Donald Trump declared victory on Wednesday, pledging to “heal” the nation as results placed him close to defeating Kamala Harris in a surprising White House comeback. His spirited speech took place even though only Fox News had called the election in his favour, with other major U.S. networks yet to confirm the outcome.
Addressing a crowd of jubilant supporters chanting “USA” at his campaign headquarters in Florida, Trump was joined on stage by his wife Melania and several of his children. “We are going to help our country heal,” the former president said. “It’s a political victory that our country has never seen before.”
As of now, U.S. networks have projected wins for Trump in key states like Pennsylvania, Georgia, and North Carolina, and he holds a lead over Harris in remaining battleground states that have yet to be called.
At Harris’s camp, the mood quickly shifted. Campaign co-chair Cedric Richmond addressed supporters, saying, “You won’t hear from the vice president tonight but you will hear from her tomorrow,” as attendees began to disperse.
Adding to Democratic losses, the Republican Party gained control of the Senate, flipping two seats to overturn the previous Democratic majority.
A Trump victory could send shockwaves worldwide, with U.S. allies in Europe and Asia concerned about a potential revival of his nationalist agenda and his open admiration for leaders like Russia’s Vladimir Putin. Meanwhile, the U.S. dollar and bitcoin surged, and equity markets advanced as investors anticipated a Trump win.
Polls leading up to Election Day suggested a close race between Harris and Trump, who, if inaugurated, would become the oldest and only felon president, and the second in history to serve non-consecutive terms.
Despite facing a November 26 sentencing in a criminal case over hush money payments, and ongoing controversies from his 2020 election denial, Trump’s victory came surprisingly swiftly. At Howard University in Washington, where Harris’s watch party was held, supporters grew anxious as the results turned in Trump’s favour. “I am scared,” said attendee Charlyn Anderson. “I am anxious now. I am leaving, my legs can barely move.”
In stark contrast, celebrations erupted at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida. Elon Musk, a prominent Trump supporter who could lead a government efficiency commission under his administration, posted a photo with Trump, captioned, “Game, set and match.”
The election drew millions of voters, either in person on Election Day or through early ballots, each vote carrying significant weight for the future of the United States and beyond. Voters were faced with choosing between a historic Trump comeback or making Harris the first woman in the world’s most powerful position.
In a troubling display of tensions, dozens of bomb threats disrupted polling stations in Georgia and Pennsylvania. The FBI stated that the threats, traced back to Russia, were ultimately hoaxes but succeeded in causing disruptions.
Harris, aiming to become the second Black and first South Asian U.S. president, had joined the race after Biden’s unexpected withdrawal in July. Throughout her campaign, she condemned Trump as a threat to democracy and opposed Trump-backed abortion bans, while Trump’s own campaign featured promises of mass deportations and an overall tone of “dark rhetoric.”
The election has been closely monitored globally, including in Ukraine and the Middle East, as Trump has signalled plans to reduce aid to Ukraine in its conflict with Russia.
AFP
