Israel and the world prepare for Trump’s return to the White House
Israel and the world prepare for Trump’s return to the White House
The former president has achieved one of the greatest political comebacks in history - here’s where we are and what comes next.
The American election only ended a few hours ago but the American media, betting markets, and pollsters are all calling it a victory for former president Donald Trump, who has at the time of writing, picked up two of the swing states necessary to reclaim the White House. It will be the second time a president serves two non-consecutive terms in 120 years.
Trump has picked up electoral college votes from Wisconsin, North Carolina, Georgia, and crucially Pennsylvania, which both candidates needed for victory. It brings him safely over the 270 votes needed to win the election.
The Republicans are also projected to win the majority control over the Senate, which adds to Trump’s mandate to govern after he is sworn in next year.
A poll from The National Election Pool found that 79% of Jews voted for Kamala Harris, compared to 21% who voted Republican. The poll was produced by Edison Research which ran an exit poll for a collection of major news organizations.
In Israel, a Channel 12 survey found in October that 66% of Israelis preferred Trump to Israel, a reversal from support for Joe Biden following an initial bump after the Hamas attack on October 7 but which has dwindled in recent months.
The former president was showing strength across broad swaths of the country, improving on his 2020 performance everywhere from rural areas to urban centers. Neither party appeared to have an edge in the fight for control of the House of Representatives where Republicans currently hold a narrow majority.
He also won 45% of Hispanic voters nationwide, which is behind Harris’ 53% but up 13 points from 2020.
“We’re going to help our country heal. We have a country that needs help,” he said to the crowd in West Palm Beach, Florida. “We overcame obstacles no one thought possible.”
Trump was earning a bigger share of the vote than he did four years ago in nearly every corner of the country. He also acknowledged that he won the popular vote for the first time in his three campaigns.
“This will truly be the Golden Age of America. This is a magnificent victory for the American people.”
Global investors were increasingly pricing in a Trump win late on Tuesday. U.S. stock futures and the dollar pushed higher, while Treasury yields climbed and bitcoin rose - all flagged by analysts and investors as trades that favor a Trump victory.
“I think we just witnessed the greatest political comeback in the United States of America,” added Vice President-elect JD Vance on stage. “We are never going to stop fighting for you and your children.”
Reuters contributed to this story and reporting is ongoing.
