America elects Donald Trump in a shift to the right

Good morning and welcome to the first edition of White House Watch.

The results are in: Donald Trump will be back in the Oval Office after tearing down the Democrats' “blue wall.” For the latest updates, check out our live blog. While the US and the world digest the results, let's get started.

Americans have moved sharply to the right, embracing Trump's demagoguery, strongman style, and nationalist agenda (free to read).

Trump has made a remarkable comeback in the White House, ushering in a new era for the United States and the world. He is expected to roil American democracy, US alliances and global markets.

Compared to his performance in 2020, the president-elect has gained ground in 48 of the country's 50 states. His new right-wing coalition — built on strong support among men and voters without college degrees as well as gains among minority voters — shook off his violent rhetoric, misogyny and xenophobia.

Trump is on track to win the popular vote, the first time a Republican president has done so since George W. Bush in 2004. Amazingly, he shrunk the Democratic majority in heavily blue states like New York, Connecticut and New Jersey and flipped Miami. Dade County, Florida. He increased his share of the vote in almost 90 percent of the country's districts.

It also turned out that abortion rights wasn't the rallying cry Democrats were betting on, and Harris failed to secure the blue wall. Trump did it by winning Pennsylvania—the biggest battleground victory—and then laid waste to it by defeating Wisconsin to secure the presidency.

“America has given us an unprecedented and powerful mandate,” Trump said during his victory speech in West Palm Beach, Florida, near his Mar-a-Lago resort.

With Republicans firmly in control of the White House and Senate, Trump can press ahead with his controversial plans: high tariffs on a large share of imports, more confrontational relations with traditional US allies and a massive crackdown on illegal immigration. The House has yet to convene, but Republicans are expected to retain their majority, which would create a governing trifecta.

The next task for the president-elect is to fill his cabinet. He is expected to attract unconventional candidates from outside the Washington establishment, with top jobs going to loyalists like Tesla boss Elon Musk, whose big gamble against Trump appears to have paid off.

Transitional times: the latest headlines

• Economists have warned that Trump's policies will spur inflation again, despite his promise to cut prices. (Free reading)

• The dollar rose to its highest level in eight years and Wall Street was poised for big gains as investors priced in a new regime of trade tariffs and tax cuts.

• After the most expensive US general election in history, graphic journalist Sam Learner broke down where all the money went.

• At Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort, even the president-elect was surprised by his lead. This is how the day went in Palm Beach.

• Voting in several states was disrupted by bomb threats that the FBI said came from “Russian email domains.”

What we hear

Trump is expected to upend U.S. foreign policy and is likely to create unpredictability and even disruption in a new international order.

As the world witnessed Trump's victory, leaders around the world reacted to the Republican's historic victory. Here's a summary of what they say:

United Kingdom

Six years ago, David Lammy called Donald Trump a “woman-hating, neo-Nazi-sympathizing sociopath” and a “significant threat to the international order.” This morning Lammy, now Britain's foreign secretary, congratulated Trump and said the British government would “look forward to working with you” on the latest mission to restore relations with the president-elect.

Iran

In his first term, Trump withdrew the US from the 2015 Iran nuclear deal. Once in office, he is expected to refocus on confronting the nation. Fatemeh Mohajerani, a spokeswoman for the Iranian government, said: “Whoever becomes the next US president will not affect the livelihood of the Iranian people,” adding that major U.S. and Islamic Republic policies are “determined” and not “significant.” “Subject to changes with substitutions (in power)”.

Israel

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a post on X that Trump's return to the White House was “a powerful recommitment to the great alliance between Israel and America.”

The Israeli prime minister barely hid his preference for the Republican candidate, despite public clashes with US President Joe Biden in recent months over his government's war policy in Gaza. In the summer, Netanyahu traveled to Florida to meet Trump after meeting Biden at the White House.

Two of the most prominent right-wing ministers in Netanyahu's government, National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, also reacted happily.

Ukraine

President Volodymyr Zelensky boldly congratulated Trump on his “impressive election victory” and expressed hope that Trump's “decisive leadership” would help end Russia's war against his country.

Ukraine's dollar debt rose on bets that Trump's second presidency would accelerate peace negotiations over Russia's invasion.

EU

The heads of state and government of the EU states appealed to their members to unite in view of the election results in the USA.

“We must show that we want and want to ensure our own security first and not wait for the American citizens and the government to do so at their own expense,” Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto wrote on X.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said the “EU must stand close together and be united” while highlighting the prospects of the U.S. and Europe continuing to work together during a second Trump administration.

Taiwan

President Lai Ching-te said he was confident his country's long-standing partnership with the U.S. “will continue to serve as a cornerstone for regional stability,” adding that Trump “will bear a particularly important responsibility in the face of increasingly serious global challenges.” “. “.

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