INTERNATIONAL
USA - Republican candidate Donald Trump is projected to reclaim the presidency, as NewsNation and Decision Desk HQ report his win in Pennsylvania, clinching the electoral votes necessary for victory.
Speaking to supporters around 1:30 a.m. CT Wednesday, Trump called the victory a testament to a movement "like nobody’s ever seen before."
“This, I believe, is the greatest political movement of all time,” Trump declared. “There’s never been anything like this in our country, maybe even beyond, and now it’s going to reach a new level as we work to help America heal.”
Trump’s running mate, now Vice President-elect JD Vance, hailed the win as the “greatest political comeback in U.S. history.”
“He turned out to be a good choice,” Trump added, acknowledging Vance's role in the campaign.
Trump also praised allies such as Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, who had campaigned for him in Philadelphia. He mentioned former Independent candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr., noting Kennedy’s potential role in reforming federal health agencies like the FDA and CDC if Trump returns to the White House.
Trump will be inaugurated with a Republican-controlled Senate, according to NewsNation and Decision Desk HQ projections.
“We have taken back control of the Senate,” Trump said, calling the victory margin “absolutely incredible.”
Trump surged ahead early as polls closed on the East Coast with what analysts called a “red mirage.” Early victories in swing states like Georgia and North Carolina set the stage, while Pennsylvania ultimately secured the 270 electoral votes needed.
On his path to victory, Trump won major states including Texas, Florida, and Ohio, alongside a wave of red states such as Alabama, Oklahoma, and Utah.
This win comes just months after Vice President Kamala Harris joined the race in late July, following President Joe Biden's decision to suspend his campaign.
The campaign trail has not been without danger; Trump survived two assassination attempts. In July, a gunman fired at Trump during a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, with Secret Service agents fatally wounding the assailant. In September, another suspect was intercepted outside Trump’s golf course and was later charged, though he pled not guilty.
Despite these incidents and multiple legal battles from recent indictments, Trump remained steadfast in his pursuit of a second term.
“Four months from now, we’ll celebrate an incredible victory and begin four of the greatest years in American history,” Trump predicted in a fiery 93-minute acceptance speech in Milwaukee. “Together, we’ll launch a new era of safety, prosperity, and freedom for every American.”
Where Are Trump and Harris Now?
Throughout the campaign, Trump focused on border security and the economy, blaming the Biden-Harris administration for rising illegal immigration and inflation. He specifically criticized Harris’s role as Biden’s “border czar,” arguing her oversight failed to curb the issue.
The two candidates met for a single debate, sparring over key policies. Harris pressed for a second debate, but Trump declined, citing that early voting had already begun in several states.
Set to take office in January after Biden completes his term, Trump has pledged to address the ongoing crisis at the U.S.-Mexico border, with plans for mass deportations of illegal immigrants.
