Editorial: DONALD J. TRUMP WINS 2024 ELECTION
By Roxane Park, 146th Editor-in-Chief, and Joonyoung Heo, 146th Managing Editor
Yesterday morning, America woke up to the news that Donald J. Trump had been elected once again to the presidency of the United States, exceeding the requisite 270 electoral college votes. Trump both clinched more than 70 more electoral votes than the democratic candidate—the incumbent Vice President Kamala Harris—and won the popular vote by a margin of nearly five million. This makes him the first to win two non-consecutive terms in the White House since Grover Cleveland in 1892, as well as the first Republican presidential candidate to win the popular vote in 20 years.
Of the seven most-watched swing states this year—Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nebraska, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin—Trump has already won all but two—Arizona and Nevada—which are too close to call but which he currently leads. Nationwide, The New York Times reported that more than 90 percent of counties with nearly completed results (2,367) shifted in favor of Trump in comparison to the 2020 election. Analysts at The Associated Press agreed that he gained ground in all but two states: Washington and Utah.
Once a Trump victory was assured in the early morning, the president-elect delivered a victory speech to a crowd of supporters in Palm Beach, Florida. “This is a magnificent victory for the American people,” he said, “that will allow us to make America great again.”
In reference to the attempts on his life before the election, Trump added, “God spared my life for a reason . . . I will fight for you. This will truly be the golden age of America.”
That evening, Harris delivered her concession speech at her alma mater, Howard University. In her address, Harris said that she would “never give up the ight,” and that “sometimes the fight takes a while, [but] that doesn’t mean we won’t win.” At the same time, she emphasized that “a fundamental principle of American democracy is that when we lose an election, we accept the results. That principle, as much as any other, distinguishes democracy from monarchy or tyranny. And anyone who seeks the public trust must honor it.”
Whether you were thrilled or disappointed by the results of this election, we can all agree to respect the sanctity of the democratic process and the will of the American people. We continue to encourage Exonians to engage in open dialogue, disagree respectfully, and stay informed. For centuries at the Academy, we’ve been able to overcome our differences and recognize our shared identity as Exonians. Now is not the time to stray from this most foundational tradition.
We also invite any members of the Exeter community—students, faculty, staff, alumni—to share their personal opinions in an op-ed through our website at theexonian.net/submit-to-the-exonian/ or by emailing rhpark@exeter.edu.
Note: This editorial was written based on information available at 10 p.m. on Nov. 6, 2024.
