Donald Trump is on the cusp of securing a historic return to the White House after building a significant electoral vote lead in the 2024 US presidential election.
The Associated Press said that with 267 of the 270 votes needed, Trump holds a dominant position, leading in critical states like Michigan and Wisconsin, which have yet to be called.
His success in these battleground states places him just a few votes shy of reclaiming the presidency and becoming the 47th president of the United States.
Speaking from West Palm Beach, Trump declared victory with resounding confidence, framing his campaign as an extraordinary movement.
“This was a movement like nobody’s ever seen before, and frankly, this was, I believe, the greatest political movement of all time,” he said.
And now it’s going to reach a new level of importance, because we’re going to help our country. We’ll help our country … we have a country that needs help, and it needs help very badly.
If the race to the White House was historic and thrilling in many ways in the way it went down to the wire, Trump’s re-election is also historic in ways more than one. Here’s how:
First Republican in 20 years to win the popular vote since Bush
In a feat not achieved by any Republican since George W. Bush in 2004, Trump is projected to win the popular vote.
With his path to victory strengthened by wins in traditionally contentious swing states like North Carolina and Georgia, he may become the first Republican in two decades to capture both the popular vote and electoral college majority.
“Thank you very much. Winning the popular vote was very nice, very nice, I will tell you,” Trump remarked.
If Trump’s victory in the popular vote is confirmed, it could mark a turning point in American electoral history and signal a notable shift in voter sentiments for Republicans, who have struggled to achieve popular vote wins in recent elections.
Potentially the second president with non-consecutive terms
Should Trump’s projected victory materialize, he would join Grover Cleveland as the only US presidents to serve non-consecutive terms.
Cleveland served as President from 1885 to 1889 and then again from 1893 to 1897.
According to NPR, Cleveland entered politics in his forties, becoming the first Democratic leader elected after the Civil War, which concluded in 1865.
After losing his initial term, Cleveland returned to practising law in New York City.
However, his opposition to the Free Silver Movement—a movement advocating for the unlimited minting of silver to spur inflation and ease farmers’ debts—motivated him to re-enter politics.
A firm proponent of the gold standard, Cleveland aimed to counter this movement and block his political rival, New York Governor David B. Hill, from winning the Democratic nomination.
Much like Cleveland’s historical fight to re-establish himself after a contentious defeat, Trump has managed to rebuild a solid support base amid polarized opinions.
A complex legacy: first president with a felony conviction
Trump’s second term, if it comes to pass, would represent an unprecedented milestone as he would become the first president to serve with an active felony conviction.
Trump was convicted earlier this year on 34 felony counts related to a hush-money case in New York.
He is also awaiting trial in other criminal cases, which has led to both controversy and support among American voters.
“I am a victim of a politicized justice system,” Trump has said, arguing that the charges against him stem from partisan attacks.
His legal battles have not deterred a significant portion of the electorate, suggesting that many voters are either willing to overlook his legal issues or view them as politically motivated.
Regardless of the final outcome, the 2024 US presidential election will be remembered as a pivotal event in American history.
Trump’s potential victory not only positions him as a unique figure in presidential history but also raises important questions about the role of voter sentiment, legal controversies, and political legacies in shaping modern elections.
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