Donald Trump secures historic comeback victory in U.S. presidential election
Donald Trump has achieved a historic victory in the U.S. presidential election, securing a significant political comeback.
The Republican comfortably defeated Democrat Kamala Harris, despite polls predicting a tight race. Trump is now set to become the first former president to return to the White House in more than 130 years.
Addressing supporters at a rally in West Palm Beach, Florida, on Wednesday morning, Trump promised to usher in “a new golden age for America,” declaring, “This is a magnificent victory for the American people that will allow us to make America great again.”
Accompanied by his family and vice-presidential pick, JD Vance, he reiterated his commitment to delivering a prosperous era for the country.
In addition to Trump’s victory, the Republican Party is projected to gain control of the Senate, a development that could ease the path for his administration to implement key policies.
Billionaire Elon Musk, a major donor and supporter, was at Trump’s side as results came in, posting optimistic messages throughout the night on X, the social media platform he owns.
At age 78, Trump swept critical battleground states, with CBS projecting victories in Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Georgia, and North Carolina.
He is also on track to win the overall national popular vote, an achievement he fell short of in his 2016 election.
Final certified results will take several days, but CBS reports that Trump holds leads in the Rust Belt states of Pennsylvania and Michigan, as well as a strong position in Sun Belt states such as Nevada.
In contrast, Harris was expected to address supporters at her alma mater, Howard University, in Washington, D.C., but her campaign later confirmed she would not appear.
Crowds quickly dispersed, and Harris has yet to make a public statement on the election outcome. Exit polls indicated she received support from 54% of female voters, a slight decline from the 57% who backed Joe Biden in 2020.
According to Associated Press data, Harris also saw somewhat lower support from Black and Latino voters than Biden had four years earlier.
With Republicans securing Senate control, Trump’s agenda—including proposed mass deportations of illegal migrants and sweeping tax cuts—may find smoother passage through Congress.
The House remains closely contested, though Republicans currently hold a slight edge.
During one of the most turbulent campaigns in recent history, about 86 million voters cast ballots early.
Harris became the Democratic candidate in July after Joe Biden withdrew under party pressure, leaving her to campaign for policies such as expanded abortion rights.
However, Trump’s decisive win in several battleground states has thwarted her presidential aspirations.
Trump’s win is a significant reversal in fortune. After leaving office in 2021 with low approval ratings and the Capitol riot casting a shadow over his tenure, he faced impeachment and a subsequent criminal conviction on 34 counts of falsifying business records.
Yet, he launched his comeback in November 2022, sweeping the Republican primaries to reclaim the party’s nomination.
At his victory rally, Trump hinted at potential cabinet picks, suggesting that Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a former Democrat and noted vaccine skeptic, may take a leading role in healthcare.
“He’s here to help make America healthy again,” Trump stated, adding that Kennedy has “some things he wants to do, and we’re going to let him go to it.”
While law enforcement agencies nationwide were on alert for potential violence, election day remained mostly peaceful.
However, CBS reported around 30 bomb hoaxes targeting election-related sites, with more than half occurring in Georgia.
Both campaigns have deployed teams of lawyers, preparing for any potential legal challenges.
As the transition team gears up to meet in West Palm Beach, the nation’s attention is expected to shift toward the formation of Trump’s new cabinet and the direction his administration will take in the coming years.
Source-BBC
