Bigger And Stronger: Trump Returns Like Never Before As America Moves To The Right

Washington DC: In a stunning political comeback, Donald Trump has made a historic return to the White House, defeating Kamala Harris in US elections 2024. Trump will become only the second US president to serve non-consecutive terms, following in the footsteps of Grover Cleveland, who last achieved this rare feat 132 years ago. For the unversed, Cleveland served as the 22nd and 24th President of the United States, holding office from 1885 to 1889 and again from 1893 to 1897. At 78, Trump is set to make history as the oldest president to serve a full term, surpassing Joe Biden , who will step down in January at the age of 82.    

US Media projections showed that the former President has secured a thumping win in 24 states, including major wins in Texas, Ohio, and key battlegrounds like Georgia and North Carolina, along with several traditionally Republican states. His arch-rival, Vice President Kamala Harris , on the other hand, claimed 15 states, including high-electoral vote states such as California and New York, as well as the capital, Washington, DC.

Reports showed the Republican candidate has broken his 2020 records in several states. A Politico analysis revealed that Trump has improved his performance in 92% of these regions. His biggest gains were seen in Florida, while he also made strides in traditionally Democratic areas.

Notably, Trump improved in the blue suburbs of northern Virginia, such as Loudoun and Prince William counties, which had shifted away from him between 2016 and 2020.

What Worked For Trump?

Widespread Anti-Incumbency Sentiment: A big factor driving Trump’s path to victory is the strong anti-incumbency mood sweeping across the United States. According to an ABC/Ipsos poll, 74% of voters believe the country was heading in the wrong direction—a clear sign that the party in power was typically at risk of losing the White House. Historically, such sentiments have been a reliable indicator of political shifts since 1980.

Rural Voter Support: Trump's strength in rural areas has always been a key part of his base. What is particularly notable this time is his ability to not only maintain but expand his support in these regions. In rural counties like those in Pennsylvania, Trump boosted voter turnout and increased his margin of support in traditionally Republican areas. For instance, Lackawanna County, Biden’s hometown of Scranton, saw a 5.6-point shift toward Trump from 2020, despite Harris maintaining a narrow lead in the county, according to Vox.

Immigration Issues: Trump’s firm stance on immigration, particularly his focus on illegal immigration as a threat to public safety, also played a vital role in his campaign. He criticized President Biden’s handling of the southern border crisis and directed blame at Kamala Harris , calling her the "border czar" and accusing her of mismanagement.

Musk's Support: Last but not least, Tesla boss Elon Musk emerged as an influential ally in Donald Trump 's recent campaign efforts, making a big impact through both financial support and social media influence. Musk contributed over $119 million to Trump’s America PAC, reinforcing the campaign's financial muscle as it geared up for election battles. Beyond monetary support, Musk has frequently used his influential online platform to amplify pro-Trump content, reaching his vast follower base and helping shape narratives that resonate with Trump's supporters.   

'Golden Age Of America'

Earlier in the day, Trump addressed his supporters at West Palm Beach in Florida, declaring victory and promising a "golden age of America". "This will be the golden age of America. America has given us an unprecedented and powerful mandate," Trump declared with his family by his side amid cheers of his jubilant supporters.

"This is a magnificent victory for the American people. This was a movement like nobody's ever seen before, and frankly, this was, I believe, the greatest political movement of all time. There's never been anything like this in this country, and maybe beyond. And now it's going to reach a new level of importance because we're going to help our country heal. We'll help our country...we have a country that needs help, and it needs help very badly," he said.

"We are going to fix our borders. We are going to fix everything about our country. And we made history for a reason tonight, and the reason is going to be just that we overcame obstacles that nobody thought possible, and it is now clear that we've achieved the most incredible political thing." Trump also promised to usher in a "golden" period in the US.

"I want to thank the American people for the extraordinary honour of being elected your 47th president and your 45th president," he said. "I will fight for you, for your family and your future." "Every single day, I will be fighting for you and with every breath in my body, I will not rest until we have delivered the strong, safe and prosperous America that our children deserve and that you deserve. This will truly be the golden age of America," he added.

Counting Still Underway

Meanwhile, Counting of votes is still underway in some other battleground states of Arizona, Michigan and Nevada.The 78-year-old Republican leader cleared the 270 electoral votes needed to clinch the presidency by securing a victory in the key battleground state of Wisconsin.  According to races called by the Associated Press up to 4 pm (IST), 277 electoral votes had gone to Republican candidate Trump and 224 to Democratic Party's Harris.