White Working-Class Trump Supporters
Sweep Even Democratic Rust Belt Strongholds
First White House Recapture in 132 Years
Republicans Expected to Sweep Congress
Stronger 'America First' Policy Anticipated
Donald Trump, the Republican candidate elected as the 47th President of the United States, swept all the battleground states in the Democratic stronghold Rust Belt (declining industrial region). Defying initial expectations of a razor-thin race, former President Trump won by a landslide, capturing the votes of white working-class voters in the Democratic-leaning 'Blue Wall' and effectively winning all seven battleground states. Receiving overwhelming support in these key battleground states, which hold the key to entering the White House, Trump is set to return to the White House after four years. If the Republican Party controls both the Senate and the House majority, it is expected to accelerate the 'America First' agenda with strong legislative, executive, and judicial powers.
According to the Associated Press and others as of 7:58 PM Eastern Time on the 6th (local time), former President Trump secured 295 electoral votes, significantly ahead of Vice President Harris, who had 226.
Mainstream U.S. media initially predicted a neck-and-neck battle between former President Trump and Democratic candidate Vice President Kamala Harris in the seven battleground states that would decide the presidential election. However, after the election, it was revealed that Trump won all the Rust Belt states within the battlegrounds?Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Wisconsin?which were previously Democratic strongholds. Battleground states are broadly divided into the Republican-leaning Sun Belt and the Democratic-strong Rust Belt, and for the Democrats to enter the White House, they must win in the Rust Belt. Among the Rust Belt states, Pennsylvania, with 19 electoral votes?the most among battleground states?is the key to entering the White House.
On the previous night, former President Trump had already secured victories in the southern Sun Belt battleground states of Georgia and North Carolina, and by also winning the crucial battleground of Pennsylvania, he secured the 'magic number' of 270 electoral votes out of 538, deciding his path to the White House. Subsequently, he sealed his landslide victory by winning Michigan (49.8%) and Wisconsin (49.7%), both part of the Rust Belt, along with Pennsylvania (50.5% as of 7:58 PM). Trump is also expected to comfortably win in the still-counting battleground states of Arizona (11 electoral votes) and Nevada (6 electoral votes). If this holds, he will have won all seven battleground states, securing 312 electoral votes in a landslide. Currently, with 66% of votes counted in Arizona and 86% in Nevada, Trump leads with 52% and 51.5% respectively, ahead of Vice President Harris’s 47.1% and 46.8%.
Having secured an early victory, former President Trump becomes the first former president in 132 years to regain the White House after losing re-election. In his victory speech early this morning at his home in Palm Beach, Florida, Trump called it a "great victory for the American people" and declared that "the true golden age of America is coming." He emphasized, "We will start by putting America first."
The background to Trump’s landslide victory is analyzed to be the influence of 'Shy Trump' voters who did not appear in polls but voted for him in the actual election. Especially in the Rust Belt battleground states, many 'Shy Trump' voters were hidden. Additionally, issues such as the economy affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, high inflation caused by the Russia-Ukraine war, and illegal immigration swayed undecided voters toward Trump. Criticism of the Biden administration, the lack of an independent vision from Vice President Harris, and the glass ceiling faced by women are also interpreted as factors that held her back.
The congressional elections may also end in a Republican victory. The Republican Party has regained the Senate majority after four years and is expected to secure the House majority as well. As of 8:02 PM Eastern Time on the 6th, the Republicans have secured 205 seats in the House, just 13 seats short of the 218 needed for a majority. The Democrats have secured 190 seats. Currently, six of the nine Supreme Court justices, symbolizing the judiciary, are conservative. If the Republicans control both the Senate and the House, legislative, judicial, and executive powers will all tilt toward the Republican side.
Thus, if former President Trump re-enters the White House in January next year, he is expected to pursue a stronger America First policy line as he announced in his victory speech. Unlike his first term, which was marked by confusion, Trump’s second term is expected to launch a strong policy drive focused on American interests both domestically and internationally, led by loyal advisors, including banning illegal immigration, raising tariffs, and halting support for Ukraine. South Korea may face challenges such as demands for increased costs for the stationing of U.S. troops (defense cost-sharing) and the pursuit of a top-down North Korea nuclear solution through direct negotiations between North Korea and the U.S.
The Washington Post (WP) diagnosed, "Trump promised to approach countries that show no respect for the U.S. on the world stage with an America First approach and to overturn the status quo," adding, "U.S. allies are struggling to predict what will happen next." It also reported, "Trump has praised North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un and pressured South Korea to pay more for U.S. defense against North Korea’s nuclear threats," which has raised concerns in South Korea.
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