How Donald Trump defeated Kamala Harris, became 47th US president
Donald Trump Image source: ABC7 Network
After a tight race, Donald Trump has emerged as the 47th president of the United States, defeating Democrat Kamala Harris.
Trump, 78, made history as both the 45th and now the 47th president, having reached the 270 electoral votes threshold and currently securing 312 electoral votes. The Associated Press reports that Republican Trump is set to return to the White House for a second term after his first from 2017 to 2021.
Wisconsin played a key role in securing Trump’s victory, pushing his total vote count to 277 and surpassing the required 270 electoral votes. Despite ongoing vote counting, the AP reports Trump currently holds 51 percent of the popular vote, while Harris has 47.5 percent.
The former president had earlier claimed victory after projections showed him winning key battleground states like Pennsylvania, North Carolina, and Georgia. Later, the Associated Press called Wisconsin for Trump, and also projected the Republican Party would regain control of the Senate.
According to the Associated Press, immigration, foreign policy, abortion, climate, and the economy were among the top deciding issues in the 2024 U.S. elections.
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Vice President Harris’s defeat, despite leading a historic campaign, is reminiscent of fellow Democrat Hillary Clinton’s loss in 2016. This makes Harris the second female Democratic presidential candidate to be defeated by Trump.
The real estate mogul’s win comes after his refusal to accept his defeat to Biden in 2020, his role in inciting a violent insurrection at the U.S. Capitol, his felony convictions, and surviving two assassination attempts.
As votes continue to be counted, world leaders have congratulated US president-elect. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised Trump on achieving “history’s greatest comeback.”
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning stated that Beijing would “continue to approach China-U.S. relations based on principles of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence, and win-win cooperation.”
Prime Minister Keir Starmer commented, “Congratulations, President-elect Trump, on your historic victory. I look forward to working together in the years ahead. As closest allies, we stand united in defending our shared values of freedom, democracy, and enterprise.”
President Emmanuel Macron posted on X: “Congratulations, President Donald Trump. Ready to work together as we did before—with our convictions, respect, and ambition—to bring more peace and prosperity.”
