Donald J. Trump stands virtually victorious in the race for the 2024 presidential election. The Associated Press has declared the former president the winner in the pivotal swing state of Pennsylvania, signaling a probable defeat of Vice President Kamala Harris and his impending return to the White House. Trump's Pennsylvania victory places him just four electoral votes shy of officially clinching the presidency over Harris. A likely victory in Alaska or any of the remaining fiercely contested states - Michigan, Wisconsin, Arizona, or Nevada - would securely reinstall him in the Oval Office.
Emerging victorious in the race to lead the government's executive branch, Trump and the Republican Party (GOP) navigated a contentious and fiery populist campaign, during which Trump vocalized his grievances over losing the 2020 election to President Joe Biden. His campaign was marked by numerous legal rulings against him in various cases, as well as several attempts on his life. In May, a New York jury convicted the former (and soon-to-be again) president of 34 felony counts, making him the first president to enter the White House after being convicted of a felony. The sentencing for the president-elect's so-called "hush money case" is scheduled for November 26.
As he traversed the battleground states, rejuvenating his Make America Great Again movement into a presidential campaign, the 78-year-old former president faced an attempted assassination during an open-air rally near Butler, Pennsylvania, where he was shot in the ear. Trump swiftly recovered and attended the GOP convention in Philadelphia in August. However, his relief was short-lived as a potential second assassination attempt was foiled outside one of his golf courses in Florida in September.
Trump's dominance over the Republican Party was most pronounced at the 2024 GOP convention. With a resounding victory, he outshone Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, his own Vice President Mike Pence, former cabinet member Nikki Haley, and other aspirants vying for the party's nomination. Remarkably, Trump abstained from all primary debates yet maintained a commanding double-digit lead throughout his two-year campaign journey.
Kicking off his bid for the 2024 presidency on Nov. 15, 2022, Trump's nearly two-year campaign retained its fiery rally style and populist appeal. These rallies served as a stage for him to vent his frustrations over legal challenges and the contentious 2020 election, all in front of his steadfast supporters.
Trump persisted with his untruths about the 2020 election, perpetuating the notion—dubbed the "Big Lie"—that Democrats had stolen it. He steadfastly championed the MAGA supporters who stormed the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2020, as Congress certified the election results. By the end of 2023, the financial repercussions of Trump's election lies had soared towards a billion dollars.
A significant risk emerged from Trump's campaign over the weekend with a controversial rally at Madison Square Garden. Numerous Trump surrogates took the New York stage to lambast immigrants, Kamala Harris, the Democratic Party, and various election matters, culminating in a dark and closing chapter of Trump's third White House bid. Additionally, a tasteless joke by comic Tony Hinchcliffe, depicting Puerto Rico as a "floating garbage island," fell flat—and potentially cost Trump a significant portion of the Latino vote, amid widespread outrage in the following days from celebrities such as Jennifer Lopez, Bad Bunny, Nicky Jam, and others.
Trump's relentless rally schedule continued right up to election eve. This week, he held events in Pennsylvania, Georgia, and North Carolina, maintaining his relentless pace.
