Washington (AFP) – Donald Trump won a sweeping victory Wednesday in the US presidential election, defeating Kamala Harris to complete an astonishing political comeback that sent shock waves around the world. The polarizing Republican’s triumph, following one of the most hostile campaigns in modern American history, was all the more remarkable given his criminal conviction, a near-miss assassination attempt, and warnings from a former chief of staff that Trump is a “fascist.”
“It’s a political victory that our country has never seen before,” the president-elect told supporters overnight in Florida. Supporters chanted “USA!” as the 78-year-old added that his “magnificent” win would “allow us to make America great again.” World leaders swiftly pledged to work with Trump, led by Israel and Ukraine, where the course of raging conflicts could depend on the new president and his isolationist “America First” policies.
Vice President Harris, who only entered the race in July after the visibly aging President Joe Biden dropped out, ran a centrist campaign that highlighted Trump’s inflammatory messaging and use of racist and sexist tropes. But his apocalyptic warnings about immigration found their mark with voters battered by the post-Covid economy and eager for change after the Biden years. Hispanic and Black Americans were seen as crucial voting blocs for Harris, but exit polls showed they tilted toward Trump in numbers far greater than in 2020.
Opinion polls predicted a nail-bitingly close contest — yet the results came surprisingly fast, including Trump’s flipping of swing states Georgia, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin that Biden won four years ago. Trump captured enough states to secure the 270 Electoral College votes needed to win the presidency. By early Wednesday, the count stood at 277 for him and 224 for Harris, with five states yet to be called. He appeared on track to win the popular vote too — the first time he has done so in three presidential runs. Republicans also seized control of the US Senate — crucial in helping Trump push his agenda through — although many House of Representatives elections remain undecided.
– Change and turmoil –
Trump is the first president in more than a century to win a non-consecutive second term. He is also the only person to be elected as a convicted felon — he will face sentencing in a New York court for fraud on November 26. The brash businessman and former reality TV star is on course to break another record as the oldest-ever sitting president during his four-year term. He will surpass Biden, who steps down in January at 82.
The dollar surged, stocks rallied, and bitcoin struck a record high as news of Trump’s victory emerged. But turmoil likely lies ahead. He has repeatedly suggested he would end the conflict in Ukraine by pressuring Kyiv to cede land to Russia, and his threat of mass deportations of undocumented immigrants has stirred concern in Latin America. He also returns to the White House as a climate change denier, poised to dismantle his predecessor’s green policies and jeopardize global efforts to curb human-caused warming.
Among foreign leaders rushing to send congratulations were his allies, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Also messaging Trump was Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who is predicted to see a rapid reduction in US military aid once Biden exits. Zelensky said he hoped Trump would help his country find a “just peace.” The Kremlin said Russian President Vladimir Putin, on whom Trump has often lavished praise, did not plan to congratulate him.
– Showman’s instinct –
For all his dark promises of revenge against enemies, Trump remains famously unpredictable. His campaign rallies, filled with grievance, insults, and misinformation, featured extreme rhetoric. But he earned viral online moments that played on his everyman appeal and showman’s instinct — like his appearance at a McDonald’s drive-thru and impromptu news conference from a garbage truck. Star supporters like tech baron Elon Musk also helped him appeal to young men.
Trump campaigned on tax cuts, less regulation, and sky-high import tariffs to promote growth and boost manufacturing, despite warnings of trade wars and higher prices for consumers. His victory was spurred by post-pandemic inflation that pushed up consumer prices by more than 20 percent, and he now stands to reap the benefits of an economy in good shape. Trump often lurched into foul language and violent imagery. But that hard-charging style drew in many voters who still see him as a Washington outsider.
Harris’s message of unity, focus on abortion rights, and warnings of Trump’s threat to democracy left her short of what would have been a historic win as America’s first woman president.
© 2024 AFP
