Watch live: Donald Trump wins the US presidential election

Former President Donald Trump is expected to become the 47th US president, defeating Vice President Kamala Harris in a historic comeback after losing four years ago.

The Associated Press projected Trump as the winner early Wednesday after a call in Wisconsin – giving him the 270 electoral votes needed for the presidency.

Trump, 78, will begin his second term early next year after losing his first re-election bid to President Joe Biden in 2020. It was an extraordinary return to power for Trump, who refused to accept defeat four years ago and incited the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol, was convicted of crimes and survived two assassination attempts.

Trump will be the first former president to return to office since Grover Cleveland recaptured the White House in the 1892 election. He is also the first person convicted of a crime to be elected president and, at 78, the oldest person elected to the office.

His running mate, 40-year-old Ohio Senator JD Vance, will become the highest-ranking member of the Millennial generation in the US government.

Meanwhile, the Republicans also took over the Senate. If they gain enough seats in the House of Representatives, Trump’s party could regain full control of the executive and legislative branches for the first time since the start of Trump’s first term.

Trump’s victory speech

Speaking in a victory speech Wednesday morning in West Palm Beach, Florida, after FOX News called the race for Trump, he thanked his supporters and vowed to fight “for your family and your future.”

“I will fight for you every day,” Trump said. “And with every breath in my body, I will not rest until we create the strong, safe and prosperous America that our children deserve and that you deserve.”

“This will truly be the golden age of America,” he continued. “This is a great victory for the American people that will allow us to Make America Great Again.”

How did Trump win?

As of early Wednesday morning, Trump had won three crucial swing states (Pennsylvania, North Carolina and Georgia) and was leading in four of the remaining swing states that were too close to make a decision at the time.

The AP later also called Wisconsin for Trump, passing the 270 electoral vote threshold needed to win the presidency.

When will Trump be sworn in?

Trump will be sworn in as US President on Monday, January 20, 2025, on the West Front of the US Capitol in Washington, DC

Second Trump Administration

What role would RFK Jr. play?

The Trump campaign previously said it was too early to have formal discussions about possible appointees for a possible second Trump presidency.

However, Trump himself has expressed support for Robert F. Kennedy Jr. at various rallies, suggesting that Kennedy could play a role in his administration if re-elected.

RFK Jr., known for his anti-vaccine activism and environmental advocacy, has suggested he will play a significant role in shaping U.S. agriculture and health policy in a Trump-led future.

“On January 20, the Trump White House will advise all U.S. water systems to remove fluoride from public water,” Trump said. Kennedy wrote on Saturday. Trump later said he was “OK” with the move.

Will Elon Musk serve in the Trump administration?

Trump also brought up billionaire Elon Musk when discussing plans for the future.

Specifically, Trump has announced that he would create a Government Efficiency Commission to audit the entire federal government, an idea proposed by Musk, who would lead it.

During a streamed conversation on X in August, a possible role for Musk in a second Trump administration was discussed, among other things.

“You are the greatest cutter,” Trump said to Musk at the time. “I need an Elon Musk – I need someone who has a lot of strength, courage and intelligence. I want to close the Department of Education and move education back to the states.”

Trump’s plans for a second term

Economic plans

Trump put the economy and other conservative priorities at the center of his campaign platform. He continued to campaign Calls for cutting taxes and regulations in hopes of reducing inflation and has encouraged increases in oil production to lower energy prices. He has it too called for the termination of taxes social security Benefits and touted reduction in U.S. energy and electricity costs by increasing fossil fuel production.

Trump also proposed extending the 2017 tax cuts he signed as president and letting them expire at the end of 2025. That package cut the corporate tax rate from 35% to 21% and doubled the standard deduction and child tax credit, the Associated Press reported.

Those parts will remain in place until new law is implemented, but other tax cuts in the former president’s package will end without congressional action. Trump told the AP that he wants to cut the corporate tax rate to 15% and eliminate all tax increases under President Joe Biden.

“Republicans will immediately stabilize the economy by cutting wasteful government spending and promoting economic growth.” it says on its website.

Trump said he wanted it Give tips tax-freealthough details of how the plan will work are unknown. Trump also promised to eliminate taxes on tips, although this would require congressional approval.

immigration

Another key issue for Trump’s campaign was border security.

The president-elect has promised to “immediately stop” what he calls “the invasion of our southern border” and end illegal immigration. As part of that plan, he said he would immediately direct U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to conduct the largest domestic deportation operation in American history.

Trump has worked closely with Stephen Miller, a former top aide who is expected to take a senior role in the White House if Trump wins. Miller describes a Trump administration that will work with “utmost determination” to achieve two goals: “Seal the border. Deport all illegals.”

Trade

Trump has proposed tariffs starting at 10% on foreign goods with higher penalties for unfair trade practices and announced plans to boost the auto industry with the “Build It in America Plan,” which offers a lower corporate tax rate and incentives combined with the threat of tariffs of up to To levy 1,000% on imported vehicles.

In addition, Trump wants to impose a tariff system of perhaps 10% on most foreign goods. Penalties would increase if trading partners manipulate their currencies or engage in other unfair trading practices.

He also announced a plan to boost the American auto industry and warned that he could impose tariffs of up to 1,000% on vehicles imported from abroad if elected to a second term. Called the “Build It in America Plan,” the plan consists of a 15% corporate tax rate for companies that want to manufacture their products in the U.S., as well as research and development tax credits and fully tax-deductible interest on auto loans for small businesses.

Foreign Affairs

Trump declared before he took office that he would resolve the war between Russia and Ukraine. That included, he said, ending the “endless flow of American treasure into Ukraine” and asking European allies to reimburse the U.S. for the cost of rebuilding the stockpile.

It is unclear whether he would insist that Russia withdraw from territories in Ukraine it captured in the war it started in February 2022.

Trump has said he will stand with Israel in its war against Hamas and support Israel’s efforts to “destroy” the militant group. He says he will continue to “fundamentally reassess” NATO’s purpose and mission.

The “Deep State”

Trump said he would try to strip tens of thousands of career workers of their public service protections. That way they could be fired while he tries to “completely wipe out the deep state.”

The deep state, an alleged shadow network of powerful, entrenched federal and military interests, has come under increasing scrutiny from Republicans, who accuse these forces of trying to undermine the new president.

He would try to accomplish this by reissuing a 2020 executive order called “Schedule F.” That would allow him to reclassify masses of employees, focusing, he said, particularly on “corrupt bureaucrats who have weaponized our justice system” and “corrupt actors in our national security and intelligence apparatus.” Given his anger at the FBI and federal prosecutors pursuing criminal cases against him, Trump would likely target people connected to those criminal cases in retaliation.

“The deep state or whoever at the FDA is making it very difficult for drug companies to get people to test the vaccines and therapeutics. Apparently they hope to delay the answer until after November 3rd. You have to focus on speed, and save lives!” he tweeted.

Transgender rights

Trump wants to call on Congress to pass a bill establishing that “only two genders,” determined at birth, will be recognized by the United States.

As part of his crackdown on gender-affirming care, he would declare that hospitals and health care providers that offer transition hormones or surgeries will no longer meet federal health and safety standards and will be barred from receiving federal funding, including Medicaid and Medicare dollars.

He would urge Congress to ban hormonal or surgical procedures for transgender minors in all 50 states.