Republican Donald Trump has declared himself the New U.S. President following the 2024 election, citing a “powerful mandate” after Fox News projected his win over Democrat Kamala Harris. In an address to supporters gathered at the Palm Beach County Convention Center, the newly projected president stood alongside his vice-presidential pick, Senator JD Vance, and other Republican leaders. Trump expressed gratitude for what he described as a resounding endorsement from American voters. During his speech, he highlighted his appreciation for Elon Musk, who contributed around $120 million to his campaign. Trump also announced plans to appoint Musk as head of a government efficiency commission, a role aimed at streamlining government operations.
While other major news outlets refrained from officially calling the race, Trump’s path to victory appeared clear, with projections showing him securing key battleground states like Pennsylvania, North Carolina, and Georgia. Harris, meanwhile, did not publicly address her supporters, who had gathered at Howard University, her alma mater. Instead, her campaign co-chair, Cedric Richmond, spoke briefly, noting that some votes were still being counted. Despite uncertainty from other networks, Trump’s backers celebrated his apparent resurgence and his new position as the U.S. president-elect.
A Nationwide Shift in Trump’s Favor
Compared to 2020, the new U.S. president expanded his voter base across various demographics and regions, making notable inroads among Hispanic and lower-income voters. Exit polls from Edison Research revealed that Trump garnered 45% of the Hispanic vote, an increase from his previous performance, although still behind Harris’s 53% share among this group. The economy emerged as a decisive issue for many voters, with 31% citing it as their primary concern. Trump’s messaging resonated particularly well with these voters, who supported him by a significant 79%-to-20% margin. Economic concerns extended to 45% of voters who reported that their family’s financial situation had worsened since 2020, among whom 80% favored Trump.
Trump’s influence was seen not only in the presidential race but also in the congressional landscape, with Republicans regaining a Senate majority by flipping Democratic seats in West Virginia and Ohio. However, the House of Representatives remained closely contested, with neither party gaining a clear edge. The new U.S. president’s appeal was reflected in his performance across rural areas, urban centers, and high-income counties alike, signaling a substantial yet complex shift in American political dynamics.
Rising Tensions and Election Integrity Concerns
The contentious election underscored the deepening polarization within the U.S. Nearly three-quarters of voters expressed concern for the stability of American democracy, emphasizing the stark division between Trump and Harris’s supporters. Throughout the campaign, Trump frequently criticized the election process, often making unsubstantiated claims about voter fraud in major cities like Philadelphia and Detroit, echoing similar allegations he made during the 2020 election. Detroit City Clerk Janice Winfrey and Philadelphia city commissioner Seth Bluestein both denied any basis to Trump’s claims, urging calm and transparency.
The election marked a historic moment: the new U.S. president, Trump, is the only president to have been impeached twice and could now become the first in over a century to serve non-consecutive terms. On the other hand, had Harris won, she would have been the first female president and the first Black and South Asian American in that role. As polls closed, millions of Americans awaited the final result, marking the end of an intense election season characterized by high voter turnout and sporadic incidents, including two alleged assassination attempts on Trump and unexpected developments in both parties.
