(Washington, D.C.) – Former President Donald Trump has clinched a second term in the White House after defeating Vice President Kamala Harris in a historic election. This marks the first time in U.S. history that a president has been re-elected after a nonconsecutive term, joining Grover Cleveland, who achieved the same feat in 1892.
Trump, who first won the presidency in 2016, had a tumultuous journey back to the Oval Office, having lost re-election to President Joe Biden in 2020. His return in 2024 came after a contentious campaign that was marred by two assassination attempts and a fiercely contested primary process.
Trump announced his re-election bid in November 2022, shortly after the midterm elections. He campaigned on his first term’s record, arguing that the policies under Biden and Harris had caused economic hardship, rising inflation, and a border crisis. “Harris broke it. Trump will fix it,” became a central message of his campaign.
Despite facing a crowded field of Republican candidates, Trump emerged as the clear frontrunner, sweeping primary contests and securing unanimous endorsements from his opponents, including Senate candidate JD Vance, his eventual running mate.
In a dramatic twist, Biden, seeking re-election for a second term, withdrew from the race after a poor debate performance in June 2024. The announcement came shortly after a disastrous debate with Trump. Biden, under pressure from Democratic insiders, endorsed Harris to take his place at the top of the ticket.
As the campaign intensified, Trump survived two assassination attempts. On July 13, 2024, a would-be assassin shot at him during a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. Trump, who was discussing the Biden administration’s immigration policies, credited a chart he was holding with saving his life. “It was the chart that saved me,” Trump later remarked. Another assassination attempt occurred in September when a gunman aimed an AK-47 rifle at Trump from a distance. He was unharmed but rushed to safety by Secret Service agents.
Trump’s campaign contrasted sharply with Harris’s, focusing on economic growth, securing borders, and restoring “peace through strength.” Trump’s final message before the election emphasized his belief that Harris’s policies had failed, and he promised to restore America to greatness.
In contrast, Harris framed Trump as a threat to democracy and warned voters of his potential to ban abortion nationwide—an accusation Trump consistently denied.
The general election also saw Trump leverage his strong support base, drawing endorsements from key Republican figures and even former Democrats such as Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Tulsi Gabbard. Business leaders, including Elon Musk and Howard Lutnick, also rallied behind Trump, further solidifying his standing.
Amid these challenges, Trump’s campaign faced numerous legal battles. His post-presidential life had been marked by legal investigations, some of which stemmed from his time in office. Trump became the first U.S. president to be impeached twice, and also the first to face four separate indictments.
One of the most publicized legal challenges was his alleged mishandling of classified documents after leaving office. In August 2022, the FBI raided his Mar-a-Lago estate, but a federal judge later ruled that the special counsel appointed to investigate the case was unlawfully appointed, throwing the case into limbo.
Trump also faced charges for alleged interference in the 2020 election results, though the Supreme Court ruled in his favor on the basis of presidential immunity. In addition, his trial for alleged business record falsification ended with a guilty verdict in the spring of 2024. Despite this, Trump’s campaign continued unabated.
Table: Key Legal Challenges Faced by Trump
| Legal Challenge | Status |
|---|---|
| FBI raid on Mar-a-Lago for classified documents | Case dismissed by judge |
| Election interference investigation | Case ongoing, Supreme Court ruling in Trump’s favor |
| Business record falsification | Guilty verdict, under appeal |
| Defamation lawsuit (E. Jean Carroll) | Pending appeal, compensation ordered |
| Georgia election interference charges | Case on hold, charges dismissed by judge |
