In a close election that set the nation on edge for months, former President Donald Trump, 78, has won a second term, beating out Vice President Kamala Harris.
Trump wasted no time early Wednesday morning, declaring victory from West Palm Beach, Fla. even before the race was called by most news organizations and as votes were still being counted in several battleground states.
“This was the greatest political movement of all time, and now it’s going to reach a new level of importance because we’re going to help our country heal,” Trump said.
Harris and Trump were practically tied going into Election Day, according to opinion polling. As of Wednesday afternoon, Trump led by 50.9% of the votes to Harris’s 47.4%, according to the unofficial count.
Trump served one term as U.S. president from 2016 to 2020, during which he was impeached twice. He lost his initial re-election campaign to President Joe Biden.
Earlier this year, Trump was found guilty in a New York court of all 34 counts of falsifying business records, becoming the first U.S. president in history to become a felon. The trial centered around Trump snuffing out the illicit relationship he had with adult film star Stephanie Clifford, aka Stormy Daniels, with hush money before the 2016 presidential election. He continued to deny the 2020 election results throughout his time campaigning against Biden and then Harris.
Trump’s last rally in New York City before the election, at Madison Square Garden, was marked by racist jokes and vulgar speeches. Attendees were MAGA supporters such as former presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Tesla Motors CEO Elon Musk, former wrestler Hulk Hogan, and vice presidential candidate J.D. Vance (R-Ohio). They took turns making racist and sexist comments about Blacks and Latinos –– including a notably offensive comment regarding Puerto Rico.
At the polls in New York City on Election Day, some voters said they feared another Trump win could change the trajectory of the country. He has promised to lean into a far-right agenda, known as Project 2025. This includes a rollback of climate regulations, expansion of oil and gas drilling, mass deportation of people who entered the country illegally, reduction in military support for Ukraine, tariffs on all imported goods, and a large tax cut, reported the New York Times.
From our previous reporting:
Recently, Heritage Foundation President Kevin Roberts called the current phase of their operation a “bloodless second American Revolution” but alluded to the possibility of more violent insurrection to carry it out if there is resistance.
The conservative document includes recruitment tactics to identify far-right Republican loyalists to replace civil servants in the federal government, a training program to prepare them to flout government procedures, and a “secret” 180-day playbook for future Republican presidents, said Seeberger.
New York reacts
New York City Councilmember Yusef Salaam, who recently filed a lawsuit against Trump over false allegations during the presidential debate regarding the Exonerated Five, was at an election night watch party in Harlem at the Row restaurant on Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Boulevard. Salaam celebrated his chief of staff, newly elected Assemblymember Jordan Wright, on getting into office. Salaam said because of his experience of being imprisoned as an adolescent, his personal philosophy is to plan for the worst and prepare for the best.
“We’ve already seen the country led by Trump and I don’t think that by and large, there’s been trust there. I think that there’s been great challenges, especially when you’re talking about fairness, truth, and justice and equity,” said Salaam, a few hours after the polls had closed. He was cautiously optimistic about Harris’s chances. “But to be honest, I don’t even want to think about that. I’m ready to say ‘Madame President.’”
“I am the proud son of Costa Rican immigrants who left everything behind to move to America. My parents faced unimaginable hardships so I could have a better life — and their determination and strength is a guiding light for me on this difficult day for our nation,” said Senator Zellnor Myrie. “This is a challenging and painful day for so many of us — but we cannot allow despair to turn into apathy, and we cannot let proponents of hatred and division dictate who we are. We must continue to protect and embrace all New Yorkers, from our newest arrivals to those who have been here for generations. We know Washington will offer more obstacles than aid — but we’ve persevered in the face of federal extremism and obstruction before.
On Wednesday morning, Nov. 6, Mayor Eric Adams held a press conference to discuss the impacts of the presidential election on the city. He said that he believed in a “peaceful transfer of power” and wished Trump the best in his presidency. “No matter who’s president or what party controls Congress, this city will always stand up for the rights of women, our immigrant brothers and sisters, our LGBTQ+ community, and millions of others,” said Adams.
Across the city, and seemingly the country, crowds of Black voters seemed equally cautious and optimistic early on, which gave way to anxiety and then dread as more electoral votes came in. Many in Harlem and Brooklyn were avidly paying attention to the news at watch parties that went eerily quiet, AmNews reporters observed.
The Rev. Al Sharpton, founder of Harlem’s National Action Network (NAN), commented after Trump’s declared victory on Wednesday morning with a sense of foreboding: “We already know what Donald Trump’s agenda aims to do, which is why we must channel our momentum into fighting back against his destructive policies. He and J.D. Vance want to turn back the clock to deliver an America that will make the Jim Crow era pale in comparison. He aims to wash away the blood, [sweat], and tears of our ancestors. He will continue to pit Americans against one another, demonize Black and Brown communities, and turn immigrants into scapegoats for their own personal gain. NAN and our allies refuse to stand idly by as they seek to bring a dark cloud over America. Though we may be down, we are not defeated. We will continue to organize. We will continue to speak out. We will continue [to] resist any agenda that tries to take us backward.”
Sharpton added that Harris ran a strong campaign with barely three months until the election. He said he was “heartbroken by the end of her campaign.”
House still in play
Meanwhile, the House of Representatives is still in play and Democrats lost control of the U.S. Senate, which means that Trump is likely to have a clear path to appointing more conservative federal judges, as well as the heads of federal departments.
One of the few bright spots was the first-ever election of two Black women to the Senate as Delaware’s Lisa Blunt Rochester and Maryland’s Angela Alsobrooks won their respective races. In New York, Democrats Josh Riley and State Sen. John Mannion won two important swing districts were won.
U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand and Congressmember Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (AOC) were also victorious in their respective races. “Thank you to the people of the Bronx and Queens for re-electing me to another term in Congress,” AOC posted. “As a former waitress, I never thought serving in Congress would ever be a reality. It will always remain the honor of my life to serve our community.”
Trump’s language and behavior during the campaign sparked growing warnings from Democrats and some Republicans about shocks to democracy that his return to power would bring. He repeatedly praised strongman leaders, warned that he would deploy the military to target political opponents he labeled the “enemy from within,” threatened to take action against news organizations for unfavorable coverage, and suggested suspending the Constitution. Some who served in his first White House, including Vice President Mike Pence and John Kelly, Trump’s longest-serving chief of staff, either declined to endorse him or issued dire public warnings about his return to the presidency.
Black and Brown Americans and other marginalized citizens and immigrants face an uncertain future in a second Trump term, which, by all indications, will be more conservative and have fewer restraints than his first term.
“The outcome of this 2024 presidential election represents a stark divide,” said Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson in a statement. “It’s a sobering reminder of the work we need to do to bridge these divides and ensure that our voices are heard. As we move forward, we must remain vigilant and committed to advocating for our residents.
“Regardless of who serves as Commander-in-Chief, we will continue to work with our local, state, and federal partners to protect the rights of our families and ensure that our community’s needs are prioritized. In these times of uncertainty, it’s vital that we come together, regardless of political affiliation, to safeguard our residents’ rights and well-being. Our strength lies in our unity, and we must not allow divisiveness to distract us from the work at hand.”
This story will continue to be updated.
This story includes text from the Associated Press.