of his policies remains a point of debate. But his supporters and critics agree: his presidency will continue to reshape American politics in unprecedented ways.
