The former president Donald Trump is projected to become the 47th President of the United States, defeating the Vice President Kamala Harris in a historic comeback after losing four years ago.

The Associated Press projected Trump as the winner Wednesday morning after he called Wisconsin, putting him over the 270 electoral votes needed to win the presidency.

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

Trump will be the first former president to return to office since Grover Cleveland won back the White House in 1892. He is also the first person convicted of a felony to be elected president and, at 78, is the most age person elected to 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 the Senate. If they win enough seats in the House, Trump’s party could regain full control of the executive and legislative branches of government for the first time since the start of Trump’s first term.

Trump’s victory speech

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

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

“This will truly be America’s golden age,” he continued. “This is a magnificent victory for the American people that will allow us to make America great again.”

How did Trump win?

Former US President Donald Trump speaks during a campaign town hall event at the Lancaster County Convention Center on October 20, 2024 in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)

By early Wednesday morning, Trump had won three critical swing states (Pennsylvania, North Carolina and Georgia) and was leading in four of the remaining swing states that were too close to call at that point.

The AP later called Wisconsin for Trump as well, putting him over the 270 electoral vote threshold needed to win the presidency.

When will Trump be inaugurated?

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

The second Trump administration

What role would RFK Jr. play?

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

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

RFK Jr., known for his anti-vaccine activism and environmental advocacy, has hinted at a significant role in shaping US agriculture and health policy in a Trump-led future.

“On January 20, the Trump White House will advise all US water systems to remove fluoride from public water.” Kennedy wrote on Saturday. Trump later said he would be “agreeable” to the move.

Will Elon Musk serve in the Trump administration?

Trump also brought billionaire Elon Musk into the conversation when talking about future plans.

Specifically, Trump said he would create a government efficiency commission to audit the entire federal government, an idea suggested by Musk, who would lead it.

Among other topics, a possible role for Musk in a second Trump administration was discussed during a conversation broadcast on X in August.

“You’re the ultimate cutter,” Trump told 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, 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 platform. The campaign continued call for cutting taxes and regulations in hopes of lowering inflation and encouraged increased oil production to lower energy prices. He has also appointed for the cessation of taxes on social security benefits and promoted lower energy and electricity costs in the US by increasing fossil fuel production.

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

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

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

Trump said he wanted to makes tips tax-freealthough the details of how the plan will work are unknown. Trump has also promised to eliminate taxes on tipped income, but that will require approval from Congress.

Immigration

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

The president-elect has pledged to “immediately halt” what he calls the “invasion of our southern border” and end illegal immigration. As part of that plan, he said he would immediately direct US Immigration and Customs Enforcement to undertake 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 leadership role in the White House if Trump wins. Miller describes a Trump administration that will work with “absolute determination” to achieve two goals: “Seal the border. Deport all the illegals.”

Trade

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

He also announced a plan to supercharge America’s auto industry and warned he could impose tariffs of up to 1,000 percent on vehicles imported from abroad if elected to a second term. The plan, dubbed the “Build it in America Plan,” consists of a 15 percent corporate tax rate for companies that choose to manufacture their products in the U.S., as well as research and development tax credits and fully tax-deductible interest on car. small business loans.

Foreign affairs

Trump said that even before he was inaugurated, the war between Russia and Ukraine would be resolved. That includes, he said, ending the “endless flow of American treasure to Ukraine” and requiring European allies to reimburse the U.S. for the cost of rebuilding stockpiles.

It is unclear whether he will insist that Russia withdraw from the Ukrainian territory it captured in the war it launched in February 2022.

Trump said he would support Israel in its war with 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 has said he will try to strip tens of thousands of career employees of civil service protections. That way, they could be fired as he tries to “totally wipe out the deep state”.

The “deep state,” an alleged shadowy network of powerful entrenched federal and military interests, has increasingly become the focus of Republicans who accuse such forces of trying to undermine the new president.

He would attempt to accomplish this by reissuing a 2020 executive order known as “Schedule F.” That would allow him to reclassify the masses of employees, with a particular focus, he said, 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 individuals connected to those prosecutions for punishment.

“The deep state, or whoever, at the FDA makes it very difficult for drug companies to get people to test vaccines and drugs. Obviously, they hope to delay the answer until after November 3rd. Must focus on speed. and saving lives!” he wrote on Twitter.

Transgender rights

Trump wants to ask Congress to pass a bill that would state that “only two genders,” as determined at birth, are recognized by the United States.

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

He will push Congress to ban hormone or surgical intervention for transgender minors in all 50 states.