Florida — Donald Trump has made a historic return to the White House, winning the Tuesday election and reclaiming the presidency after four years out of office.
Trump’s victory signals a shift in American leadership, likely to test democratic institutions at home and strain relations abroad.
The 78-year-old former president surpassed the critical 270 Electoral College votes early on Wednesday, securing 279 votes to Kamala Harris’s 223, with several states yet to report final counts.
Trump’s decisive win in the swing state of Wisconsin helped him cross the threshold. As of 5:45 a.m. ET (1045 GMT), Trump led Harris by about five million votes in the popular count.
“America has given us an unprecedented and powerful mandate,” Trump announced to an energized crowd at the Palm Beach County Convention Center in Florida, marking a stunning comeback for a leader once widely seen as politically finished after the January 6, 2021 Capitol riot. Trump had faced intense criticism following the riot, during which his supporters attempted to overturn his 2020 election defeat based on his unproven claims of widespread voter fraud.
However, he ultimately defeated challengers within his Republican Party and emerged as the nominee, capitalizing on voter concerns about inflation and what he frequently described as rising crime due to illegal immigration.
Trump’s renewed focus on immigration has long been a controversial aspect of his platform.
Known for his hardline stance, Trump has often connected immigration with crime, drawing criticism for racial and xenophobic overtones in his rhetoric.
During his first term, he implemented policies such as the travel ban on predominantly Muslim countries, the construction of a U.S.-Mexico border wall, and strict asylum restrictions.
He repeatedly used divisive language, which some interpreted as targeting specific racial and ethnic groups, fueling concerns about the impact on America’s immigrant communities.
Trump’s victory has implications far beyond U.S. borders, especially as his policies on immigration and race have the potential to shape global views.
His leadership could intensify xenophobic sentiments worldwide, particularly in nations grappling with their own immigration issues.
For instance, in South Africa, where anti-immigrant sentiment has led to violence in recent years, Trump’s return to power may embolden groups advocating for stricter immigration control.
His past rhetoric has often reinforced the idea of immigrants as threats to national security or economic stability, which could further fuel xenophobic attitudes and worsen racial divides, particularly in countries already struggling with these tensions.
Kamala Harris, the Democratic candidate, did not address supporters at her alma mater, Howard University, following her defeat.
Her campaign co-chair, Cedric Richmond, spoke briefly after midnight, stating that Harris would address the nation later on Wednesday. “We still have votes to count,” Richmond said, acknowledging the yet-to-be-finalized counts in several states.
Alongside the presidential race, Republicans secured a majority in the U.S. Senate, while the battle for control of the House of Representatives remains closely contested.
Although Republicans currently hold a narrow majority, neither party appears to have a clear advantage as results continue to come in.
Trump’s return to the White House has sparked renewed discussions about the future of American democracy, the role of race in politics, and the global rise of populist leaders challenging the liberal democratic order.
His victory could reshape international perspectives on the United States’ stance on diversity and inclusivity, while potentially encouraging similar nationalist and anti-immigrant rhetoric across the globe.