In a historic political comeback in US history, Donald Trump has been elected the 47th president of the United States, marking a dramatic return to power that has sent shockwaves across the nation and beyond.
Defeating incumbent Vice President Kamala Harris of the Democratic Party, Trump secured his second term in the White House at the age of 78, making him the oldest person ever elected to the oval office and the first convict to occupy the US presidency.
Source: Associated Press
Trump’s victory represented an unprecedented comeback, especially after his contentious defeat by Joe Biden in 2020 and his role in the January 6 Capitol riot, which led to his second impeachment. Despite four criminal cases against him, including a conviction for 34 felony counts related to hush-money payments to adult film star Stormy Daniels, Trump’s support within the Republican Party—and his dedicated “Make America Great Again” base—remained steadfast. This loyalty propelled him back to the Oval Office in what he described as “the greatest political movement of all time.”
“This is a movement like nobody’s ever seen before,” Trump declared during his victory speech at his election watch party in Palm Beach, Florida. Surrounded by his family, aides, and running mate J.D. Vance, the hard-right senator from Ohio, Trump vowed to usher in what he called a “golden age” for America. “We’re going to help our country heal. We’re going to fix our borders. We’re going to fix everything about our country… I will not rest until we have delivered the strong, safe, and prosperous America that our children deserve.”
His supporters erupted in celebration when Fox News called Pennsylvania for Trump at 1:20 a.m. ET, effectively sealing his victory. Cheers and chants filled the room, with one man shouting, “It’s over!”
The election result will likely trigger alarm in foreign capitals, given Trump’s history of unpredictable leadership and controversial relationships with authoritarian leaders like Vladimir Putin of Russia and Kim Jong-un of North Korea. Harris, who had been campaigning to make history as the first woman, first Black woman, and first South Asian American to become president, warned voters throughout her campaign that Trump posed a serious threat to democracy, even branding him a fascist. Some of Trump’s former White House officials echoed similar concerns.
Nevertheless, American voters chose to set these warnings aside, handing Trump the keys to the White House once more. His win was solidified as he captured key battleground states like North Carolina, Georgia, and Pennsylvania, before clinching victory with Wisconsin’s 10 electoral college votes, pushing his total to 277—well beyond the 270 needed.
While Trump celebrated, Harris’ campaign faced a bitter end. The vice president, who made reproductive rights and personal freedoms a cornerstone of her platform, saw her defeat as a devastating blow for her supporters, echoing the heartbreak of Hillary Clinton’s loss in 2016. Harris, 60, is expected to address her supporters later on Wednesday.
