On Wednesday morning, Americans awoke to the news that Donald J. Trump had once again claimed the White House, marking a significant political comeback that lifted investor confidence and prompted international congratulations. His victory was solidified around 5:30 a.m. Eastern, when he secured Wisconsin, surpassing the critical 270 electoral votes.
Trump supporters celebrated what turned out to be a decisive victory, defying polls that had anticipated a close race. Although the final count will take days, Trump appears poised to win both the Electoral College and the national popular vote, delivering the strongest showing for a Republican presidential candidate since 2004.
This return to office comes four years after his loss to Joseph R. Biden Jr., with the Senate under Republican control. The outcome of the House of Representatives remains undecided.
Vice President Kamala Harris’s defeat marks the second time in eight years that a female Democratic presidential nominee fell short of a historic win. Harris’s campaign indicated she would address the nation later Wednesday.
