Donald Trump’s Extraordinary Win, Republican Majority In Senate | Key Takeaways From US Elections

Last Updated:November 06, 2024, 18:08 IST

Trump will become the 47th President of the United States after defeating Kamala Harris in a closely-fought election.

Donald Trump managed to channel voter frustration to defeat Kamala Harris in the election.

In a defining moment in American presidential history, Donald Trump, 78, staged a remarkable political comeback by defeating Vice President Kamala Harris in a much-anticipated election held in the United States on Tuesday (November 5), which is expected to have a wide-ranging impact on the country and the world.

As of 6:00 pm (Indian time), Trump won 276 electoral votes, crossing the ‘magic number’ of 270 votes required to secure a second term in the White House, as compared to Harris’ 223 votes. The Republican leader secured wins in key battleground states like Georgia, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, and was leading in others.

Trump’s victory capped off a tumultuous presidential campaign that began with President Joe Biden’s re-election campaign in July, followed by his exit after a poor debate performance and endorsement of Vice President Harris, to the two attempted assassination attempts on Trump.

US Election 2024 Results Live: Trump Crosses 270 Majority Mark, Set To Become 47th US President

Trump’s election as the next President came at a time of deep polarisation and division among the people over a rising cost-of-living crisis, illegal immigration and global conflicts that fuelled a sense of anger and resentment among voters. He is the first convicted felon and the oldest president to be elected and will inherit a series of challenges.

Key Takeaways From US Election 2024

Voter Frustration Leads To Trump Win

Kamala Harris is the second female rival Trump has defeated in a presidential election. Harris, a late entrant in the election race, had initially galvanised Democrats as many high-profile celebrities and businessmen backed her bid. However, she was unable to convince disillusioned voters that she represented a break from Biden’s unpopular administration in a compressed timeline.

On the other hand, Trump stuck to his usual strategy to channel the frustration of the voters into his victory by highlighting issues of high prices and rising crime due to undocumented migrants entering on Biden’s watch. His harsh tone and language, though shocking several Democrats and Republicans, appeared to have worked in his favour.

ALSO READ: Trump Scripts History, Becomes First US President To Win Non-Consecutive Terms In Over A Century

Swing States Swing Right

The campaign pointed to a nail-bitingly close contest in the swing states of Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nebraska, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. However, Trump managed to flip almost all seven battleground states and has already secured victories in Georgia, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.

In Nebraska, Trump won four electoral votes while Harris managed only one. The Republican candidate is now leading in Arizona, Michigan and Nevada. This is a significant feat as the three major states Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin have a long history of voting for the Democrats before they flipped for Trump in 2016. However, they flipped for Biden again in 2020.

‘A Star Is Born’: How Elon Musk’s X Played A Role In Trump’s Win

During his victory speech in Florida, Trump praised tech billionaire Elon Musk, saying, “We have a new star. A star is born — Elon. He is an amazing guy." These remarks underscored the powerful role Musk’s X platform played in ensuring a second term for the Republican former President, becoming possibly the biggest winner after the election outcome.

Musk fiercely endorsed Trump since the beginning of his campaign and lambasted the Democrats and Harris, saying they would “destroy" the country. The Tesla CEO directly contributed over $119 million to Trump’s America PAC and regularly amplified pro-Trump content through his official handle. Musk is expected to play an influential role in the Trump 2.0 cabinet.

Republicans In US Congress

In a further blow to Democrats, the Republican Party won control of the Senate as United States Senator Deb Fischer secured a re-election in Nebraska. With at least 52 Senate seats secured, Republicans will retake control of the chamber for the first time in four years.

Additionally, the Republican Party is also close to retaking the 435-member US House of Representatives, which will give the party a near-unchecked power in Congress. The Republicans have won 204 seats as compared to the Democrats’ 182 and are inching closer to the 218-mark required for a majority.

Priorities Of Trump 2.0

In his victory speech, Trump promised to fix up the border issue to stop the immigrants and echoed to make America safe, strong and prosperous. “We need to seal those borders and people need to come back legally," he said on Wednesday. He also promised to stop all global conflicts, including the Gaza and Ukraine wars.

Trump’s immediate priority as part of his ‘Make America Great Again’ (MAGA) pitch would be to introduce sweeping new tariffs on imports, remake federal agencies, enforce immigration policy changes and intervene in overseas wars. Meanwhile, Elon Musk, who called the US a “nation of builders", has promised to find $2 trillion in budget cuts should he join the administration as part of a new Department of Government Efficiency, according to Politico.

Washington D.C., United States of America (USA)

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