Donald Trump wins 2024 U.S. presidential election – The Cauldron
Yep, he’s back.
Former President and Republican candidate Donald Trump has been elected president of the United States after a long, grueling race against Vice President and Democratic candidate Kamala Harris.
Trump defeated Harris with 51% of the popular vote and 277 electoral votes, while Harris acquired 47.5% and 224. AP News called the election early this morning.
President-elect Trump’s wins in certain swing states, particularly the battleground state of Pennsylvania, helped him lock the presidency. Ohio remained loyal to the candidate for a third consecutive presidential cycle, with 55.2% of the population voting for him.
This victory marks the second time in all of U.S. history that a president will serve two non-consecutive terms in the Oval Office, with the first being Grover Cleveland, who served as the 22nd and 24th president. Trump will now be the 45th and 47th U.S. president.
In the backdrop of Trump’s dense legal woes, what will a second Trump presidential term look like?
Trump’s criminal trials
Donald Trump’s win could allow him to disrupt or outright dismiss his 34 felony counts or any of his other criminal cases.
With his lawyers previously pushing his sentencing until after the election, this could very well be a part of his plan. Depending on how the Supreme Court rules on his presidential immunity, he might be able to successfully wipe his charges.
Rule of law
Donald Trump plans to use his presidential power to prosecute his political enemies and use the American military against Democrat protesters, saying on Fox News, “it should be very easily handled by — if necessary, by National Guard, or if really necessary, by the military.”
Trump has even announced his intentions to prosecute President Joe Biden and his family:
“I will appoint a real special prosecutor to go after the most corrupt president in the history of the United States of America, Joe Biden, and the entire Biden crime family.”
He is targeting journalists as well, claiming that they do not reveal their sources:
“If the reporter doesn’t want to tell you, it’s ‘bye-bye,’ the reporter goes to jail.”
Policy stances: immigration
Donald Trump’s immigration policies have been at the center of his campaign.
“The Republican platform promises to launch the largest deportation operation in the history of our country,” Trump revealed at the Republican National Convention in July 2024.
Trump has suggested workplace raids targeting industries that employ undocumented immigrants, reintroducing travel bans on countries with Muslim majorities, expanding the border wall and ending birthright citizenship.
Economy
Donald Trump’s economic policy focuses on introducing tariffs on foreign goods in order to encourage national independence. This will affect the prices of products usually produced in China, and most likely raise expenses for the lower class.
In fact, much of his platform is built on desires to remove all Chinese influence from the American economy and marketplace, including gradually phasing out all Chinese imports and banning U.S. companies from investing in Chinese companies and vice versa.
Trump seeks to end taxation on Social Security and cut taxes for all, though his previous tax legislation has disproportionately benefited wealthier taxpayers.
Abortion and healthcare
Donald Trump plans on stopping all Covid mandates in a bid to protect medical freedom. Though he previously tried to repeal Obamacare and the Affordable Care Act, he vows Medicaid and Society Security.
Trump’s abortion stance has been inconsistent over the years, in the past claiming to be “very pro-choice” but more recently identifying as pro-life. Trump goes as far as taking credit for the overturning of Roe v. Wade.
“After 50 years of failure, with nobody coming even close, I was able to kill Roe v. Wade, much to the “shock” of everyone,” Trump posted on Truth Social. “And for the first time put the Pro Life movement in a strong negotiating position over the Radicals that are willing to kill babies even into their 9th month, and beyond. Without me there would be no 6 weeks, 10 weeks, 15 weeks, or whatever is finally agreed to. Without me the pro Life movement would have just kept losing. Thank you President TRUMP!!!”
Israel’s war on Gaza
Israel’s war on Gaza has generated anger among many voter groups, particularly Arab- and Muslim-American voters who have spent the last year protesting the Biden-Harris administration’s involvement.
Trump has consistently sided with Israel and its right to defend itself against Hamas. On the war, Trump said that he would “get that settled and fast,” while reportedly telling Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu several days ago that he wants the war done by the time he’s in office next January.
That being said, he has not revealed any actual plans or intentions to secure a cease-fire.
This is a developing story. Updates will be posted as they become available.