Washington — Former President Trump has captured the crucial battleground state of Pennsylvania, CBS News projects, delivering a significant boost to his chances of taking the White House.
With votes still being counted, Trump maintained a lead of just over 2 percentage points as of 2 a.m. ET, with 95% of jurisdictions reporting.
Victory in the Keystone State was critical for both campaigns heading into Election Day, with its 19 electoral votes making it the biggest prize of the battleground states.
Former President Donald Trump will defeat Vice President Kamala Harris in a historic political comeback, recapturing the White House following an election loss in 2020, CNN projects.
Trump will return to the nation’s highest office four years after inciting a violent insurrection at the US Capitol as part of an effort to hold on to power as he refused to accept the results of the 2020 election, which he lost to President Joe Biden.
Trump’s election presents an unprecedented legal situation as the president-elect was scheduled to be sentenced in New York criminal court this month after being convicted of 34 felony counts of falsifying business records earlier this year. Trump also faces other criminal charges brought by special counsel Jack Smith in his ongoing federal election subversion case. The former president made the multiple criminal charges against him a focal point in his 2024 campaign as he argued he was being unjustly targeted and vowed to seek “retribution.”
Trump, 78, will also become the second former president in history to win back the White House after losing a reelection bid while in office — Grover Cleveland was the first. Trump is now the same age that Biden was when Biden became the oldest president in US history to be inaugurated.
The former president’s election comes months after surviving two assassination attempts against him. Since his first successful White House bid in 2016, Trump has reshaped the GOP in his image and holds an iron grip over a party that once appeared ready to move on from him after the Capitol insurrection on January 6, 2021.
Trump’s Historic Comeback and Its Significance
In a groundbreaking turn of events, Donald Trump, the former president who faced numerous legal battles and survived two assassination attempts, has returned to the White House. Trump’s win over Vice President Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential election signifies a comeback of epic proportions, marking him as only the second U.S. president to reclaim the office after losing it. The first president to achieve this was Grover Cleveland, who served two non-consecutive terms in the late 19th century. Trump’s victory in Pennsylvania, a battleground state with 19 critical electoral votes, provided a decisive boost to his campaign. The Keystone State was a pivotal prize for both Trump and Harris, symbolizing a significant tipping point in the election.
Legal Challenges and the Road Ahead
Trump’s journey back to the White House has been anything but conventional. He faces an unprecedented legal situation, with numerous criminal charges still pending against him. Earlier this year, he was convicted of 34 felony counts related to falsifying business records in New York. The president-elect is due to be sentenced for these convictions, which creates a unique predicament for the American political system and raises numerous questions about the limits and implications of presidential power. In addition to the New York case, Trump faces charges by special counsel Jack Smith for allegedly attempting to subvert the 2020 election results. Trump has centered his campaign around these charges, portraying himself as a political outsider unfairly targeted by the establishment.
A Divisive Leader with Unyielding Support
Since his first election win in 2016, Trump has reshaped the Republican Party into his own image, exercising significant influence over its members. His leadership, marked by an “us-against-them” rhetoric, has cemented his influence and led to a GOP that is largely aligned with his views and ideology. Many Republican leaders and voters initially hesitated or distanced themselves from him following the January 6 Capitol insurrection. However, Trump’s base has remained fiercely loyal, viewing him as a victim of a biased justice system and a political establishment intent on his downfall. This unwavering support among his core voters helped propel him to victory in 2024.
Trump’s reelection also underscores the deep divisions within American society. His success reflects the dissatisfaction of a large portion of the electorate with the current political and economic landscape. Many of Trump’s supporters view him as a champion for the working class and an advocate for Americans who feel alienated by globalization, cultural shifts, and a perceived elitism in Washington.
Implications for the U.S. Political Landscape
The Trump-Harris election has far-reaching implications for American politics, potentially shifting the country’s direction on both domestic and foreign policy fronts. Trump’s victory signals a likely reversal of many policies enacted by President Joe Biden. His 2016 presidency was characterized by a strong stance on immigration, deregulation, tax cuts for corporations and the wealthy, and a push to reshape America’s foreign relations by prioritizing “America First.” It is expected that he will pick up where he left off in these areas, likely implementing similar policies aimed at strengthening American interests abroad, particularly against China and in trade negotiations with allies in Europe and Asia.
Furthermore, Trump’s return may influence the judiciary and other government institutions. During his first term, Trump appointed a significant number of federal judges, including three Supreme Court justices. If given another opportunity, he may continue shaping the federal judiciary to reflect his conservative ideology, impacting U.S. law and policy for generations.
Concerns over Democratic Institutions
Trump’s return to the presidency has raised concerns among political analysts and citizens alike about the state of American democracy and democratic norms. His 2024 campaign was marked by skepticism about the electoral process, as he frequently alluded to election fraud, accusations he similarly made in 2020. Some worry that Trump’s return could undermine confidence in democratic institutions and set a precedent for challenging election results, potentially eroding trust in the fairness and integrity of U.S. elections.
Additionally, the Capitol insurrection of January 6, 2021, remains a fresh memory for many Americans. Trump’s re-election raises questions about how he will handle dissent and opposition, especially given his willingness to question the legitimacy of democratic processes in the past. Some political observers worry that his second term could see a continued erosion of democratic norms and increased polarization within the country.
The Challenge for the Democratic Party
The Democratic Party now faces a critical juncture. Kamala Harris’s loss, following Joe Biden’s presidency, poses significant challenges for the party as it seeks to regain support. Biden’s tenure was marked by ambitious legislative achievements, including the passage of substantial spending bills aimed at improving infrastructure, addressing climate change, and providing economic relief during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, economic issues like inflation, high living costs, and concerns about public safety became focal points in the 2024 election, issues that the GOP, led by Trump, managed to capitalize on effectively.
For the Democrats, Trump’s win underscores the need to reconnect with the American working class and address their concerns more effectively. The 2024 election revealed a gap between the Democratic Party’s priorities and the issues resonating with many Americans, especially in swing states like Pennsylvania. Moving forward, the party may need to reassess its messaging and policy priorities to align more closely with voters’ daily concerns and anxieties.
Internationally, Trump’s election is likely to reverberate across the globe. During his first term, Trump took a distinctly nationalist approach, emphasizing “America First” and often expressing skepticism toward traditional alliances like NATO. This stance disrupted international relations, as Trump frequently criticized allies for not contributing enough to mutual defense efforts and sometimes engaged in contentious trade negotiations. His return may signal a renewed focus on these policies, with potential friction in U.S. relations with countries in Europe, as well as with NATO allies. Trump’s tough stance on China may also resume, likely resulting in stricter policies aimed at reducing China’s influence on global trade and technology.
Global reactions to Trump’s victory have been mixed. Some leaders, particularly those aligned with populist ideologies, view his return as a positive shift toward a more nationalistic global order. Others, however, worry about the impact of Trump’s policies on multilateralism and international cooperation. With the world facing challenges like climate change, economic instability, and geopolitical tensions, Trump’s approach may further polarize the global community.
Final Thoughts
The return of Donald Trump to the White House is a momentous event in American history, one that will shape the nation’s political, social, and economic landscape for years to come. His second term promises to be just as polarizing as his first, with implications that extend beyond the United States. While his supporters view him as a transformative leader who champions the forgotten, his critics see his reelection as a challenge to democratic norms and a potential threat to U.S. institutions. As Trump prepares to take office, the country and the world will watch closely to see how he navigates the complex terrain of American politics and the ongoing legal and ethical questions surrounding his leadership.