(The text has been updated throughout)
Trump’s Democratic opponent, Vice President Kamala Harris, admitted defeat and promised to ensure an orderly transfer of power. “We have to accept the result of this election,” said the 60-year-old in the capital Washington the day after the election. This is a basic principle of US democracy and makes the difference to a monarchy or tyranny. She said she called Trump and congratulated him on his victory.
At the same time, Harris emphasized: “While I admit defeat in this election, I am not giving up the fight that fueled this election campaign.” She called on her followers not to despair or lose heart. “I know that many people feel that we are entering a dark time.” But stars can only be seen in the dark.
New cabinet
Exploratory talks for Trump’s new government team are said to have already begun behind the scenes. Various names of shrill Trump allies are circulating who could take on important positions – including the tech billionaire Elon Musk, the controversial ex-ambassador to Germany, Richard Grenell, and the anti-vaccination activist and temporary presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy. Republican Senator Marco Rubio is also said to be under discussion as the new Secretary of State. Trump’s loyal former chief diplomat Mike Pompeo is said to be in discussion for the defense department.
Trump accepted an invitation from Democratic incumbent Joe Biden to government headquarters. The meeting will take place “soon,” a Trump spokesman said after a phone call between the incumbent and the president-elect.
Clear election victory for the Republican
Trump clearly prevailed against Harris and for the first time also won a clear majority of the votes cast nationwide: According to US media, the Republican received at least 72.6 million votes based on the count so far. Harris received almost five million fewer votes, around 67.9 million.
The ex-president scored points in the election campaign with promises such as halving energy costs in view of the high cost of living that burdens many people in the USA. He also fueled fears of an alleged invasion by criminal migrants.
Trump’s most loyal base is primarily white men without a college degree. But compared to the defeat against Biden four years ago, he did better with almost all voter groups, especially with the important minority of Latinos, whose votes the Democrats could traditionally count on. Even among blacks, he secured more votes than four years ago.
Senate majority for Trump’s Republicans
The Republicans were also able to take the majority in the US Senate from the Democrats in the vote. In the other chamber of parliament, the House of Representatives, it was initially unclear whether the Republicans would be able to defend their majority there. If they succeed, Trump would be in an even more powerful position because he could then govern virtually unhindered – without counterweight from the Democrats in the House of Representatives.
Biden: Children will look up to Harris for a long time
Harris’ admission of electoral defeat is actually self-evident. But Trump had the standards crazy: He ran against Joe Biden in the 2020 election and lost, but has not accepted the defeat to this day. At that time, he launched an unprecedented campaign against the election results, which culminated in the violent storming of the US Capitol by his supporters.
Biden congratulated Trump on his election victory, as did other senior Democrats, including former Presidents Bill Clinton and Barack Obama. Biden also praised his deputy and said she would remain a leader “our children will look up to for generations.” This morning (local time; 5 p.m. CET) he wants to address the nation about the election results.
Harris was the first woman to serve as vice president. If she won the election, she would have become the first black woman to head the state. However, her message failed to penetrate many voters. Many voters also blamed the Biden-Harris administration for the increased cost of living as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.
Trump wants a radical change of course
During his election campaign, Trump promised, among other things, the largest deportation operation in the country’s history, a quick end to Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, and high import tariffs and tax cuts. The Republican also denies the climate crisis and announced a drastic expansion of oil and natural gas production in the USA. In foreign policy – where Harris stood for continuity – Trump is seen as unpredictable, also with regard to the important US support for Ukraine.
Trump’s second presidency is likely to put international balances of power and existing alliances to the test. Heads of state and government from all over the world rushed to congratulate Trump and make their first phone calls with the president-elect – no matter how strained their relationship was in the past. China’s head of state Xi Jinping also congratulated – and immediately warned the Republican against a confrontational course towards Beijing, as he had taken during his first term in office.
The further timetable
The results of the presidential election must first be counted and certified in the states down to the last vote. The official result must be known by December 11th. On December 17th, the electors in the states will meet to vote. The newly elected Congress meets for the first time on January 3rd.
On January 6th, the House of Representatives and Senate will meet together to formally confirm the election results. The incumbent Vice President, Harris, will chair this meeting. After the 2020 election, Trump’s supporters stormed the Capitol during this meeting.
The official handover of power will finally take place on January 20th: the new president will be sworn in in a solemn ceremony at the Capitol. The new government then begins its work immediately.
