In what was thought to be a close race, Donald Trump came out victorious in the 2024 presidential election on Tuesday night, November 5. He defeated Vice President Kamala Harris, becoming the first president in the last 132 years to make a comeback to the White House after being defeated previously.

Trump, along with his wife Melania Trump, cast his vote in Palm Beach, Florida on Tuesday. The former president appeared confident after voting.

Trump, wearing his iconic “Make America Great Again” hat and an “I Voted” sticker, addressed the media about reported issues at polling stations across the country. His main concern was Pennsylvania, where issues with ballot scanning were reported in Republican strongholds such as Cambria and Bedford counties.

“I’m hearing in Pennsylvania they won’t have an answer until two or three days from now. I think it’s an absolute outrage if that’s the case,” Trump said. He mentioned his willingness to accept defeat if the election was “fair.” He said, “If it’s a fair election I would be the most willing person to acknowledge it if I lost. And so far I think it’s been fair.”

The landmark victory of the former president also marks him as the first person convicted of a felony to become president.

In achieving this victory, Trump won key battleground states including Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, and Michigan. Notably, this makes him the first Republican to win the popular vote since 2004.

Soon after the race was called, world leaders started sending congratulatory messages. The stock market also reacted positively to the news, although analysts are taking into account potential implications for U.S. support of Ukraine due to Trump’s previous skepticism about continued aid.

Trump’s victory comes in spite of his conviction in May 2024 on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records in the New York State Supreme Court. The case revolved around a scheme to hide damaging information during the 2016 presidential campaign through a series of payments, including $130,000 to adult film actress Stormy Daniels.

His sentencing, originally scheduled for November 26, might now face potential delays or procedural challenges due to his election victory. Legal experts believe his return to the White House could effectively protect him from various legal proceedings.

The election saw a high turnout nationwide, especially in battleground states. Kentucky’s nine electoral votes were a crucial part of Trump’s victory, though Harris still managed to maintain support in the state’s urban areas.