Former President Donald Trump is projected to win a second term in the White House, nearly four years after leaving office amid legal and political turmoil.
Decision Desk HQ (DDHQ) declared Trump the winner after he secured the key states of Pennsylvania and Alaska, reaching the 270 electoral votes needed for victory.
Trump’s comeback victory came after a highly contentious race against Vice President Kamala Harris, marked by unexpected events. During his campaign, Trump faced a criminal trial, survived two assassination attempts, and saw a last-minute shakeup in the Democratic ticket following President Biden’s decision to step down.
This win makes Trump the first president since Grover Cleveland in 1892 to regain the presidency after a prior defeat. His campaign focused on key issues like rising costs, border security, and global unrest, while his running mate, Senator JD Vance, helped rally voter support. Trump’s victory path included flipping states like Georgia and reinforcing his lead in North Carolina, with his campaign also managing to boost popular vote gains—a rare feat for Republicans since 1992.
Exit polls showed significant support from Latino voters, increased rural turnout, and strong performance among young men, a demographic he targeted aggressively. Trump’s agenda includes expanding immigration enforcement, extending his 2017 tax cuts, implementing universal tariffs, rolling back transgender protections, and even dismantling the Department of Education.
Despite challenges with female voters, Trump offset potential losses on abortion, a key issue after the Supreme Court’s 2022 decision overturning Roe v. Wade. Though Harris focused heavily on this issue, it ultimately did not shift enough voters in her favor.
Trump’s victory could further tilt the Supreme Court to the right, as Republicans regained Senate control. This win caps a tumultuous period for Trump, who narrowly won the presidency in 2016, lost in 2020, and continuously asserted, without evidence, claims of electoral fraud. His 2023 federal indictment over actions following the 2020 election is ongoing, but Trump has signaled his intent to dismiss Special Counsel Jack Smith, potentially impacting ongoing investigations.
