Donald Trump recaptured the White House with a sweeping victory on Wednesday as tens of millions of Americans looked past criminal convictions and divisive rhetoric to embrace a leader who, if he carries out his campaign promises, will test the limits of presidential power.
Trump, 78, clinched Tuesday’s election after a polarizing and dizzying campaign marked by two attempts on his life and a late decision by Democrats to run Kamala Harris after President Joe Biden withdrew from the race.
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US Election Live Updates: Harris calls Trump to concede the race
Trump victory to test limits of US presidential power
By Steve Holland, Joseph Ax, Gabriella Borter and Tim Reid
November 6, 20249:41 PM GMT+1Updated 2 hours ago
Item 1 of 5 Donald Trump is accompanied by family members as he addresses supporters at his rally in West Palm Beach, Florida. REUTERS/Brendan Mcdermid
[1/5]Donald Trump is accompanied by family members as he addresses supporters at his rally in West Palm Beach, Florida. REUTERS/Brendan Mcdermid Purchase Licensing Rights, opens new tab
Summary
Republicans gain control of Senate, potential House majority
Democrat Harris to speak around 4 p.m. ET (2100 GMT)
Netanyahu and Trump discuss Israeli security, ‘Iranian threat’
Trump has vowed crackdown on illegal immigration
His policies to have impact on climate, immigration, trade
PALM BEACH, Florida, Nov 6 (Reuters) – Donald Trump recaptured the White House with a sweeping victory on Wednesday as tens of millions of Americans looked past criminal convictions and divisive rhetoric to embrace a leader who, if he carries out his campaign promises, will test the limits of presidential power.
Trump, 78, clinched Tuesday’s election after a polarizing and dizzying campaign marked by two attempts on his life and a late decision by Democrats to run Kamala Harris after President Joe Biden withdrew from the race.
The resounding victory made clear how disenchanted Americans had become with the economy, border security and the direction of the country and its culture. Voters demanded a change, even if the agent of change was a convicted felon twice impeached and no longer the Washington outsider he was in his 2016 campaign.
Trump has said he wants the authority to fire civil servants he views as disloyal. His opponents fear he will turn the Justice Department and other federal law enforcement agencies into political weapons to investigate perceived enemies.
Trump and his incoming vice president, U.S. Senator JD Vance, are due to take office on Inauguration Day, Jan. 20. He promised roles in his administration to Tesla CEO Elon Musk, the world’s richest man, and former presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
The outcome defied polls that showed a razor-close race ahead of Tuesday’s Election Day. Trump mopped up at least five so-called battleground states to push him over the 270 Electoral College votes needed to win the presidency. He appeared headed for victory in the two remaining battleground states – Arizona and Nevada – where votes were still being tallied.
Trump’s lead over Harris stood at 5 million votes by Wednesday afternoon, putting him on track to become the first Republican presidential candidate to win the popular vote since George W. Bush two decades ago.
His fellow Republicans won control of the U.S. Senate from Democrats and stood a chance of adding to their narrow majority in the U.S. House of Representatives, though the outcome there likely will not be known for several days.
“It was a hell of a good day,” said Mitch McConnell, the longtime Senate Republican leader.
Republican unity on Capitol Hill would clear the way for major portions of Trump’s legislative agenda, as it did in the first two years of his 2017-2021 presidency when Republicans whipped a major tax-cut bill through Congress that mainly benefited the wealthy.
“America has given us an unprecedented and powerful mandate,” Trump said early on Wednesday to a roaring crowd at the Palm Beach County Convention Center in Florida.
Harris, the U.S. vice president, called Trump to congratulate him, aides said, and they discussed the importance of a peaceful transfer of power and being a president for all Americans. She will publicly concede the election to Trump at around 4 p.m. (2100 GMT), a source told Reuters.
Major stock markets around the world rallied following Trump’s victory, and the dollar was set for its biggest one-day jump since 2020.