Donald Trump has made history, becoming the first president since Grover Cleveland in the 19th century to secure two nonconsecutive terms. Early projections indicate that Trump has won the U.S. presidential election, marking a major comeback in American politics.
At around 1:15 a.m. Eastern time, Fox News announced that Trump would win Pennsylvania, a crucial swing state with 19 electoral votes, which brought his total to 267 while Vice President Kamala Harris remained at 214. By 2 a.m., Fox News had called Wisconsin for Trump declaring him the election winner, as it brought him beyond the 270 electoral votes needed to secure the presidency.
This election cycle has been one of the most unusual in recent memory. Trump ran while contending with multiple felony convictions, while Harris became the Democratic nominee after President Joe Biden stepped out of the race.
Trump secured the Republican nomination in March after winning several state primaries, surpassing figures like Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley. His path to the nomination continued amid ongoing legal battles, including cases tied to the 2020 election and sexual assault allegations.
In May, Trump faced a New York jury that found him guilty of 34 charges related to the “hush money” case. These charges stemmed from an alleged payment to an adult film star to prevent an extramarital affair from going public during his 2016 campaign. Trump has consistently denied these allegations and appealed the decision, arguing the charges are politically motivated.
On the Democratic side, Biden initially gathered enough delegates to secure the nomination, seemingly setting up a rematch against Trump. However, amid concerns over Biden's mental fitness after a poor performance during the presidential debate in June, an increasing chorus of voices within his party urged him to step aside.
In July, Trump narrowly survived an assassination attempt during a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, where a gunman opened fire, injuring one rallygoer and killing another.
Just over a week after this incident, Biden announced his withdrawal from the race, stating on his social media account that he intended to focus on his current presidential duties. He endorsed Harris as his successor, paving the way for her to become the Democratic nominee with support from prominent party figures.
The decision to nominate Harris stirred controversy within certain Democratic circles, with some criticizing the party's process and calling it undemocratic.
September saw a second assassination attempt on Trump at his Florida golf club. A 58-year-old man managed to get within 300 yards of Trump before being spotted and fired upon by the Secret Service. The assailant was apprehended after fleeing the scene.
Leading up to Election Day, polls showed a tight race between Trump and Harris, with experts divided on a likely victor. In the end, Trump emerged triumphant, joining Cleveland in the unique position of serving nonconsecutive terms in office.
