In a historic comeback, former president Donald Trump has defeated Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris to become the United States’ 47th president.
After the election turmoil in 2020, it was unclear how long it would take for the results to come in. However, it became evident in the early hours of November 6 that Trump’s third campaign was successful as his numbers improved in red, blue, and key swing states to reach the 270 Electoral College votes required to win.
Several states that voted for Joseph Biden in the 2020 presidential election cast their electoral votes for Trump, including Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Georgia, and likely Arizona. All four of these states previously voted for Trump in the 2016 election. No swing states have been called for Harris.
With 277 electoral votes compared to Harris’ 224, Trump will now be the second former president in United States history to return to office in non-consecutive terms since Grover Cleveland in the 1892 election. Additionally, he is the first convicted felon to be elected president and, at 78, is the oldest person elected as U.S. president.
Additionally, the control of the Senate is in Republican hands again for the first time in four years. At the time of this article, the House of Representatives is still in question, with over 100 races yet to be called.
These results mark the end of one of the most polarizing presidential races in the country. With two assassination attempts against Trump and the last-minute exit of Biden, the election appeared to be a toss-up. By Tuesday night, though, the results of the race already favored Trump.
Once back in the White House, the impact of Trump’s administration will be felt in all aspects of life. From issues surrounding abortion, immigration, the environment, and queer rights, many people are worried about the sanctity of their rights.
Notably, the plans laid out in Project 2025, a set of conservative policy proposals, would irrevocably change the country in unimaginable ways— erasing any progress the U.S. has made in the past century.
Project 2025 was published by The Heritage Foundation in 2023, and includes provisions to lower the corporate tax rate from 21% to 18%, disband the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and to enshrine in federal law that “life begins at conception.” It also seeks to eliminate the independence of the Department of Justice, FBI, Federal Communications Commission, and Federal Trade Commission from the office of the president.
Some key world leaders have already expressed their congratulations to the former president.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed Trump and his wife, Melania Trump, on X: “Congratulations on history’s greatest comeback! Your historic return to the White House offers a new beginning for America and a powerful recommitment to the great alliance between Israel and America.”
The president of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, also took to X: “Congratulations to @realDonaldTrump on his impressive election victory!” He expressed an interest in developing political and economic cooperation with the U.S. in order to “put an end to Russian aggression against Ukraine.”
Vice President Harris is expected to concede in a speech Wednesday night at her alma mater, Howard University. Trump is the first Republican to win the nation’s popular vote since George W. Bush in 2004.
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