In a stunning return to power, Donald Trump has won the U.S. presidential election, defeating Kamala Harris and marking one of the most dramatic political comebacks in American history.
U.S. media announced his victory on Wednesday, an outcome that is likely to resonate globally.
Trump’s win, following a divisive and intense campaign, is particularly notable due to his unprecedented circumstances, including a criminal conviction, an assassination attempt, and a former chief of staff’s warning labelling him as a “fascist.”
Addressing his supporters at a victory event in Florida, Trump said, “It’s a political victory like our country has never seen before.”
Kamala Harris, who launched her campaign in July after Joe Biden’s decision to step aside, focused on highlighting Trump’s polarizing rhetoric and his controversial use of racial and gender-based language.
However, Trump’s populist stance on immigration and advocacy for isolationism seemed to strike a chord with voters seeking change after the Biden administration, especially amid lingering economic concerns post-COVID.
While the race initially appeared set for a close finish, Trump’s victories in swing states like Georgia, North Carolina, and Pennsylvania quickly secured him a decisive lead. He has now become the first U.S. president in over a century to win a non-consecutive second term.
Trump, who will face sentencing later this month on fraud charges, is also the only U.S. president to win office with a criminal conviction.
At 78, he is set to break another record as the oldest sitting president, surpassing Biden, who steps down in January at age 82.
