Donald Trump has been elected the 47th president of the United States in a remarkable political comeback that has sent shockwaves across the nation and internationally.

Several world leaders swiftly offered their congratulations, with many expressing hope for continued or strengthened cooperation with the United States under his renewed leadership.

At 78, Trump becomes both the oldest person and the first convicted criminal to win the White House. He defeated Vice President Kamala Harris, who was vying to make history as the first woman, first Black woman, and first South Asian American president in the US.

As the votes rolled in, Trump secured North Carolina early, the first key battleground to be called. Later, he clinched Georgia and Pennsylvania, signaling a strong path to victory. Shortly after 2 a.m., he addressed supporters at his campaign headquarters in West Palm Beach, Florida, flanked by family, key aides, and his vice-presidential choice, Ohio Senator JD Vance.

“This is a movement like nobody’s ever seen before,” he said on stage. “This is I believe the greatest political movement of all time. There’s never been anything like this in this country and now it’s going to reach a new level of importance, because we’re going to help our country heal."

"I will not rest until we have delivered the strong, safe and prosperous America that our children deserve, this will truly be the golden age of America.”

By 5:37 a.m. ET, the Associated Press called Wisconsin in Trump’s favor, bringing his electoral count to 277—surpassing the 270 needed to secure the presidency.

Meanwhile, Republicans regained control of the Senate, but the House’s balance of power remained undecided, with many key races still uncalled.

A comeback after Jan 6

Harris’s defeat is a significant setback for Democrats, with an impact reminiscent of Hillary Clinton’s loss in 2016. Harris is expected to address the public later Wednesday.

Many political analysts had believed Trump’s 2020 loss to Joe Biden marked the end of his career, especially after the January 6 Capitol attack by a group of his supporters, which led to his second impeachment, The Guardian indicated.

The news website suggested that Trump’s legal battles, including a conviction on 34 felony counts related to hush-money payments to an adult film performer, might have derailed any other politician but seemed to only solidify his support within his “Make America Great Again” base.

Facing multiple rivals, Trump had secured the Republican nomination. In July, just before the party convention, he survived an assassination attempt at a rally in Pennsylvania and another at a Florida golf course in September.

After a poor debate performance, Joe Biden withdrew as the presumptive Democratic nominee, endorsing Harris as his successor.

The race unfolded over a short 100-day period amid hurricanes and international conflicts. Trump benefited from the support of billionaire tech entrepreneur Elon Musk, who mobilized swing-state voters through his political action committee.

Despite a close race, Trump’s significant win indicates that his message—often inflammatory and divisive—still resonated with many disenchanted voters, The Guardian suggested. It also served as a rejection of Biden’s administration and of his warnings about Trump’s impact on US institutions and global stability.

Trump’s campaign theme, including a promise of unprecedented deportations of illegal immigrants, was polarizing. He described undocumented immigrants as “animals” with “bad genes” that “poison the blood of the country” and referred to the US as “a garbage can” for the world.

The Republican portrayed his criminal cases as politically motivated and vowed “retribution” against opponents. He suggested deploying the military domestically to confront “enemies from within” and promised to pardon January 6-related defendants.

Trump will be the first president since Grover Cleveland in the late 1800s to serve non-consecutive terms. Harris, in her role as vice president, will oversee the January session of Congress to certify the election results. She will be succeeded by Trump's running mate JD Vance, who, unlike former Vice President Mike Pence, has consistently rejected Trump’s 2020 loss.

Read more: Netanyahu, far-right ministers celebrate apparent Trump victory