Trump to test limits of presidential power as Harris concedes but vows to fight
Washington: Donald Trump and his allies’ resounding election victory could hand Republicans unified control of the US Congress, paving the way for a sweeping reboot of the former president’s America First agenda as he consolidates power within the White House.
One day after her crushing loss, Kamala Harris called Trump to congratulate him before returning to Howard University – where she had hoped to celebrate the night before – to give her concession speech.
Donald Trump celebrates victory on election night in West Palm Beach, Florida.Credit: AP
“The outcome of this election is not what we wanted, not what we fought for, not what we voted for,” Harris told the crowd as many wiped back tears. “But hear me when I say the light of America’s promise will always burn bright.”
While she promised to aid his transition, she was not prepared to embrace his vision for the country.
“While I concede this election, I do not concede the fight that fuelled this campaign. The fight for freedom, for opportunity, for fairness and the dignity of all people.”
President Joe Biden also called Trump on Wednesday (Thursday AEDT) to acknowledge his victory and invite him to the White House to help with the transition – something that the Republican refused to do when he was defeated by Biden four years ago.
Foreign leaders including Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and French President Emmanuel Macron also called Trump.
Albanese wrote on X that the pair had discussed the importance of the Australia-United States alliance and spoke about “the strength of the Australia-US relationship in security, AUKUS, trade and investment”.
Chinese President Xi Jinping sent Trump a congratulatory message and said he hoped the two powers would co-exist peacefully and achieve win-win cooperation, China’s state-run Xinhua news agency reported.
Trump, however, kept a low profile and stayed out of the public eye after addressing supporters in Florida.
Kamala Harris makes her concession speech to supporters at Howard University in Washington, DC. Credit: AP
A second Trump presidency is likely to be more broad-ranging and unchecked than the first, with immediate priorities including deporting undocumented immigrants, expanding oil and gas drilling, and having the authority to fire civil servants he views as disloyal. He has vowed to use federal law enforcement agencies to investigate or prosecute perceived enemies, including political rivals.
Among those expected to be targeted is special counsel Jack Smith, the federal prosecutor who charged Trump with trying to overthrow the 2020 election.
Smith is reportedly in talks to drop the case, given he will not be able to pursue it under the federal policy of not prosecuting sitting presidents.
Trump was also due to be sentenced on November 26 in New York for falsifying business records to cover up a sex scandal. However, that case – along with a trial he also faces in Georgia for meddling in the election in that state – remains in limbo.
Trump has 75 days to build his team before Inauguration Day arrives on January 20. Robert F. Kennedy Jr is likely to end up playing a significant role in healthcare in the new administration. Tesla chief executive and billionaire Elon Musk is also expected to play an influential role.
Musk contributed at least $US119 million ($180 million) to a pro-Trump fundraising group, giving him extraordinary influence to help his companies secure favourable government treatment.
The outcome defied polls that showed a razor-close race ahead of election day. Trump prevailed in at least five of the seven battleground states to push him over the 270 electoral college votes needed to win the presidency. He led in the remaining two, Arizona and Nevada, where votes were still being tallied.
Trump was also on track to become the first Republican presidential candidate to win the popular vote since George W. Bush two decades ago.
His fellow Republicans wrested control of the US Senate from Democrats and had added to their narrow majority in the US House of Representatives, though the outcome there may not be known for several days with dozens of races still uncalled.
“It was a hell of a good day,” said Mitch McConnell, the long-time Senate Republican leader.
Unified Republican control on Capitol Hill would clear the way for major portions of Trump’s legislative agenda, as it did in the first two years of his 2017-2021 presidency when Republicans whipped a major tax-cut bill through Congress that mainly benefited the wealthy.
“America has given us an unprecedented and powerful mandate,” Trump said to a roaring crowd at the election party at the Palm Beach County Convention Centre.
Major stock markets around the world rallied after his victory, while the US dollar and Bitcoin surged.
Trump’s win will have major implications for US trade and climate change policies, Americans’ taxes and immigration, and US foreign policy, including in the Middle East and Ukraine.
Netanyahu’s office said he had congratulated Trump, and the pair discussed “the Iranian threat” and the need to work together for Israel’s security.
Hamas, the Palestinian militant group, called for an end to the “blind support” of Israel by the United States.
With Reuters