On November 6, 2024, Donald Trump claimed victory in the U.S. Presidential race, despite Fox News being the only network to officially declare him the winner at that time. His statement came after results showed him ahead in crucial swing states, including Pennsylvania, Georgia, and North Carolina. Trump, along with his family, addressed jubilant supporters at his campaign headquarters in Florida, vowing to help “heal” the country. He called his victory a “political victory that our country has never seen before.”
The mood at Kamala Harris’s campaign headquarters shifted dramatically as the results came in. Despite the setback, Cedric Richmond, her campaign co-chair, assured that the Vice President would address supporters the following day. The loss also saw the Republican Party taking control of the U.S. Senate, flipping two seats to end the Democrats’ narrow majority.
Trump’s potential return to the White House is generating global concern, particularly among U.S. allies in Europe and Asia, who fear the reemergence of his nationalist policies and praise for Russia’s Vladimir Putin. However, markets reacted positively to the news, with the U.S. dollar surging and bitcoin hitting a record high.
Polls had shown a tight race, with Trump positioned to become the oldest President ever and the first to serve non-consecutive terms. However, his victory came quicker than expected, although he still faces legal challenges, including sentencing over hush money payments in late November.
The election was marred by bomb threats at polling stations in Georgia and Pennsylvania, reportedly originating from Russia, although these were later confirmed as hoaxes. This incident highlighted the tension and fears of violence surrounding the election.
Harris, the first woman and second Black person to run for President, was positioning herself as a defender of democracy and abortion rights, particularly against Trump’s proposals for abortion bans and harsh immigration policies.
