Donald Trump is returning to the White House.
The Republican candidate emerged victorious in the presidential election, defeating Democrat Kamala Harris, marking his second term in the nation’s highest office.
“We’ve overcome obstacles that nobody thought possible,” Trump declared at a rally at the Palm Beach Convention Center in Florida, before the election results were officially called.
“Every single day, I will fight for you, and with every breath in my body, I will not rest until we deliver the strong, safe, and prosperous America that our children deserve, and that you deserve. This will truly be the golden age of America,” he said.
Trump has run for the presidency three times in his political career: in 2016, when he defeated Hillary Clinton, in 2020, when he lost to Joe Biden, and now in 2024, when he beat Harris.
Trump's presidency has been marked by significant controversy. He was impeached for his role in inciting the January 6th, 2021, insurrection at the U.S. Capitol and is currently battling dozens of sexual abuse accusations. He is also the first convicted felon to be elected president, having been convicted earlier this year on 34 counts of falsifying business records related to hush money payments to adult film star Stormy Daniels prior to his 2016 election.
Throughout the 2024 campaign, Trump and his vice-presidential running mate, JD Vance, reiterated their “Make America Great Again” platform, focusing on economic development and implementing strict immigration regulations. However, their solutions to these problems have remained largely vague, and they have been significantly noncommittal on other crucial issues such as climate change, gun control, student loan forgiveness, and access to abortion. The latter became a key focus during Trump’s first term after the overturning of Roe v. Wade.
Trump secured his victory by winning key battleground states such as Wisconsin and Pennsylvania, ultimately reaching the 270 electoral votes needed to claim the presidency.
Despite contrasting campaign styles and ideologies, Trump and Harris remained neck and neck for much of the race. Polls released on November 3 showed both candidates receiving 49% support from registered voters, with an Emerson College poll showing Harris with a slight edge of 50% favorability to Trump’s 48%.
Trump will officially take office on January 20.