Donald Trump has officially been declared the president-elect of the United States following his victory in the 2024 presidential election. Alongside his running mate, Vice President-elect J.D. Vance, Trump is set to take office on January 21, 2025.
This marks a significant political comeback for Trump, who managed to build a diverse coalition of voters, reshaping the typical Republican voter base.
Winning Over Key Demographics
One of the standout elements of Trump’s victory was his performance among minority groups and younger male voters, demographics where Republicans have traditionally struggled.
Trump doubled his support among Black voters, rising from 8% in 2020 to 16% in 2024. His share of Latino voters also increased, climbing from 35% to 42%, according to the Associated Press.
Additionally, Trump gained significant traction among young men. In 2020, 45% of men aged 18 to 44 supported him; in 2024, this number rose to 52%. Among men aged 18 to 29, Trump flipped the script, winning this demographic by a 13-point margin—an impressive turnaround from 2020, when Joe Biden won the group by 15 points.
Michelle Egan, a professor at American University, attributes this success to Trump’s targeted approach. “He made an aggressive pitch to 18- to 29-year-old men across ethnic groups and successfully reached them on social media, bypassing traditional methods like door-knocking,” she told DW.
Kamala Harris’ Challenges
While Trump gained momentum, Kamala Harris, the Democratic candidate, faced hurdles in connecting with certain voter groups. Her campaign heavily emphasized abortion rights, which resonated with young women but failed to galvanize young male voters.
“Harris banked on this issue, making inroads with 18- to 29-year-old women,” Egan explained. “But it didn’t appeal the same way to young men.”
Moreover, the two key issues driving voter decisions—immigration and inflation—further hampered Harris’ campaign. As Vice President, Harris was tasked with addressing border security, making her a target for Trump’s critiques on immigration.
High inflation rates under the Biden-Harris administration also played a decisive role. “People vote with their pocketbook,” Egan remarked. “Prices for food, gas, and housing remained high, which hurt Harris.”
J. Miles Coleman from the University of Virginia’s Center for Politics echoed this sentiment: “Elections in this country are almost always a referendum on the incumbent administration, and Harris didn’t distance herself enough from Biden’s economic policies.”
Foreign Policy: A Non-Issue for Voters
While international observers express concerns about how Trump’s presidency might affect U.S. aid to Ukraine and NATO relations, these issues had little impact on American voters.
“A lot of what Americans care about is bread-and-butter domestic issues,” said Egan. “Ukraine and Israel just weren’t as important this time around.”
Looking Ahead
Trump’s victory signals a shift in the political landscape, highlighting the influence of social media and the importance of addressing economic concerns. As the world watches, the incoming administration will face challenges both at home and abroad.
What does this win mean for the U.S. and its allies? Time will tell.
