Donald Trump has been elected president of the United States of America. He has exceeded the figure of 270 electoral votes, marking an extraordinary return to politics. He has left behind the Democratic candidate, Kamala Harris, by a large margin. Trump will be the 47th president of the USA.
Harris concedes defeat, vows to fight for campaign promises
Democratic candidate Kamala Harris gave a speech after losing the presidential race in the United States of America. She conceded defeat but vowed to fight for the promises she made during the campaign.
Harris called on the Democrats to accept the election result, although he stressed that it was not what they expected.
"My heart is full today. Full of gratitude for the trust you have given me, full of love for our country and full of determination. The result of these elections is not what we wanted, it is not what we fought for, we did not vote, but we will not give up and we will continue to fight", she said.
"Now, I know people are feeling and experiencing a range of emotions. I understand, but we have to accept the results of these elections. I hope that the USA will not enter the dark ages", added the vice president.
She further announced that she spoke for Trump to have a "peaceful transfer of power".
Biden invites Trump to the White House
President Joe Biden called Donald Trump to congratulate him on his victory and invited him to the White House to discuss the transfer of power.
The White House announced that a date "in the near future" will be coordinated for this matter.
Biden will give a speech tomorrow to comment on the election results.
He also called Kamala Harris to congratulate her on the campaign.
In addition to the presidential race, the Republicans have also taken control of the Senate.
Trump towards another historic achievement
Donald Trump has secured his second term as president of the United States of America thanks to the electoral votes. But something else is bringing him a triumph rarely seen among Republicans. Trump is on track to become the first Republican president to win the popular vote in 20 years.
He failed to do this in 2016 when he took office. This had prompted complaints to the Democratic Party that the electoral vote is not democratic and dilutes the popular vote. But the dynamic has changed. The last Republican to win the popular vote was George W. Bush in 2004, when he was elected to a second term.
While the votes have not yet been counted, Trump has a significant difference in the popular vote against the Democratic candidate, Kamala Harris.
According to "Associated Press" reports, Trump has won almost 72 million votes and Harris 67 million. This may change by the end.
The electoral vote is what determines the winner of the election. In the US system there are 538 electoral votes. The one who gets 270 is declared the winner. Each of the 50 states has a certain number of electoral votes in what is called the Electoral College. If a candidate wins a given state's popular vote, he receives all of that state's electoral votes in the College.
Trump agreed with Harris "about the importance of unifying America"
Donald Trump's team has released details of the phone call with Kamala Harris on Wednesday, where the vice president congratulated the Republican candidate on his victory.
"President Donald J. Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris spoke on the phone earlier today, where she congratulated him on his historic victory. President Trump praised Vice President Harris for her strength, professionalism and tenacity throughout the campaign, and both leaders agreed on the importance of unifying America," campaign communications director Steven Cheung said in a statement.
Harris wishes Trump victory
Democratic candidate Kamala Harris called the newly elected president of the United States of America, Donald Trump, to congratulate him on his victory, "AP" reports.
The call discussed the importance of a peaceful transfer of power to Trump before Harris makes his acceptance speech.
Trump's lead deepens
Donald Trump has also won an undecided state, further deepening his lead over Democratic candidate Kamala Harris.
Republican Trump is projected to win Michigan, which has 15 electoral votes.
Trump has already declared victory. So far there are 292 electoral votes to Harris' 224.
A candidate needs 270 electoral votes to become president.
What Trump's victory means for Ukraine, the Middle East and China
Donald Trump's return to the White House will reshape US foreign policy, promising potentially radical changes on multiple fronts as war and insecurity grip parts of the world.
During the campaign, Trump made big political promises, often without specific details, based on the principles of non-interventionism and trade protectionism - or as he puts it "America first".
What will change during his new term, based on the promises in the campaign and the history of how much he was president in the first term 2017-2021.
Russia, Ukraine and NATO
During the campaign, Trump repeatedly said that he could end the war between Russia and Ukraine "within a day." When asked how, he stated that it would happen through an agreement, but refused to give details.
According to a document written by two of Trump's former national security chiefs, it is said that the US will continue supplying arms to Ukraine, but will condition the support on Kiev's entry into peace talks with Russia.
To lure Russia, the West would delay Ukraine's long-sought entry into NATO. The former advisers said Ukraine should not give up hopes of reclaiming all territory from Russian occupation, but should negotiate based on current front lines.
Trump's Democratic opponents, who accuse him of cozying up to Russian President Vladimir Putin, say his approach is capitulation to Ukraine and will endanger all of Europe.
His "America first" approach to ending war also extends to the strategic question of the future of NATO, the "all for one and one for all" transatlantic military alliance created after World War II. initially as a shield against the Soviet Union.
NATO now has 32 members, and Trump has long been skeptical of the alliance.
Whether he would actually withdraw the US from NATO, which would signal the biggest shift in the transatlantic defense relationship in nearly a century, remains up for debate.
Some of Trump's relatives have said the Republican's tough line is a negotiating tactic to get members to meet the alliance's defense spending guidelines (2 percent of gross domestic product).
But the reality is that NATO members are seriously concerned about Trump's victory and what it means for the future of the alliance.
Middle East
As with Ukraine, Trump has promised to bring "peace" to the Middle East - hinting that he would end the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza and the Israel-Hezbollah war in Lebanon - but has not said how.
He has repeatedly said that, had he and not Joe Biden been in power, Hamas would not have attacked Israel because of its "maximum pressure" policy on Iran, which funds the group.
Trump is believed to continue the tough policy towards Iran. In his first term, he pulled the US out of the Iran nuclear deal, imposed sanctions and killed General Qasem Soleimani – Iran's most powerful military commander.
While in the White House, Trump adopted strong pro-Israel policies, naming Jerusalem as Israel's capital and moving the US embassy there from Tel Aviv.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called Trump "the best friend Israel has ever had in the White House."
But critics argue that his policy had a destabilizing effect on the region.
Palestinians boycotted the Trump administration after the decision to make Jerusalem the capital of Israel.
They were further isolated when Trump brokered the so-called "Abraham Accords," which was hailed as a landmark agreement to normalize diplomatic relations between Israel and several Arab and Muslim countries. They did this without requiring Israel to accept an independent Palestinian state - the so-called two-state solution. Earlier, Arab countries made it a condition that Israel recognize Palestine before signing any regional agreement.
Arab countries that signed the agreement with Israel were given access to advanced American weapons in exchange for recognizing Israel.
Trump made several statements during the campaign saying he wants the war in Gaza to end.
He has had a complex, sometimes dysfunctional relationship with Netanyahu, but he certainly has the ability to put pressure on him.
He also has a history of strong relationships with leaders in key Arab countries that have ties to Hamas.
It is unclear how Trump will simultaneously show support for Israel while trying to end the war.
Trump's allies have often portrayed his unpredictability as a diplomatic asset, but in the volatile Middle East, in the midst of a crisis already of historic proportions, it is not clear how that would play out.
Trump will have to decide how — or if — he will move forward with the stalled diplomatic process launched by the Biden administration for a cease-fire in Gaza in exchange for the release of hostages held by Hamas.
China and trade
America's approach to China is the most important strategic area of foreign policy—and the one with the greatest implications for global security and trade.
While in office, Trump labeled China a "strategic competitor" and imposed tariffs on some Chinese imports into the US. This prompted Beijing to retaliate against US imports.
There were attempts to escalate trade disputes, but the COVID-19 pandemic lost that opportunity and relations deteriorated after the former president called Covid the "Chinese virus".
While the Biden administration claimed to take a more responsible approach to China policy — but kept many of the Trump-era tariffs on imports.
Trump has praised Chinese President Xi Jinping as "brilliant" and "dangerous" and a highly effective leader who controls 1.4 billion people with an "iron fist" - part of what opponents characterized as Trump's admiration for "dictators". .
The former president appears set to depart from the Biden administration's approach of building stronger security partnerships with other countries in the region in an effort to contain China.
The US has continued military aid to self-ruled Taiwan, which China views as a breakaway province that will eventually come under Beijing's control.
Trump said in October that if he were to return to the White House, he would not have to use military force to prevent a possible Chinese invasion of Taiwan. It has warned that it would impose crippling tariffs on Chinese imports if Taiwan is invaded.
Reuters: Grenelli may return to Trump administration as national security adviser
Richard Grenell may take the position of national security adviser in the United States of America. He is the main contender under the administration of Donald Trump, who on Wednesday was elected president of the United States with a deep margin of votes over the Democratic candidate, Kamala Harris.
Reuters has reported that Grenell is among Trump's closest advisers on foreign policy matters. During Trump's first four-year term, the 58-year-old served as acting director of national intelligence and as the United States ambassador to Germany.
When Trump met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in September, Grenell stood close to him. Among the positions that Grenell has repeatedly defended has been the creation of an autonomous zone in eastern Ukraine, to end the war, although his position is considered unacceptable by official Kiev.
Grenell was also the US envoy for the Kosovo-Serbia dialogue.
In May 2024, the prestigious American "New York Times" wrote that Grenelli had proposed to Trump to visit the former president of Kosovo, Hashim Thaçi, in The Hague.
When the American court rejected the case of classified documents against Donald Trump, Grenell said that "now it's the turn of Hashim Thaçi".
The Kremlin is waiting to "see" if Trump's victory will help end the war in Ukraine
Russia has reacted after Donald Trump was elected the new president of the USA. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that the US remains "a hostile state and only time will tell if Trump's rhetoric about ending the war in Ukraine will turn into reality". reports "Reuters".
"Let's not forget that we are talking about an unfriendly country, which is involved both directly and indirectly in the war against our state (in Ukraine)," Peskov told reporters.
He said he does not know if Russian President Vladimir Putin plans to congratulate Trump on his victory and that relations with Washington are at an all-time low.
"We have repeatedly said that the US is able to contribute to the end of this conflict. This cannot be done overnight, but...the US is capable of changing its foreign policy trajectory. Will this happen and if so, how...we will see after (the inauguration of the US president in) January," said Peskov.
Russia's Foreign Ministry has said that Moscow "has no illusions about Trump", adding that there is a bipartisan anti-Russian stance among the US ruling elite.
"Russia will work with the new administration when it 'takes place' in the White House, fiercely defending Russian national interests and focusing on achieving all the established objectives of the special military operation (in Ukraine)," it said. said by the Russian Foreign Ministry.
The head of the Russian Sovereign Fund, Kirill Dimitriev, said that Trump's victory "opens up new opportunities for the restoration of relations between Russia and the USA".
What happens to the criminal and civil cases against Trump after the re-election of the president?
Donald Trump has been re-elected US president as a convicted felon awaiting sentencing in the New York hush money case and still working to avoid prosecution in other cases.
It's a remarkably unique position for him: Never before has a defendant been elected to the nation's highest office, just as a former president had never been impeached until last year, CNN reported.
Trump has said several times that he plans to fire the special counsel, Jack Smith, and drop federal cases against him for trying to overturn the 2020 presidential election and mishandling classified documents.
A judge in New York will hand down the former president's sentence later this month, after he postponed it to avoid any influence on the outcome of the presidential race. However, Trump's lawyers are expected to ask the judge to postpone the sentence again now that he is president-elect.
Trump has pleaded not guilty to all charges.
Trump is scheduled to appear in court in New York on November 26 to be sentenced on 34 counts of falsifying business records to illegally influence the 2016 presidential election through hush payments to a porn actress who had said that he had sexual intercourse with her.
It is not yet known whether the sentencing hearing will be held.
Judge Juan Merchan has given himself until November 12 to decide whether to erase the sentence due to the Supreme Court's decision granting immunity to the president. If Merchan does, the charges would be dismissed and Trump would not be convicted.
But if the judge decides to go ahead with the sentence, lawyers will ask for it to be delayed so they can appeal. If that is not granted, lawyers plan to appeal the immunity ruling in state appeals courts, potentially all the way to the US Supreme Court to seek a stay of Trump's sentence until all appeals are exhausted, which could take months.
If he goes forward with the sentence, Trump could be ordered to serve up to four years in prison, but the judge is not required to sentence the president-elect to prison, so he could impose a lesser sentence, such as probation, time served community or fine.
Either decision would be complicated by the fact that Trump will take office on January 20. Trump's lawyers are likely to appeal the court's rulings, with the case lingering in the courts for years.
Trump's victory is expected to have the biggest impact on the two federal criminal cases brought against him by Smith in Washington and Florida. After the cases were filed in 2023, the main strategy of Trump's lawyers has been to delay the trials until after the election, so that if elected he would fire Smith, which then leads to the conclusion of both cases.
Smith's firing would allow the Justice Department and attorney general to move toward dropping the charges against him and ending the court cases.
But until Inauguration Day, Smith has time to weigh his options on issues the department has never faced.
One difficulty is whether the Justice Department considers a president-elect to be protected by the same legal protections against prosecution as a sitting president.
In the case filed in Washington, Smith accused Trump of trying to overturn the 2020 election results. The charges filed in Florida allege that Trump illegally obtained classified documents from the White House and resisted government efforts to retrieve those documents.
And the fate of Trump's criminal case in Georgia hinges on whether Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis is disqualified from prosecuting because of her past romantic relationships with a fellow prosecutor.
Civil lawsuits
The president-elect is also defending himself in a series of civil lawsuits, including those related to his role in the January 6, 2021 attack on the Capitol, two defamation lawsuits by E. Jean Carroll and a civil fraud lawsuit filed by the New York attorney general where Trump was ordered to pay nearly $454 million in restitution.
Trump lost two fraud cases against Carroll in 2023 and 2024 in federal court after a jury found him liable for sexually abusing the columnist and defaming her. Carroll was awarded $5 million and $83 million.
Trump appealed the first ruling on Carroll, but the appeals court has yet to issue a decision.
Trump is also facing civil lawsuits filed by Democratic lawmakers and others over his role in the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol.
It is possible that all these cases will continue to develop even as Trump begins his second term in the White House. In a 1997 Supreme Court ruling stemming from a civil lawsuit involving then-President Bill Clinton, the justices unanimously ruled that sitting presidents could not invoke presidential immunity to avoid civil lawsuits while in office. on duty.
Scholzi congratulates Trump, says many things will change under his administration
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz congratulated Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump on his victory on Wednesday as he stressed that his country "will remain a reliable transatlantic partner".
"President Trump will take office at a time of great challenges and crises. The United States and the President have a central role to play in overcoming them," Scholz said while speaking to reporters at the Chancellery in Berlin, AP reports.
"Certainly many things will be different under an administration led by Donald Trump. Donald Trump has always made this clear publicly," he added.
Trump was elected the 47th president of the United States on Wednesday, a remarkable comeback for a former president who refused to concede defeat four years ago, sparked a violent uprising at the US Capitol, was convicted on charges criminal and survived two assassination attempts.
With a victory in Wisconsin, Trump reached the 270 electoral votes needed to secure the presidency.
Taxes, immigration and abortion – what policies has Trump offered?
The Republican candidate, Donald Trump, won 277 of the 270 necessary electoral votes to be elected the next president of the USA.
During his campaign, he has spoken about his policies on a variety of issues.
The economy: Trump has promised to "end inflation and make America affordable again." He says he will do this by expanding US energy production and opening up areas such as the Arctic wilderness to oil drilling to lower energy costs.
Taxes: He has proposed a number of tax cuts worth trillions of dollars, including an extension of those he passed in 2017, which mostly helped the wealthy. Trump says he will pay for the cuts through tariffs on imports.
Immigration: Trump campaigned heavily on the issue, promising to close the US border by completing the wall he promised to build between the US and Mexico during his last presidency. He has also said he will carry out the largest mass deportation of undocumented immigrants in US history.
Air conditioning: He has previously rolled back hundreds of environmental protections, including limits on carbon dioxide emissions from power plants and vehicles, and protections for federal waterways. He is again pledging to cut regulations and has attacked electric vehicles, promising to reverse the Biden administration's goal of moving to cleaner cars.
Abortion: Trump has said during his campaign that individual US states should decide about its legality. Three Supreme Court justices he appointed while president were instrumental in overturning Roe v Wade—a decision that guaranteed women nationwide the right to an abortion.
When is Trump expected to take office as president?
Donald Trump has been elected the 47th president of the United States of America. The Republican candidate, as well as the former president, is running against Democrat Kamala Harris in the November 5 election.
Trump won most of what are known as undecided states, securing 277 Electoral College votes.
A candidate must earn at least 270 votes to be declared the winner. His victory has been confirmed after winning four undecided states: Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, North Carolina and Georgia.
After receiving the necessary electoral votes, it is expected to be voted in the Electoral College and certified in the House of Representatives on January 6, 2025.
The new president takes office on January 20, 2025.
About 150 million Americans voted in the presidential election on or before Election Day.
How did Donald Trump come back from the political abyss?
When Donald Trump lost to Joe Biden in 2020, it looked like his political career was doomed.
His first term in office ended in chaos and criticism – even from members of his own party. If he wins the election on Tuesday, November 5, it will be the second time someone has returned to the White House after losing a preliminary presidential re-election earlier.
"He goes down and gets up twice as focused," said Bryan Lanza, who has been a political adviser to the former president since Trump launched his campaign in 2016. "I don't think anyone should be surprised that this return".
Such a remarkable reversal of fortunes for the former president would also return him to the White House as a man who appears politically invulnerable, with a detailed plan of action and a line of loyalists behind him.
Short-lived exile
Four years ago, Trump was defeated. His Democratic opponent, Biden, had defeated him in the 2020 presidential race.
The courts had rejected his attempts to challenge the results at the time. His latest rally, in which he asked his supporters to march on the US Capitol as lawmakers certified the results, culminated in the crowd going on a violent rampage, sending those inside running for safety. Hundreds of officials were injured.
Education Secretary Betsy DeVos and Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao were among a number of Trump administration officials who resigned in protest. Even South Carolina Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, one of Trump's closest allies, broke with the president.
"All I can say is don't count me out", he said in the Senate. "Enough is enough".
Trump's departure extended to the corporate world, as dozens of major companies — including American Express, Nike and Walgreens — announced they would stop support for Republicans who had contested the results of the 2020 elections.
On the day of Biden's inauguration, Trump broke with 152-year-old tradition by refusing to attend the ceremony, instead returning to his private residence at Mar-a-Lago early that morning, accompanied by a small entourage of his closest assistants and family.
He was depressed, according to Meridith McGraw, author of the book "Trump in Exile," an account of the former president's time after leaving the White House.
"He was angry, frustrated, unsure of how to spend his days and didn't have a plan for his political future," she said.
Media coverage and political discussions that month reflected uncertainty about his future. After a clear electoral defeat followed by chaotic scenes at the Capitol, some were even more certain that there was no turning back for Trump.
"And so, the bold, fiery and sometimes brilliant career of Donald J. Trump comes to an end," an article in "The Hill" said.
The subtitle of a January 2021 opinion piece in "The New York Times" was: "The Terrible Experiment Is Over." The headline was even more direct: "President Donald J. Trump: The End."
But before Trump left for Florida on Inauguration Day, he hinted at what would come next.
"We love you," he told supporters on a runway at the Maryland Air Force Base. "We will come back in some form."
A week later, it became clear that Trump would not have to wait long to show his continued political influence. The party returned to him.
California congressman Kevin McCarthy, the Republican leader in the House of Representatives, visited the former president at Mar-a-Lago, snapping a photo next to a "beaming" Trump.
Shortly after the January 6 attack, McCarthy said Trump "bears responsibility" for the mob violence and recommended that Congress formally punish him for his behavior. Now, he was expressing a willingness to work with the former president to win a majority in Congress in next year's elections.
Even as the Democratic-controlled U.S. Senate prepared to impeach Trump, McCarthy's visit showed that one of the most powerful Republicans in Congress still saw the former president as an influential figure.
"McCarthy's visit really opened the door for Trump," McGraw said. "It was a license for Republicans who had criticized Trump to forgive him and move on."
Trump's Senate trial would end in an acquittal after most Republicans — including some outspoken critics, such as Minority Leader Mitch McConnell — voted against a conviction that would have barred the former president from running for president.
McConnell had called Trump's behavior on Jan. 6 "a disgraceful dereliction of duty," but he chose not to take the step that could have definitively ended the former president's political career — perhaps out of fear that he would to end his own career.
Republicans also worried that the former president could create a third party that would siphon support from Republicans.
"It's clearly up to the Republicans if this is something that becomes more serious," Jason Miller, Trump's longtime communications adviser, told Fox News.
The former president spent a month mostly confined to Mar-a-Lagos, only venturing out for the occasional round of golf or private dinner.
In late February, as the hype around January 6 died down, he was ready to hold his first public event.
At the Conservative Political Action Conference — the conference is usually held near Washington, but was moved to Orlando, Florida, due to COVID restrictions — Trump showed he still commands the loyalty of the Republican base.
"I stand before you today to declare that the wonderful journey we have started together is far from over," he said.
He hinted that he could beat the Democrats "for a third time" in 2024.
A survey of conference attendees only revealed what was by then obvious. 68 percent of respondents said Trump should run again.
"Trump and his team were pretty nervous about that speech," McGraw said. "Psychologically, it was a very important moment for Trump and his allies when he had such a positive reception."
After a brief hiatus, Trump reactivated fundraising for his supporters and resumed holding rallies.
"Do you miss me?" Trump asked at a rally in Ohio. The crowd responded with cheers.
"They miss me", he concluded.
The ups and downs
If 2021 hinted at Trump's continued influence within the Republican Party, the 2022 House elections confirmed it.
By then, US military forces had withdrawn from Afghanistan, leading to the fall of the US-backed Afghan government. Gas prices and inflation were nearing highs not seen in decades. US economic growth, which had rebounded from the pandemic, fell.
Biden's approval ratings dropped significantly. The political environment that had seemed so hostile to Trump at the start of 2021 had begun to change.
"Joe Biden failed to address the initial concerns of voters," said Lanza. "This opened a window for Donald Trump."
Mar-a-Lago became a mandatory stop for any conservative candidate seeking their party's nomination. Endorsement from the former president was the most coveted prize — a key to unlocking fundraising and grassroots conservative support.
Four of the six Republican members of the House of Representatives who voted to impeach Trump and were running for re-election were defeated by Trump-backed candidates in party primaries. Meanwhile, Senate candidates like JD Vance in Ohio and Herschel Walker in Georgia surged forward with the help of Trump's support.
"His support only guarantees you an initial victory," said Brian Seitchik, who served as the Arizona director for Trump's 2016 campaign team.
Of the four Senate nominees endorsed by Trump, only one, Vance, defeated his Democratic opponent. While Republicans narrowly regained control of the House of Representatives, elevating Kevin McCarthy to speaker, the party fared poorly and Democrats retained control of the Senate.
In Florida, Gov. Ron DeSantis had a landslide re-election victory, fueling speculation that he could be the front-runner for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination.
Just weeks after the midterm elections, when pundits were still wondering if the former president's political moment had passed, Trump launched his 2024 presidential campaign.
Path to nomination
The start of the presidential campaign was strange. A few weeks after failing in the mid-term elections, the former president made headlines. People were wondering if he had lost his political instincts.
The official announcement made the campaign initially unsuitable for the current political reality.
At the beginning of the campaign, he was seen eating with Nick Fuentes, a well-known nationalist, and posting on social networks that the US Constitution should be ended, in order to allow him to be re-elected as president.
"He has announced that he will run for president, but are we sure he will succeed?" McGraw had said at the time that he questioned Trump's discipline.
Behind the scenes, Trump was launching operations. His experience gave him the first push in Florida by taking under his belt Chris LaCivita and Susie Wiles, two unknown names at first but with considerable experience.
While DeSantis was in the spotlight, Trump managed to eliminate him.
At this time, the investigations against Trump also began, starting with the FBI's investigation of sensitive national documents at Mar-a-Lago in August 2022 and culminating in a series of charges in 2023. After that, the risk that the former president to be seen behind bars, surpassed the nomination.
For many among the Republicans, everything ended with this, but not for some conservative voters who in some states just started to give gas to gather around the leader of the party.
A poll of Iowa Republicans in June 2023, a week after the Justice Department indicted Trump on suspicion of mishandling sensitive national documents, showed Trump in the ascendancy.
According to Lanza, the allegations created divisions within the party.
By the fall of 2023, Trump had already taken a massive lead in most Republican primary polls—a margin he never relinquished. He avoided debates and focused on gaining support mainly in economic areas.
Despite raising $200 million in campaign funds, DeSantis withdrew in January 2024. Trump then easily defeated former South Carolina governor Nikki Haley, and the race was now considered closed.
For the third election in a row, he was the nominee.
Trials and triumphs
The former president's court drama may have helped his political gains, but it also came with great risk. In May 2024, a Manhattan jury convicted Trump of 34 counts related to payments to adult movie star Stormy Daniels.
Every punishment, however, seemed to be followed by great victory. After the indictments, it was decided that Trump would not be prevented from running for president.
He was already preparing for the big race - with Joe Biden. In the debate at the end of June, Trump benefited the most from leaving behind the confused president.
Trump's approval rating continued to rise. After his assassination in Pennsylvania in May, Trump received a hero's welcome at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee.
"What we saw at the Convention was how unified the Republican Party was, for the first time in a long time," McGraw said. "They felt very safe."
The head of Tesla, Elon Musk - the richest man in the world - publicly came out in support of Trump and started funding mass organizations in unspecified countries.
At that moment it seemed as if Trump's return from the turmoil of January 6, 2021 - was fulfilled. From the victories over DeSantis and other internal rivals, Trump turned into a powerful blow for Biden and the Democrats.
Three days after Trump received the official nomination of the Republican Party, Biden dropped out of the race and offered his support to Vice President Kamala Harris.
In a matter of weeks, Harris consolidated her party's support, returned enthusiasm and even moved ahead in some polls.
Trump's revival efforts also failed in the debate he lost to Harris in September.
"Trump really wasn't tested until Harris entered the race," Seitchik said. "Everything up to that point seemed almost like an extended pre-season campaign."
Now the season is at the end and the champion is still in doubt.
The race is considered so close that a "photo-finish" will be needed to see who comes out on top.
The 78-year-old Trump has refused to say that he has lost in 2020. He has stepped up his tough rhetoric and held protracted rallies to hit back at efforts to "get old" as he attributed to Biden while he was in the race.
Trump was in the spotlight for 9 years in politics and more than four decades in business. He looks tired.
With his promises on immigrants, the mass deportation of undocumented people and the imposition of tariffs on foreign products, Trump represents a fundamental reorientation of the Republican Party, according to Seitchik.
Iran reacts after Trump's victory
Iranian government spokeswoman Fatemeh Mohajerani has said the US election results will not affect Iran much, while the rial's exchange rate against the US dollar hit a record low on Wednesday.
"The election of the US president has nothing specific to do with us. The main policies of America and the Islamic Republic are fixed and will not change much", said Mohajerani, AP reports.
Donald Trump has achieved 277 of the 270 electoral votes needed to win the White House.
He is known for his tough stance against Iran, among other things. In 2018 he pulled the US out of the Iran nuclear deal, reimposing crippling sanctions on Iran.
Kurti congratulates Trump: I am looking forward to working together for progress and peace
The Prime Minister of Kosovo, Albin Kurti, has congratulated the President of the USA, Donald Trump, on his election as the President of the USA.
Trump is being projected as the winner of the US elections.
"Congratulations President Donald Trump on your electoral victory. The US is a key ally, friend and partner of Kosovo and we look forward to working together for progress and peace." Kurti wrote on the "X" platform.
Trump is elected president of the USA
Donald Trump has been elected president of the United States of America, reported AP. He has exceeded the figure of 270 electoral votes, marking an extraordinary return to politics.
With a large margin of votes, he has left behind the Democratic candidate, Kamala Harris.
He also won in the state of Wisconsin.
Trump will be the 47th president of the USA.
Ursula Von der Leyen congratulates Trump
The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, has congratulated the Republican candidate, Donald Trump, who on Wednesday announced his victory in the US elections.
Von der Leyen wrote in X that the EU and the US are more than just allies.
"We are bound by a true partnership between our people, uniting 800 million citizens. So let's work together for a strong transatlantic agenda that continues to deliver for them," von der Leyen wrote.
World leaders congratulate Trump
World leaders have begun to congratulate Donald Trump on the victory of the presidential elections, even though a winner has not yet been officially announced.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was among the first. He called it "the greatest comeback in history".
"Your historic return to the White House offers a new beginning for America and a powerful rededication to the alliance between Israel and America," he wrote in X.
The President of France, Emmanuel Macron, has also reacted.
"Congratulations President Donald Trump. Ready to work together as we have done for four years", he wrote.
The British Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, has also called it a historic victory.
"As the closest allies, we stand side by side in defense of our shared values of freedom, democracy and entrepreneurship," Starmer said, among other things.
The Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelensky, has said that it is an "impressive victory" for Trump. He has said that he appreciates "Trump's commitment to the approach to peace".
"I hope we will put it into action together. We look forward to an era of strong America under the decisive leadership of President Trump."
The opposition congratulates Trump
The President of the Democratic League of Kosovo, Lumir Abdixhiku, has congratulated Donald Trump on his victory in the presidential elections.
He wrote on Facebook on Wednesday that the return of Kosovo to Washington's agenda is the national interest of the people of Kosovo. Abdizhik described the connection with the USA as blessed and irreplaceable.
"The people of Kosovo have always been blessed with the special and irreplaceable connection with the United States of America - our past and future strategic ally! On behalf of the membership of the Democratic League of Kosovo, I congratulate the 47th President of the USA, Donald J. Trump, on his presidential victory in the American elections! The return of Kosovo to Washington's agenda is the national interest of the people of Kosovo. Without the USA, the progress of Kosovo as a new state and in international consolidation is impossible! In the next Government, these ties will be recovered and maintained as unchangeable, unbreakable, irreplaceable orientations!", wrote the LDK opposition deputy.
Meanwhile, the chairman of the Democratic Party of Kosovo, Memli Krasniqi, also sent his congratulations.
He said that the connection between Kosovo and the USA goes beyond politics.
"The connection between Kosovo and the United States of America always goes beyond politics. The role of the USA in Kosovo's journey towards freedom, state formation and state building is evidence of a relationship built on special values, trust and respect. As Kosovo continues its efforts to build a better future, we reiterate our full commitment to strengthening our most important alliance, reinvigorating Kosovo-US relations, through new opportunities for cooperation, development, peace and stability in our region. ", said Krasniqi.
NATO chief congratulates Trump: his leadership will be crucial to keep the alliance strong
The Secretary General of NATO, Mark Rutte, has congratulated Donald Trump on his election as president of the USA. Trump is clearly leading the race for president of the USA, while according to projections, he only needs three more electoral votes to be declared president.
Trump himself has declared victory.
"I want to congratulate Donald Trump on his election as president of the USA. His leadership will again be key to keeping the Alliance strong. I look forward to working with him again to advance peace through strengthening NATO." wrote Rutte on the "X" platform.
I just congratulated @realDonaldTrump on his election as President of the United States. His leadership will again be key to keeping our Alliance strong. I look forward to working with him again to advance peace through strength #NATO.
— Mark Rutte (@SecGenNATO) November 6, 2024
Rama congratulates Trump: Extraordinary victory
The Prime Minister of Albania, Edi Rama, has congratulated Donald Trump on his victory in the presidential elections.
He wrote in social network X that he is looking forward to working with him, until he said that it was an honor to work alongside the 46th president, Joe Biden.
Rama called Trump's victory extraordinary.
President of Albania, Bajram Begaj, also congratulated Trump.
He wrote on the X social network that Albania values friendship and strategic partnership. Begaj said that he is looking forward to strengthening cooperation with Trump.
Grenell: America and the world are saved
The former US envoy for the Kosovo-Serbia dialogue, Richard Grenell, has declared that with the victory of Donald Trump, America and the world have been saved.
He wrote in X on Wednesday that it is with this victory that peace will come soon. America and the world has been saved.
"We have defeated the leftist awakening. Peace will come soon," Grenell wrote.
The former US official mocked the Democratic candidate, Kamala Harris, saying that her failure to win undermines democracy.
Osmani congratulates Trump: I look forward to working with the new administration
The President of Kosovo, Vjosa Osmani, has congratulated Donald Trump on his victory in the presidential elections.
She wrote on Wednesday that the USA remains the steadfast partner and indispensable ally of Kosovo.
“I look forward to working with the new administration to further deepen our unique bond and strategic alliance. God bless America, the leader of the free world", Osmani declared on the X social network.
Trump declared victory as he is leading the election convincingly.
Vučić and Orbani congratulate Trump on the "great victory"
Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban have congratulated Donald Trump on his victory in the US elections, despite the fact that a winner has not yet been officially announced.
"Congratulations to Donald Trump on his victory. Together, we face serious challenges. Serbia is committed to working with the USA for stability, growth and peace", wrote Vucic on the X platform.
Congratulations @realDonaldTrump on your victory. Together, we face the serious challenges ahead. Serbia is committed to working with the USA for stability, growth, and peace
- Александар Вучић (@predsednikrs) November 6, 2024
🇷🇸 🤝🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/lE4DlFCNRR
Orban has called it "the greatest comeback in the political history of the USA".
"The biggest comeback in US political history! Congratulations to President Donald Trump on his big win. A very necessary victory for the world", he wrote.
The biggest comeback in US political history! Congratulations to President @realDonaldTrump on his enormous win. A much needed victory for the World!
— Orban Viktor (@PM_ViktorOrban) November 6, 2024
Trump says he will stop wars in the world
Republican candidate for president of the USA, Donald Trump, has spoken to his supporters in Palm Beach, Florida, while he still needs three electoral votes to be elected president.
He appeared in front of the crowd together with his staff and the Republican candidate for vice president.
He described it as a "political victory" and thanked the supporters who elected him as the 47th president.
"We will help our country heal. I will fight for your family, for the future, every day I will fight with every breath of mine", he said, adding that his party has made history.
Trump has further said that this will be the "golden age" for America.
"This is a great victory for the Americans, which will allow us to make America great again," he emphasized.
Trump has declared that he will "stop the wars".
"We have not had wars, for four years we have not had wars. Except we defeated ISIS. They said that 'he will start a war'. It won't start a war. I will stop the wars", he declared.
Trump needs three more electoral votes to be elected president
Donald Trump needs three more electoral votes to be elected president of the United States of America, AP reported.
He currently has 267 votes, having recently been reported to have won the state of Pennsylvania.
On the other hand, the Democratic candidate, Kamala Harris, has 214 electoral votes.
According to the results so far, Trump has about 5 million more votes than Harris.
Trump wins Pennsylvania
CNN's projections show Donald Trump as the winner in the state of Pennsylvania.
This state is considered essential in this electoral process, due to the presidential race between Trump and Kamala Harris.
Meanwhile, CNN said that Trump has won one electoral vote in Nebraska, one of Harris.
Republicans take control of the Senate
A CNN projection says that the Republican Party will also take control of the US Senate. The votes are still being counted, but it appears that the Democrats have lost their effective majority.
They were hoping to pick up a Republican seat to limit the advance of Donald Trump's party, but as predicted, they failed to do so in Ted Cruz's Texas.
Harris wins in New Hampshire
Democratic candidate Kamala Harris has won the state of New Hampshire.
This state has supported the Democrats in seven of the last eight presidential elections, AP reported.
New Hampshire has historically been positioned toward the Democrats.
President Trump is expected to speak to supporters
Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump is expected to address voters in Palm Beach, Florida, AP reported.
Many of his supporters have gathered to celebrate, while the Democratic candidate, Kamala Harris, is not scheduled to speak.
Trump wins North Carolina and Georgia
The latest projections of international media announce that the Republican candidate, Donald Trump, has also won in the state of North Carolina, while Kamala Harris wins in Virginia.
Donald Trump also won in the state of Georgia, returning 16 electoral votes to the Republicans.
Counting of votes continues in key states, until at last update Trump has won 230 electoral votes. Harris has 210.
In other states such as Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Nevada, Michigan and Arizona, the results have not yet been announced, but in most of them Trump is leading.