Donald J. Trump has defeated Vice President Kamala Harris, playing on fears over inflation and illegal immigration to become only the second former president ever to make a comeback after a re-election defeat.
Voters saw Mr. Trump as a stronger leader for uncertain times with a track record as an economic champion. They overlooked his dozens of felony convictions, his role stoking an assault on the Capitol and his indictments on charges of attempting to subvert the 2020 election and to hold on to classified documents.
At 78, he is the oldest man to be elected president of the United States. His decisive victory came after one of the most turbulent campaigns in memory, including two failed assassination attempts.
Speaking to supporters in Florida, early Wednesday, he declared, “This will forever be remembered as the day the American people regained control of their country.”
He returns to Washington with his Republican Party firmly in control of the Senate after four years in the minority. That will make it easier to install loyalists in his cabinet and other high-level posts.
Republicans are still battling to hold their slim majority in the House.
Ms. Harris sought to make history not only as the first woman but also as the first Black and Asian American woman to be elected president, entered the contest three months ago after President Biden was pressured into bowing out of his re-election campaign.
Mr. Trump focused his campaign on closing the U.S.-Mexican border and deporting millions of undocumented immigrants. He vowed to impose sweeping tariffs to strengthen domestic industry.
Also running for president this month, Romanian leaders rush to congratulate Trump
