The Republican candidate has won at least 277 Electoral College votes, per The Associated Press.
Donald Trump has been elected to return to the White House as the 47th United States president.
The vote was called for the Republican candidate by The Associated Press news agency early on Wednesday. His victory has been met by international congratulations but is likely to add further uncertainty to a turbulent geopolitical situation.
Results showed Trump beating Vice President Kamala Harris in a race far less tight than expected as he triumphed in key battleground states.
Victory in Wisconsin after earlier triumphs in Georgia, North Carolina and Pennsylvania saw the former president clear the threshold of the 270 Electoral College votes required to clinch the White House in Tuesday’s election.
Trump’s victory in those swing states currently sees him with 277 electoral votes against 224 for Harris. Polls had predicted a much tighter race, but it appears that anger fuelled the Republican’s remarkable comeback from defeat in 2020 and widespread condemnation of his refusal to accept the result.
That refusal sparked a violent insurrection at the US Capitol, and Trump was also convicted of felony charges and survived two assassination attempts.
However, his campaign, which has seen him demonise his political opponents, immigrants and many minorities, tapped into the frustrations of many voters in a bitterly polarised nation.
Speaking to his supporters as he declared victory, Trump claimed he had won “an unprecedented and powerful mandate”.
Anger and resentment
Scott Lucas, a professor of international politics at the University of Dublin, told Al Jazeera that Trump’s victory stemmed from frustrations that have been bubbling within the US public for years.
“There is anger and resentment in the US, which has been there for quite some time. It’s been a trauma since 9/11. It’s been there with the financial crash in 2008-2009. It was there in 2016 when Trump exploited it, and he exploited it again,” Lucas said, adding that Trump was able to do that because the “political system is damaged”.
Concern over the economy, and inflation in particular, under President Joe Biden was a major focus of the campaign.
That also encouraged opposition to the support Washington is giving to Ukraine in its war against Russia. Meanwhile, the failure to rein in Israel’s wars on Gaza and Lebanon has angered Muslim and liberal voters.
Those complex geopolitical issues will test Trump, who is known for his simplistic claims of being capable of quickly solving such issues.
He has promised to end the war in Ukraine in a day, an idea that has Kyiv wary that it could face pressure to strike a deal to hand over territory to Russia. NATO allies, meanwhile, fear Trump will weaken the alliance’s mutual defence guarantees.
Trump is also a strong supporter of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and has boasted he will end the war with Hamas in Gaza in hours.
“Your historic return to the White House offers a new beginning for America and a powerful recommitment to the great alliance between Israel and America. This is a huge victory!” Netanyahu said in a statement after Trump declared victory.
The enthusiasm in Israel also stems from the incoming president’s hawkish approach to Iran, which he is likely to reassert.
China is also braced for a more confrontational relationship with the US under Trump, who is expected to revive staunchly nationalistic trade policies, putting both allies and rivals on edge.
‘Much more dangerous era’
However, at home, supporters will look to Trump to put the focus on the welfare of US citizens while following through on promises to enact an agenda that would transform nearly every aspect of American government.
That will include plans to launch the largest deportation effort in the nation’s history and use the Department of Justice to punish his enemies.
The result is that “we are going into a much more dangerous era for Americans and for the world because this will not be a coherent US policy for America but one pursued for Trump,” Lucas said.
A woman takes a photo while sprinting through the rainforest, only to later notice an eerie detail in the bushes
Over the years, the internet has seen its fair share of spooky images. From possible Bigfoot sightings to UFOs in the sky to ghosts haunting the windows of old houses, there’s no shortage of creepy photos.
While many of these images are often easily explained, usually just by camera blur or clever Photoshop work, there are some that seem to defy all logic. Take the case of runner Kay Borleis, who discovered something disturbing in a photo she took during her 100-mile run through the Hawaiian rainforest.
In 2019, Kay participated in the Hawaiian Ultra Running Team’s Trail 100-Mile Endurance Run, which involved completing five laps of a 20-mile loop through dense jungle. She was accompanied by her friend Cassie, who acted as a pacemaker and captured moments during her run.
A photo showing Kay walking along a muddy trail took a surprising turn when she later noticed a strange detail in the background. In a post on Reddit, Kay shared: “My Pacer took this photo. Look closely at the figure to the left of my head. We didn’t see anyone pass by and there were no statues on the trail. It’s NOT photoshopped; this is real”.
When you zoom in on the image, you can see a dark figure in tattered clothing who appears to be watching Kay as he runs. However, Kay insisted that no one was there at the time.
She continued: “According to Hawaiian legend, the ghosts of ancient warriors known as Night Marchers roam the island. Described as ‘murderous shadows’, they haunt the land as the spirits of past fighters and heroes”.
Kay continued her research and found that legends say that anyone who looks at the Night Marchers could face a terrible fate. To avoid this, mortals are advised to lie down in submission to show respect, which could potentially spare them harm.
“Luckily we didn’t encounter the Night Marcher”, she said with relief. Have you ever spotted something unexpected in one of your photos? Share your experiences in the comments!
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