Palm Beach, Florida – Republican Donald Trump claimed victory in the 2024 presidential contest after Fox News projected his win over Democrat Kamala Harris.
This victory would mark a historic comeback for Trump, who left the White House four years prior.
“America has given us an unprecedented and powerful mandate,” Trump declared early Wednesday at the Palm Beach County Convention Center.
He was joined by his vice-presidential running mate, Senator JD Vance, as well as Republican leaders and his family members.
Elon Musk’s Role in the Campaign
Trump took time to praise Elon Musk, the world’s richest man, who invested approximately $120 million in Trump’s campaign. Trump has announced that he will appoint Musk to head a government efficiency commission.
Results Still Unconfirmed by Other News Outlets
Although other news outlets had yet to officially declare a winner, according to Edison Research, Trump appeared to be leading after securing battleground states including Pennsylvania, North Carolina, and Georgia and holding leads in four other states.
Kamala Harris Awaits Final Vote Count
Kamala Harris did not immediately address her supporters, who had gathered at Howard University. Instead, her campaign co-chair, Cedric Richmond, spoke briefly after midnight, assuring supporters, “We still have votes to count.”
Widespread Support for Trump Across the Country
Trump showed increased support across various regions, performing better than in 2020 in both rural areas and urban centers.
Exit polls indicated that Republicans secured a Senate majority by flipping seats in West Virginia and Ohio, though control of the House remained uncertain.
Economic Concerns Drive Voter Decisions
According to exit polls, 31% of voters cited the economy as their top issue, with 79% of this group supporting Trump. Nearly half of all voters reported that their financial situation had worsened since 2020, favoring Trump by a wide margin.
Markets Respond to Potential Trump Win
Global investors reacted to the possibility of a Trump victory, with U.S. stock futures, the dollar, and Treasury yields climbing. Analysts highlighted these as markets favoring a Trump administration.
Historic Significance of the Election
Regardless of the final outcome, history was being made. Trump, at 78, would become the first president in over a century to win non-consecutive terms. Alternatively, a Harris win would make her the first woman, Black woman, and South Asian American to hold the presidency.
Trump Outperforms 2020 Across the Country
By 12:30 a.m. ET, Trump was gaining a larger share of votes compared to 2020 in almost every region. Officials had nearly completed ballot counts in over 1,600 counties, with Trump’s vote share up by approximately 2 percentage points from 2020.
He saw gains in both suburban and rural areas, and even in traditionally Democratic urban centers, as well as across both high- and low-income counties. Harris’s support, meanwhile, trailed behind Biden’s performance in 2020.
Democracy and Polarization: Voter Concerns
Exit polls revealed that nearly 75% of voters believe American democracy is at risk. Trump continued to make unverified claims regarding election fraud in Philadelphia and Detroit. Election officials in both cities refuted these allegations.
Trump’s Message to Voters
After voting near his home in Palm Beach, Trump told reporters, “If I lose an election, if it’s a fair election, I’m gonna be the first one to acknowledge it.”
Voting Day: Record Turnout Amid Disruptions
Millions of Americans turned out to vote, with only minor disruptions reported. Some bomb threats, deemed non-credible and traced to Russian email domains, were the only major incidents.
A Race Filled with Unprecedented Events
The election concluded a turbulent campaign season marked by multiple unexpected events, including two assassination attempts on Trump, Biden’s surprise withdrawal, and Harris’s rapid rise to the top of the Democratic ticket.
