Trump Elected

Donald Trump has won the 2024 presidential election. He defeated current vice president Kamala Harris. Election results were announced early on November 6, the morning after Election Day. Trump will become the 47th president of the United States.

After his path to victory became clear, Trump addressed his supporters. “We overcame obstacles that nobody thought possible,” he said. He then promised Americans, “I will fight for you, for your family, and for your future.”

ELECTION NIGHT Trump addresses his supporters on Election Night in West Palm Beach, Florida.

Election Season

Trump was the Republican candidate. At press time, he had more than 72 million votes. Harris was the Democratic candidate. She had around 68 million votes. A few states were still counting ballots. But Trump’s electoral college victory was decisive × decisive certain; clear (adjective) (see “Electoral College”). At press time, he had 295 electoral votes. Harris had 226.

This has been an unusual election season. At first, Trump was running against current president Joe Biden. But on July 21, Biden dropped out of the race. Harris, Biden’s vice president, became the Democratic nominee on August 5.

Harris called Trump on Wednesday. She congratulated him. Later, she addressed her supporters. She thanked her family. She also thanked President Biden and her running mate, Tim Walz, of Minnesota. She said she would continue to fight for her beliefs even though she did not win. “I will never give up the fight for a future where Americans can pursue their dreams, ambitions, and aspirations,” she said.

What's Next

Trump will take office on January 20, 2025. He’ll be inaugurated in Washington, D.C. His running mate will also take office that day. That’s Senator J.D. Vance, of Ohio. He’ll serve as the country’s vice president.

It will be Trump’s second time taking the presidential oath × oath a promise; a pledge (noun) of office. He was first elected president in 2016. He ran again four years later, but he lost to Biden. Now Trump becomes only the second presidential candidate in U.S. history to win nonconsecutive × nonconsecutive following after a break (adjective) elections (see “Back to the White House”).

Once in office, Trump and Vance will face challenges. They’ll have to tackle tough issues. These include conflicts in other countries and inflation. But Trump says he’s ready to get to work for the American people.

He’ll likely have the support of Congress (see “What Did People Vote on?”). On Election Day, Republicans won control of the U.S. Senate. At press time, election results for the House of Representatives were not yet complete. Officials say it will take time to count all of the votes.

Electoral College

Donald Trump won millions of votes around the country. But a group of 538 people will officially elect him as president. This group is the electoral college.

A candidate needs 270 electoral votes to become president. At press time, Trump had 295. The states he won are shown in red. Vice President Kamala Harris had 226 electoral votes. The states she won are shown in blue. Some states have not announced their votes. They are shown in gray.