Former President Donald Trump has defeated Vice President Kamala Harris in the race to become the next president of the United States.
Trump crossed the 270 electoral votes threshold after winning Wisconsin, the Associated Press reported early Wednesday. The Republican nominee will return to the presidency after serving as president from 2017 to 2021 before losing his reelection bid to President Joe Biden.
Sen. JD Vance (R-Ohio) is slated to be the next vice president of the United States.
Trump formally became the Republican nominee in July after he defeated more than a dozen other candidates in a crowded Republican primary.
Trump has vowed to secure the border, reduce inflation and boost manufacturing jobs, according to his campaign website.
The New York native took over his father’s real estate company in 1971, expanding it to own hotels, casinos and golf courses across the world. Trump amassed a net worth of about $3.7 billion by 2016, according to Forbes.
Trump announced his presidential bid in 2015 to replace the term-limited Barack Obama. He ran against more than a dozen Republican candidates during the primary and won the presidency after he defeated former Secretary of State and Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton.
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On his campaign website, Trump touted his efforts as president to cut taxes for the middle class, secure the U.S.-Mexico border and enforce tariffs on China.
Trump had several tumultuous moments during his presidency and 2024 presidential campaign.
He drew scrutiny for his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic after downplaying the threat of the virus and rejecting scientific expertise, according to the Associated Press.
Trump was the first president of the United States to be impeached twice.
In 2019, Trump was impeached after he asked Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in a call to investigate Joe Biden and his son — Hunter Biden, according to the Associated Press.
Trump’s second impeachment stemmed from his role in the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection and storming of the Capitol Building. The insurrection came after Trump repeatedly denied the results of the 2020 election and spread false claims of voter fraud, according to the Associated Press. Trump was acquitted by the Senate on both impeachment charges.
During his 2024 presidential campaign, Trump also became the first former president to be convicted of a crime.
A New York state jury convicted Trump in March of 34 felony counts of falsifying business records for a hush-money payment to an adult film actress. Trump was also indicted on several federal and state charges in connection to his efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election.
Trump survived multiple assassination attempts this summer, including at a July 13 campaign rally in Pennsylvania. A gunman opened fire during the rally, killing one attendee and critically injuring two others, according to the Associated Press.
Trump will be inaugurated on Jan. 20, 2025.
