Donald Trump wins the US presidency in remarkable comeback
The former president defeated Vice-President Kamala Harris to reclaim the White House, four years after leaving office.
Donald Trump won the United States presidential election, completing a remarkable political comeback by defeating Vice-President Kamala Harris and reclaiming the White House four years after being voted out of office.
Trump swept the key battleground states and also won the national popular vote, a feat that had eluded him in his two previous campaigns. His Republican Party also gained control of the Senate and held the House of Representatives, giving him broad power to pursue his agenda.
Harris had entered the race only months earlier, after President Joe Biden ended his re-election bid following a halting debate performance that intensified concerns about his age. She mounted an energetic campaign but was unable to overcome voter discontent over inflation, immigration and the direction of the country.
Trump's victory was all the more striking given the legal jeopardy that had shadowed his campaign, including a criminal conviction and multiple indictments, and the attempt on his life during the summer. His supporters saw vindication; his opponents warned of the consequences for democratic institutions, given his false claims about the previous election and his combative rhetoric.
In a victory speech, Trump promised a new "golden age" for America and a sweeping overhaul of government, trade and immigration policy. World leaders offered congratulations, bracing for a renewed era of "America First" policies that would reshape alliances, trade and global affairs in the years to come.