Donald Trump takes the stage after the first results of the US presidential election in West Palm Beach
Elected 47th President of the United States by largely winning the race for the White House against outgoing Democratic Vice-President Kamala Harris, at the end of a bitter and tense campaign, Donald Trump is working on the composition of his future administration.
He chose as general secretary of the White House his campaign co-director, Susie Wiles, considered by allies as capable of imposing a certain discipline while several incumbents had succeeded one another in this position during Donald Trump's first term.
A meeting is to take place on Wednesday at the White House between Joe Biden and Donald Trump ahead of the second-named inauguration ceremony on January 20. During a short address to the nation, the outgoing Democratic president pledged to ensure a “peaceful and orderly” transition with his predecessor, calling on Americans to “lower the temperature.”
Several tens of millions of voters ignored the criminal charges against Donald Trump, 78, whose legal future is becoming clearer with this announced re-election, and his diatribes against migrants or “enemies from within” .
The Republican's spectacular return to the White House portends a governance capable of testing democratic institutions and Washington's relations on the international stage. European countries were worried ahead of the vote that a victory for the Republican could cause turmoil within NATO and crack the united front displayed alongside Ukraine in its war against Russia.
ECONOMY AND IMMIGRATION IN CORNERSTONES
Donald Trump promised to “fix” the economy and make tax cuts, while inflation was the main concern of voters according to an exit poll carried out by Edison Research.
He also plans to introduce new customs duties on almost all imports, particularly from China, with the prospect of a potential new trade war.
He also expressed during the campaign his intention to carry out an unprecedented program of mass expulsions of migrants.
To achieve his promises, Donald Trump could have even greater room for maneuver given that the Republicans won control of the Senate, a third of whose seats were renewed in parallel with the presidential election, while the Democrats had a narrow majority (51-49) in the upper house.
A suspense remains for the House of Representatives, completely renewed during Tuesday's vote and where the Republicans have virtually four seats to defend to remain in the majority. The Democrats seemed able to challenge this balance of power.
Winner in all the seven so-called “pivotal” states, with at least 295 electors, Donald Trump also won the popular vote with some 5 million votes ahead of Kamala Harris, according to the still provisional count of the vote, the counting not being completed in the traditionally Democratic states of the West Coast.
“America has given us an unprecedented and strong mandate,” Donald Trump rejoiced in front of supporters gathered in Palm Beach, Florida, on the night of Tuesday to Wednesday.
Four years after the end of his first term, the Republican intends to install loyalists, both in his administration and within the traditionally neutral federal services.
Among the favorites mentioned to join his administration is Elon Musk, a high-profile supporter with more than $100 million in campaign donations and the social network Trump.
(Writing by Jean Terzian, editing by Kate Entringer)
