Donald Trump has clinched a historic return to the White House after winning the 2024 presidential election, a comeback four years after losing the presidency in 2020. Trump, 78, secured victory by surpassing 270 electoral votes with a decisive win in Wisconsin, signaling a new phase in U.S. leadership and likely reigniting debates on democracy and global alliances.
With 279 electoral votes against Kamala Harris' 223, Trump also led in the popular vote by over 5 million. Harris, who entered the race after President Joe Biden withdrew in July, is set to concede in a formal speech at 6 p.m. ET.
"America has given us an unprecedented and powerful mandate," Trump proclaimed to a lively crowd in Florida. His victory followed a campaign marked by dark rhetoric and heightened polarization. Despite low approval ratings, legal challenges, and previous impeachment trials, Trump successfully rallied his core base, promising to restore American jobs, bolster national security, and implement an aggressive immigration crackdown.
World leaders extended their congratulations, with significant reactions from Ukraine and Israel. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy welcomed Trump’s focus on “peace through strength” amid the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, after tensions with the Biden administration, praised Trump’s comeback as “history’s greatest.”
Meanwhile, economists anticipate potential impacts on trade policies, particularly with China, alongside proposed tax cuts that could drive national debt higher. Stock markets responded positively, with a surge in global markets and the U.S. dollar experiencing its largest one-day jump since 2020.
Kamala Harris’ 15-week campaign faced formidable hurdles as she entered the race in July, raising over $1 billion and closing a polling gap. However, concerns about high prices, illegal immigration, and economic issues ultimately bolstered Trump’s appeal to a broader voter base, including Hispanic and low-income communities.
Elon Musk contributed over $100 million to a Trump super PAC, amplifying support through his social media platform, X, while Harris’ campaign worked to rally Democratic voters with endorsements from prominent former Trump administration officials. Despite a concerted effort, Harris fell short, conceding that American democracy faces rising tensions amid deepening divisions.
With his inauguration set for January 20, 2025, Trump has signaled plans to restructure the executive branch, prioritize loyalty, and reform immigration and law enforcement policies. Notably, he has pledged cabinet positions for Elon Musk and former presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. His vice president, Senator JD Vance, will join the administration on Inauguration Day.
Trump’s second term promises to intensify partisan divides on critical issues from education to reproductive rights. As one of only two presidents in history to win a non-consecutive second term, Trump’s approach to governance will shape the country’s trajectory, domestically and internationally, in the years ahead.