Donald Trump will once again take office as the 47th President of the United States, according to US media projections, marking a historic comeback four years after his initial departure from Washington under controversial circumstances.
Convictions by various courts and other ongoing legal proceedings have therefore not been enough to convince Americans to abandon the controversial billionaire.
With this election, Donald Trump further cements his place in US history. He is the only president to have been defeated and to return to the White House four years later. He is also the first American elected after being convicted by the courts. He was convicted by a New York court of campaign violations for having paid $130,000 to an adult film actress during the 2016 election. His sentence had been suspended pending the results of the election he just won.
In a speech delivered from his Mar-a-Lago estate, Trump promised to “heal” the nation, strengthen its borders, and create a robust economy, addressing the frustration of voters struggling with the rising cost of living. “I want to thank the American people for the extraordinary honor they have bestowed upon me by electing me their 47th president and 45th president,” said Trump, emphasizing the significance of his non-consecutive terms. With this comeback, Mr. Trump joins a small group of world leaders who have returned to power after a break in their tenure.
Mr. Trump’s victory, achieved after US media projected that Wisconsin would allow him to surpass the required 270 electoral votes, marks a major shift. The Republican Party has recaptured states such as Georgia, Pennsylvania, and North Carolina, which were crucial to Vice President Kamala Harris’s victory and marked a decisive turning point for Mr. Trump’s campaign.
Donald Trump’s victory also highlights his resilience in the face of multiple legal and political setbacks, including two impeachment trials and a criminal conviction. This return to the presidency, CNN points out, “will certainly lead to the firing of special counsel Jack Smith,” who has pursued several cases against him. Trump’s refusal to accept the 2020 election results and his legal challenges have galvanized his base. He even turned his Georgia mugshot into a powerful campaign symbol, claiming that he had been “indicted for them.”
Throughout the campaign, Trump spoke openly of his desire to tackle the “foreign criminals and gangs” he claimed had invaded American cities. He has continued to appeal to populism, positioning himself as a defender against what he describes as a slide towards World War III, while promising to “make life more affordable for American workers.” Trump’s calls for revenge against his opponents have been a recurring theme, raising concerns about the future direction of his administration. However, his rhetoric and threats of vengeance were not enough to persuade a majority of Americans to reject his agenda.
While the majority of Americans saw fit to hand the keys to the White House back to Donald Trump, his re-election is a setback for immigrants, including undocumented Haitians and certain Latino groups who had hoped to benefit from a more lenient migration policy under the Democrats.
During his election campaign, Donald Trump frequently targeted Haitian immigrants in the United States, promising to deport them en masse. He also falsely accused Haitians in Springfield, Ohio, of eating local residents’ pets.
Trump’s return underscores the deeply divided nature of the American political landscape, with many supporters looking forward to what they hope will be a transformative presidency and others fearing a tumultuous period ahead.
Donald Trump will be inaugurated next January as the new President of the United States for a four-year term.
Election Day was a resounding success for the Republicans, who regained control of the Senate and have a chance to retain the House of Representatives.