WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — Former President Donald J. Trump claimed victory in the 2024 presidential election early Wednesday, declaring a “magnificent victory for the American people” that he said would usher in a “golden age of America.” Flanked by family members and prominent supporters, including billionaire donor Elon Musk, Trump expressed confidence that his win would return Republicans to majority control of the Senate while maintaining their hold on the House of Representatives.
Despite Trump’s declaration, NBC News has yet to project a winner in the race, with Trump needing one more state to secure the necessary 270 electoral votes, according to projections by CBS News. If confirmed, Trump would be the first former president in over 130 years to return to the White House.
“This will truly be the golden age of America—that’s what we have to have,” Trump told supporters gathered in West Palm Beach. His campaign projected strong showings across the seven key swing states, including likely wins in Pennsylvania, North Carolina, and Georgia, with Michigan and Wisconsin leaning Republican. Trump also held a significant lead in Nevada, while the race in Arizona remained close.
Trump swept Republican strongholds across the country from Florida to Idaho, while his Democratic opponent, Vice President Kamala Harris, won liberal bastions such as New York and California, according to CBS projections. Harris, who had hoped to become the first woman president, did not appear at her election night event at Howard University in Washington, D.C., after campaign co-chairman Cedric Richmond announced her decision just after midnight.
Exit polls suggest that Harris, who campaigned vigorously on issues like abortion rights, may have underperformed among key demographics. CBS poll data indicated that 54 percent of women voted for her, compared to 57 percent who backed Joe Biden in 2020. Support from Black and Latino voters also appeared to have declined slightly from Biden’s levels four years ago.
The race for control of Congress remains tight. CBS projected that Republicans would likely capture the Senate, gaining seats in West Virginia and Ohio and fending off a Democratic challenger in Texas. In the House, however, Republicans hold only a narrow lead, with neither party expected to gain a decisive advantage.
This election season has seen one of the most tumultuous campaigns in recent American history, with approximately 86 million voters casting ballots early. Harris, 60, became the Democratic nominee in July after President Joe Biden stepped down under party pressure. Trump, 78, faced extraordinary challenges, including surviving two assassination attempts, one involving a sniper in Pennsylvania.
As the oldest president-elect in U.S. history, Trump is also the first former president to have been impeached twice and convicted of a criminal offense. Both campaigns have legal teams ready to respond to any contested results, with law enforcement on high alert nationwide. Despite concerns over potential unrest, Election Day remained largely peaceful, although CBS reported approximately 30 bomb threat hoaxes at election-related sites across the country, with more than half in Georgia.
