Triumph of tenacity ushers in a new Trump era for US

For all his flaws and foibles, it took tenacity and resilience – important characteristics in any US president – for Donald Trump, 78, to achieve an extraordinary White House comeback. The result was more clear-cut than pundits and pollsters expected and was plain as the last polls closed across the US on Wednesday afternoon (AEDT).

As well as the presidency, the Republicans won the Senate and were doing well in the battle for the House of Representatives. During a brutal race that shed little light on potential solutions to the complex problems facing a new administration, Mr Trump’s perseverance served him well. He carried on after the side of his head was grazed by a bullet fired by a would-be assassin at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania in July.

Two months later another gunman was arrested and charged close to where the former president was playing golf in Florida. His campaign also was dogged by several lawsuits. But the Republicans were better than the Democrats at getting the vote out and JD Vance proved more effective than Tim Walz.

During a campaign marred by celebrity appearances and trivia, Mr Trump and Vice-President Kamala Harris both left key questions unanswered. But the election outcome demonstrates that most Americans expect better leadership that creates the economic conditions to restore prosperity, delivers tax reform and places a stronger emphasis on border security and immigration control.

If there is a lesson in the results for the leaders of other nations it is that the centre-left of politics is on a hiding to nothing while it devotes its energy to woke agendas rather than key issues. Voters will not forgive parties that ignore economic reform, fiscal responsibility and cutting big government, leaving the pursuit of growth and prosperity to parties of the centre-right.

Ms Harris had momentum after Joe Biden, to the relief of Democrats, pulled out of the contest in July. But she lacked a credible agenda and was unable to explain how she would differ from Mr Biden. Apart from abortion rights, it was hard to identify an issue to which she was deeply committed.

Her failure as Vice-President to protect the US southern border – the main job assigned to her by Mr Biden – fostered serious doubts about her ability to cut through. Voters in working-class “blue wall states”, conscious of the adverse impact of immigration on jobs, were concerned about that weakness.

A pro-business US will be good for the world economy, although tariffs will be a concern. In the international sphere, the US needs a war leader, Roger Boyes argues: “Has it got one? How the next president handles Putin, Xi and Kim will define their term – not only for the US but the world.”

Given Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine, where 10,000 North Korean troops are stationed, Israel’s battle for survival, Iran’s hostility to Israel and the US, and China’s military build-up and aggression across the Indo-Pacific, Mr Trump will need to put aside his predilection for isolationism.

His choices for secretary of state, secretary of defence and key roles will do much to make or break the coming term, and the strength of the West that is under serious challenge from the BRICS group. Mr Trump will need advisers of the calibre of former secretary of state Mike Pompeo, who supported him at a rally in Pennsylvania last week. If Mr Trump cuts a deal with Vladimir Putin over Ukraine it must benefit Ukraine and deter the Russian dictator from more aggression.

From Australia’s perspective, Anthony Albanese struck the right note pledging to work with whoever Americans elected. And, as Scott Morrison says, the government “will have to be on its game” in negotiating with the new administration. In so far as Mr Trump represents strength, he has the potential to strengthen the free world.