In a historic political turn, voters have chosen Donald J. Trump as the 47th president of the United States, bringing him back to the White House after a four-year hiatus. At 78, Trump now holds the distinction of being the oldest man ever elected president, surpassing the record previously set by President Joe Biden. Trump’s return also makes him the first president since Grover Cleveland in the late 1800s to lose re-election and then come back to claim victory in a later run.
Trump’s appeal to voters centered on his emphatic promises to secure the southern border through stringent measures, revive American manufacturing with protectionist tariffs reminiscent of 19th-century economic policies, and withdraw the United States from entangling global conflicts. These commitments resonated strongly in a deeply divided nation, fueling his victory over Vice President Kamala Harris.
Preliminary exit polls indicate that Trump retained substantial backing from men and White voters without college degrees, while also seeing gains among traditionally Democratic-leaning groups, such as Latino and young voters.
In the broader political landscape, Republicans have also bolstered their Senate majority with key wins in Ohio and West Virginia, flipping two seats to solidify their control of the chamber. Control of the House of Representatives, however, remains in the balance, with the final results still too close to call as vote counting continues.
