Donald Trump wins the presidency in stunning upset over Clinton
Donald John Trump has been projected as the winner of the presidential election, according to the Associated Press, after election returns showed that Trump had won stunning come-from-behind victories across a swath of contested states.
Trump, 70, will be the 45th president of the United States. A real-estate developer and former reality-TV star, Trump is the first person to win the presidency without having previously held public office or served in the U.S. military.
Mike Pence, 57, will be vice president. Pence was a longtime member of the House of Representatives and is now the Republican governor of Indiana.
Trump’s victory could produce significant repercussions, both economic and political. Stock markets had risen in recent days, believing that Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton would win. On Tuesday evening, as Trump reeled off a string of unexpected victories across the Midwest, futures market nosedived — likely anticipating global upheaval as Trump tries to follow through on aggressive campaign promises: to build a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border, to impose tougher trading conditions on China, and to force U.S. manufacturers not to move operations overseas.
Shortly after Wisconsin was called for Donald Trump, putting him over the 270 threshold needed to win the White House, Clinton called him to concede the election, The Washington Post has confirmed.
At Trump’s party, supporters hugged each other, waved Trump signs over their heads and erupted in cheers after the race was officially called.
“Donald! Donald!” they chanted.
In political terms, Trump’s win will likely hands Republicans control of both the executive and legislative branches of government.
That could lead to long-sought GOP dreams coming true, like the repeal of “Obamacare” and the end of regulations limiting greenhouse-gas emissions. But it could also lead to Republican infighting, since Trump’s policy ideas – including more friendliness toward Russia, and protectionist trade positions – are starkly at odds with what other many Republicans believe.
