Donald Trump has declared victory over Kamala Harris in the U.S. presidential election, edging close to an unprecedented political comeback.
The former president told cheering supporters at a Florida campaign event that they were on the verge of ushering in “a new golden age for America.”
Needing only one more state to secure the required 270 electoral college votes, Trump appears poised to return to the White House, marking the first such return for a former president in over 130 years. CBS projections indicate his party is also on track to gain control of the Senate.
Addressing his supporters in West Palm Beach on Wednesday morning, Trump said, “This will truly be the golden age of America — that’s what we have to have. This is a magnificent victory for the American people that will allow us to make America great again.”
Elon Musk, the billionaire and a major Trump supporter, was present as results rolled in, with Trump appearing to achieve a near sweep of the critical swing states, including Pennsylvania, North Carolina, and Georgia. Additionally, he holds strong leads in Nevada and Michigan, while Wisconsin is leaning Republican according to CBS projections. The final results, however, remain pending.
Harris, who had been expected to speak to supporters at Howard University, canceled her appearance after midnight, as her campaign faced diminishing support. Exit polls suggest she may have underperformed with female voters compared to Joe Biden’s support levels in 2020, as well as slightly lower support among Black and Latino voters.
In Congress, Republicans are projected to take the Senate, reclaiming seats in West Virginia and Ohio, while both parties remain neck-and-neck for control of the House.
Amid high stakes and heightened security, early voting saw 86 million Americans casting ballots in one of the most turbulent election seasons in recent history. Both campaigns have lawyers prepared for potential legal challenges, though voting remained peaceful nationwide despite scattered bomb hoaxes on Election Day.
Credit – BBC