The victory caps a remarkable comeback for Trump after he had seemingly been cast into the political wilderness following his role in the violent insurrection that took place at Capitol Hill in 2021.
In 2023, Trump was indicted on multiple state and federal criminal charges, including the payment of hush money to adult-film performer Stormy Daniels, the removal of classified files from the White House when leaving office and attempts to overturn the 2020 presidential election result.
His legal travails were unprecedented for a prospective presidential candidate, and he now becomes the first convicted criminal to hold America’s highest office.
The lead-up to the election had placed both candidates' neck-and-neck, with many polls giving Kamala Harris a slight edge over Trump.
However, as early results began to filter through, it became clear that Trump was headed for a second spell as president.
Registering victories in swing states such as North Carolina, Georgia and Pennsylvania, Trump’s path to the White House was sealed when Wisconsin was called in his favor.
Stepping onstage at his election watch party in West Palm Beach, Florida, Trump said that the evening had been “a magnificent victory for the American people” and pledged “to fix everything.”
Promising that his triumph would herald a “golden age of America,” Trump doubled down on his pre-election vow to crackdown on immigration and heal the economy.
These dual factors, it would appear, resonated particularly highly with the American public, with Trump previously telling voters he would “make America affordable again” by slashing taxes, curbing inflation and reducing energy costs.
Trump’s return to the White House has, however, sent alarm bells ringing across Europe.
Trump has repeatedly threatened to withdraw the U.S. from NATO, complaining that some European members have failed to meet defense expenditure guidelines, and some analysts have predicted “a radical reorientation” within the 32-member organization.
On the subject of Ukraine, Trump has said on many occasions that he will seek an end to the Russia-Ukraine war as soon as possible. In a video address to a Ukrainian NGO last month, he even said that he guarantees that “we would have peace before I even enter the White House.”
He added: “It will be done as president elect because it’s time to get it settled—it's a horrible war.”
How this promise of peace will be delivered, though, has caused concern with suspicions that Trump will look to pressure Ukraine into ceding its lost territories.
Already dubbed “the greatest political comeback in the history of the United States of America,” Trump’s win ties up a turbulent and often vitriolic election campaign that saw two assassination attempts made on him.
In what has proved a calamitous night for the Democrats, the Republican Party is also set to take control of the Senate.
