Donald Trump to become U.S. president again

Donald Trump has secured the presidency once again, defeating Democratic candidate Kamala Harris to become the 47th president of the United States, marking a remarkable political comeback.

At 78, Trump becomes the first individual to win two non-consecutive presidential terms since the 1800s and the first to hold the office as a convicted felon. His victory was confirmed when Wisconsin, with its 10 electoral college votes, was called for Trump early Wednesday morning, pushing him past the 270 electoral votes needed for victory. Trump reclaimed Wisconsin, which he had narrowly lost to Joe Biden in 2020.

This election season, Biden exited the race following a poor performance in a rare June debate, while Trump endured significant challenges, including an assassination attempt. Despite concerns about his age and capacity to govern, Trump will be the oldest president at the time of his inauguration on January 21, 2025.

Along with Wisconsin, Trump also secured key swing states such as Georgia, North Carolina, and Pennsylvania. "It is now clear that we've achieved the most incredible political thing. Look what happened. Isn't this crazy?" Trump told supporters in West Palm Beach, Florida, after the Pennsylvania result. "I want to thank the American people for the extraordinary honor of being elected your 47th president."

Harris, 60, is expected to address the nation later Wednesday. The election result has global implications, with many American voters looking past Trump’s tumultuous first term, which included two impeachments and the January 6 Capitol riot. Trump also faced criminal indictments related to his actions after the 2020 election, as well as a conviction in a New York real estate fraud case, with sentencing scheduled later this month.

Trump’s win is expected to have significant domestic and international repercussions, especially regarding conflicts like the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East, and trade negotiations with America's allies. Canada, in particular, could be hit hard by Trump's proposed 10 percent tariff on all imported goods.

Trump’s message resonated with voters, who were concerned about inflation, immigration, and his "Make America Great Again" agenda. His appeal to religious voters also garnered support, particularly in response to Democratic positions on transgender rights.

Following Trump’s declaration of victory, the U.S. dollar surged and stock futures hit record highs, as investors anticipated lower taxes and higher interest rates. International leaders, including Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, French President Emmanuel Macron, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Turkish President Recep Erdogan, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, offered their congratulations.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, whose 2019 phone call with Trump was central to his first impeachment, also congratulated him, expressing appreciation for Trump's "peace through strength" approach.

In foreign policy, Trump has vowed to alter the U.S.'s relationship with NATO and to potentially negotiate peace talks that could require Ukraine to cede territory. He has also criticized the amount of U.S. aid going to Ukraine, though much of that funding supports U.S. defense companies.

Domestically, inflation was a major concern for about half of Trump’s voters, with many also citing the U.S.-Mexico border situation as a key issue. Exit polls indicated a slight drop in support for Harris among Black and Latino voters compared to Biden’s 2020 results, while gender gaps emerged, with women leaning toward Harris and men favoring Trump.

Trump also pledged significant economic reforms, including tariffs on imports and specific companies, tax cuts, and measures to support industries affected by natural disasters. He promised to reverse much of Biden’s climate change initiatives.

Trump led in the popular vote with over 51 percent, compared to Harris’s 47 percent, although final results in the Democratic-leaning western states could narrow this margin. This marks a significant improvement over Trump’s previous presidential campaigns, where he never surpassed 48 percent of the vote.