Former U.S. President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump won the 47th presidential election. Trump is expected to become the second president in U.S. history to lose re-election after the first term and then successfully win again, as well as the oldest president elected, surpassing President Joe Biden.
CNN reported that as of 5:30 a.m. Eastern Time on the 6th, Trump secured 276 of the total 538 electoral votes, surpassing Vice President Kamala Harris of the Democratic Party, who had 219 votes. He crossed the magic number 270 (270 electoral votes) needed to win the U.S. presidential election.
Trump won not only in Republican-leaning states such as Texas but also in four of the seven battleground states expected to decide the election outcome: North Carolina, Georgia, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin.
Earlier major polls showed a neck-and-neck race between Trump and Vice President Harris until the very end, but the actual results revealed an easy victory for Trump. There are criticisms that the polls failed to capture the presence of 'Shy Trump' voters.
Around 2:30 a.m. that day, Trump declared his victory in the presidential election before supporters gathered at the Palm Beach Convention Center in Florida, where his residence is located. In his speech, he said, "I want to thank the American people for the honor of being elected your 45th and 47th president," adding, "We will help our country heal."
Trump rallied voters dissatisfied with severe inflation and illegal immigration under the Biden administration with the slogan 'Make America Great Again (MAGA).'
Despite the dishonor of being the first former president in U.S. history to be criminally charged and convicted over allegations of hush money payments related to a sexual misconduct scandal, and surviving two assassination attempts that could have cost him his life, he has become the owner of the White House again after four years.
Since Trump has promised a stronger 'America First' policy than during his first term, it is expected that not only adversaries but also allies worldwide will face another turbulent period. Significant changes are anticipated in global trade and security, starting with the Russia-Ukraine war and the Israel-Hamas conflict.
Countries around the world have quickly sent congratulatory messages upon hearing the news of Trump's victory.
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