By Etienne Mainimo Mengnjo
78-year-old Donald J. Trump, the Republican candidate has been elected 47th President of the United State of America. The election of Trump has been described by many as a stunning political resurrection.
Trump defeated Vice President Harris Kamala, a Democrat, on Wednesday November 6 by securing 277 electoral votes (51 percent), more than the 270 Electoral College votes needed to win the presidency.
Vice President Harris Kamala who had 224 electoral votes (47.5 percent) had been seeking to make history herself as the first woman, first Black woman and first South Asian American to become president in the US’s 248-year history.
In his acceptance speech, Trump expressed gratitude for what he described as an unprecedented and powerful mandate. “This is the greatest political movement of all time. There’s never been anything like this in this country,” he said, promising to guide the nation towards healing.
Trump stressed his commitment to addressing issues such as border security and national prosperity, stating, “I will not rest until we have delivered the strong, safe, and prosperous America that our children deserve. This will truly be the golden age of America.”
However, Trump’s plans include reshaping the executive branch, which may involve dismissing civil servants he perceives as disloyal and utilizing federal law enforcement agencies to investigate political opponents—actions that challenge the longstanding principle of agency independence.
As of press time, Republicans have also regained control of the Senate, while the House of Representatives remains undecided. The Republicans have held a narrow majority in the House since 2022.
Experts warn that a second Trump presidency could exacerbate divisions between Democrats and Republicans on critical issues, including race, gender, education, and reproductive rights. However, despite legal challenges and controversies, Trump becomes only the second former president to win a second term after leaving office, following Grover Cleveland, who served two non-consecutive terms in the late 19th century.
After his defeat by Joe Biden in 2020, many analysts believed Trump’s political career was over, particularly after the January 6 Capitol insurrection incited by his false claims of a stolen election, which led to his second impeachment.
Throughout his campaign, Trump employed incendiary rhetoric, referring to the U.S. as a “garbage can” for immigrants and pledging to save the economy from “obliteration.” He frequently targeted rivals, labeling some as the “enemy within” and making derogatory remarks about Harris.
In contrast, Harris warned during the campaign that Trump sought unchecked presidential power and posed a threat to democracy. As vice president, she will oversee a joint session of Congress in January to certify the election results. She is set to be succeeded by U.S. Senator J.D. Vance.
Following the certification of the 2024 election results by Congress on January 6, 2025, Trump and his new vice president, Vance, are scheduled to take office on Inauguration Day, January 20. Different world presidents have sent in their congratulatory messages to Trump on his election.
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