Washington (Web Desk/Agencies): Donald Trump has emerged victorious over Vice President Kamala Harris in a stunning upset, clinching a second term in the White House after an election cycle rife with unexpected developments and historic twists, the international media reported.
In the latest election results, Republican contender Donald Trump has clinched 277 Electoral College votes, while his Democratic rival, Vice President Kamala Harris, secured 226.
With a total of 538 electoral votes up for grabs, a candidate requires 270 to claim victory. More than 82 million Americans participated in early voting, underscoring the extraordinary level of engagement in this election.
The Electoral College remains a unique and defining feature of US presidential elections. Unlike the popular vote, it holds substantial sway over the outcome, influencing how campaigns are run and won.
There have been instances in the past, like in 2000 when George W. Bush won despite losing the popular vote, and in 2016, when Donald Trump triumphed with a similar discrepancy.
In contrast, Joe Biden won the 2020 election decisively with 306 electoral votes, defeating Trump, who garnered just 232.
The role of the Electoral College has been pivotal in past contests, and it remains central to this year's results.
The Republican candidate secured victories in crucial swing states, including North Carolina, Georgia, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin, along with a sweep of other states such as Indiana, Kentucky, West Virginia, Florida, Tennessee, South Carolina, Oklahoma, Mississippi, Alabama, Arkansas, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wyoming, Nebraska, Louisiana, Ohio, Texas, Missouri, Utah, Montana, Kansas, Iowa, and Idaho. These victories bolstered his path to the presidency, solidifying his support across a wide swath of the nation.
Donald Trump, who was first elected president in 2016, defeated former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in a historic upset.
In 2020, he was ousted from office by Joe Biden, who had served as vice president under President Barack Obama.
With this latest victory, Trump would become just the second US president in history to serve two non-consecutive terms, following the precedent set by Grover Cleveland in the late 19th century.
The 2024 presidential race has been one of the most dramatic and unpredictable in recent history, marked by an array of shocking developments.
From Trump facing legal challenges in court to a bullet narrowly missing him, to a heated debate that dashed incumbent President Biden’s hopes of securing a second term—this election has kept both Americans and the world riveted.
In a final twist, Kamala Harris emerged as the Democratic nominee, with the potential to make history as the first female president.
Harris focused her campaign on tackling economic and social challenges through bipartisan collaboration, aiming to continue much of the policy direction set by President Biden.
On the other hand, Trump proposed sweeping changes, including replacing thousands of federal workers with loyalists, imposing aggressive tariffs on both allies and adversaries, and initiating a large-scale deportation operation, which would be unprecedented in US history.
The outcome of the 2024 election will not only decide the next president but also determine which party will control Congress, including both the Senate and the House of Representatives, setting the stage for the next chapter of American politics.