Trump led the race as early as midnight on November 5th, with most of the votes counted.
By Alfredo García Almeida, journalist, international analyst and contributor from Mérida, Yucatán.
Many in the United States were not ready to elect a woman president, especially one of Indian and African descent. Out of a widespread international feeling of fear and uncertainty about Trump's election victory, there was a chorus of congratulations from the center-right and even offers to work with the new Trump administration.
Trump led the race as early as midnight on November 5th, with most of the votes counted. And the lead over Harris was not small or close, as the polls had predicted. The polls were wrong again, except for The New York Times, which predicted a victory for the former president with 297 electoral votes. Trump exceeded expectations, receiving 292 electoral votes (he needed 270) according to the official data, against 224 for Harris. Unlike in 2020, Trump also won the popular vote: 51% to 47.5%. "It's a feeling of love," he said in an unusually relaxed tone, without any further triumphalism.
Despite being a "convicted felon" with a racist, anti-immigrant discourse and the recipient of the great scandal after the comment of comedian Tony Hinchcliffe, who referred to Puerto Rico as "a floating island of garbage", Trump increased about 10 points among Hispanics in some states.
The young and male vote was also crucial to the Republican candidate's results.
Despite being a "convicted felon" with a racist, anti-immigrant discourse and the recipient of the great scandal after the comment of comedian Tony Hinchcliffe, who referred to Puerto Rico as "a floating island of garbage," Trump increased about 10 points among Hispanics in some states.
Trump declared his victory from the Republican headquarters in Florida: "America has given us a powerful, unprecedented mandate."
In his victory speech, Trump promised to unite the country and move beyond polarization: "Success will bring us together," he said, adding that he would govern "with a mission." "God spared my life to save our country."
Trump lacked only the "divine hand" that empowered President Ronald Reagan when he suffered an assassination attempt in March 1981, just 70 days into his first term.
The parallels between that event and what happened in Butler, Pennsylvania, when a gunman shot former President Trump, are striking.
Reagan's bravery during those tense hours cemented his relationship and political standing with the American people and changed the way he approached politics throughout his term, just as it could happen in the case of Trump, for better or worse.
According to experts, the election results show a more conservative U.S., passing a costly bill to the Democrats, whose disillusionment with Biden due to inflation rates, high cost of living and exorbitant prices of health services, housing and higher education, along with the immigration and insecurity crisis, brought a political and economic cost greater than the risk of a stronger, more authoritarian and unpredictable Trump.
