By Habeeb Ibrahim
Former President Donald Trump appeared close to a comeback victory on Wednesday, as early results showed him leading Democratic candidate and Vice President Kamala Harris.
While Fox News declared Trump the winner, no other major networks had officially confirmed the outcome, creating an atmosphere of anticipation in both camps.
Trump’s supporters gathered in Florida, where chants of “USA” echoed as he took the stage alongside his family at his campaign headquarters. Expressing optimism, Trump promised to “heal” the country, pledging a return to what he described as “unprecedented unity” after years of political polarization. “This is a victory that America has never seen before,” Trump declared.
Meanwhile, at Harris’s watch party held at Howard University, her alma mater and a historically Black college in Washington, supporters anxiously awaited further updates.
Campaign co-chair Cedric Richmond reassured attendees, noting that Harris would address the nation once more results were confirmed. “You’ll hear from her tomorrow,” Richmond said, urging patience among supporters as they departed.
Adding tension to Election Day, bomb threats were reported in polling stations across Georgia and Pennsylvania. Although they were later confirmed as hoaxes, these threats underscored heightened anxieties surrounding the election. The FBI has stated that the threats likely originated from foreign actors, heightening concerns over election security.
Harris, who aimed to become the first female president and the first Black and South Asian person to hold the office, centered her campaign on preserving democratic values, expanding abortion rights, and countering Trump’s proposed mass deportations of undocumented immigrants.
Despite her strong message, early results seemed to tilt in Trump’s favor, amplifying a shift in mood as voters in swing states like Pennsylvania, Georgia, and North Carolina favored the former president.
If Trump’s victory is confirmed, he would make history as the oldest elected U.S. president and only the second to serve non-consecutive terms. However, his return comes amid ongoing legal battles, including an upcoming sentencing hearing in a criminal case later this month.
Yet, the controversies surrounding him have not deterred his supporters, who gathered in Florida to celebrate, joined by tech billionaire Elon Musk, who posted a celebratory photo captioned, “Game, set, and match.”
