Fox News has projected that former President Donald Trump has secured a second term in office, defeating Vice President Kamala Harris in the 2024 US presidential election. This victory makes Trump the first president to serve two nonconsecutive terms since Grover Cleveland in 1892, marking a pivotal moment in American political history.
Trump’s Second Term Victory
Trump, who first won the presidency in 2016, made a victorious return to the White House after losing to President Joe Biden in the contentious 2020 election. His campaign for a second term centered on the achievements of his first presidency and the failures of the Biden-Harris administration. Key issues, such as the worsening U.S. border crisis and rising inflation, were central to Trump’s platform, with the former president using his first term as evidence of his ability to strengthen the American economy and secure the nation’s borders.
His second presidential run, which officially began with an announcement in November 2022, was dominated by his focus on reversing many of Biden’s policies, which he argued had harmed American workers and businesses. Despite fierce competition within the Republican primaries, Trump emerged as the undisputed frontrunner, easily securing victory in the primaries, with all his rivals eventually endorsing him for the presidency.
A Bitter Departure: Biden Drops Out
The road to the presidency for Trump took an unexpected turn when, by mid-July, President Joe Biden was pressured by Democrat insiders to suspend his bid for re-election after a poor debate performance. Biden’s withdrawal came shortly after the Republican National Convention and days before Trump accepted the GOP nomination. The withdrawal decision saw Vice President Kamala Harris elevated to the Democratic ticket as the presidential candidate, marking a significant shift in the race.
Trump’s campaign was not without its hurdles. In July, just days before the GOP nomination was formally accepted, Trump survived an assassination attempt at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. The attacker, Thomas Matthew Crooks, shot Trump as he was gesturing to a chart showing the failures of the Biden administration’s immigration policies. The bullet grazed Trump’s ear, but he credited the chart for saving his life by deflecting the bullet.
Weeks later, another attempt on Trump’s life was thwarted when a gunman opened fire with an AK-47-style rifle at Trump while he was at his golf course in West Palm Beach, Florida. Despite the tension and threats, Trump’s resilience and determination to win remained unwavering.
A Testy Campaign And Final Week Push
As the election neared, Trump’s campaign strategy included symbolic stunts, such as working a shift at a McDonald’s drive-thru in Pennsylvania, poking fun at Harris’ earlier claim of having worked at the fast-food chain. Meanwhile, Harris’ campaign painted Trump as a threat to democracy, with fears that he would sign a national abortion ban, a claim that Trump consistently denied.
Rhetoric reached a fever pitch, especially in the final days leading up to Election Day. Despite the intense criticisms, Trump held a massive rally at Madison Square Garden, making a statement by drawing huge crowds in traditionally liberal New York City.
Ultimately, Trump’s relentless campaigning and ability to connect with voters in key battleground states paved the way for his return to the White House. Despite heated rhetoric and heated debates, the 2024 election concluded with Trump emerging victorious, bringing a close to what has been one of the most unpredictable and volatile election cycles in modern American history.
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