TRUMP WINS U.S. 2024 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS

REPUBLICAN Donald Trump, in a political comeback, on Wednesday was elected the 47^th president of the United States.

With a win in Wisconsin, Trump cleared the 270 electoral votes threshold required to lead the White House.

On Wednesday, he won Michigan, along with Pennsylvania — the one-time Democrat-leaning, swing states that all went for Trump in 2016 before flipping to President Joe Biden in 2020.

Speaking in West Palm Beach, Florida before the latest results came in, Trump pledged to bring a “golden age” to the United States, praising what he called “the greatest political movement of all time.”

In front of cheering supporters in Florida even before his victory was confirmed, Trump thanked the American people for the extraordinary honor of being elected as 47^th president.

“American people regained control of the country. This will be the golden age of America. We gonna make America great again,” Trump said.

In his victory speech, Trump reiterated that he would close borders in the United States and would impose stricter laws against illegal aliens. 

“We gonna have to seal up those borders, we are gonna have to let people come into our country. We want people to come back in, but they have to come in legally… We are gonna start by putting America first,” he said. 

His Democratic rival, Vice President Kamala Harris, on Wednesday afternoon called Trump to concede the race and congratulate him.

A short time later, Biden also called Trump to congratulate him and to invite the president-elect to the White House, formally kicking off the transition ahead of the Inauguration Day.

The White House said Biden also called Harris to congratulate on her campaign.

The 78-year-old Trump, who was earlier convicted of felony charges and survived two assassination attempts, became the oldest U.S. president ever elected.

Trump will be the second president in the history of America that will serve two non-consecutive terms since Grover Cleveland in 1892.

He was first elected as president of America in 2016 after winning against Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

Trump lost to Joe Biden in his reelection bid in 2020, the time of the global coronavirus pandemic.

PH ECONOMY ON TRUMP’S VICTORY

EXPERTS expressed belief that Trump’s return to the White House could significantly change the Philippine economy.

They said potential shifts in trade, foreign policy, and economic ties might impact everything from export markets to overseas remittances.

Trump’s focus on “America First” policies during his first term brought about a wave of protectionist measures, and analysts caution that a similar approach could influence U.S.-Philippine relations.

Meanwhile, stock market analyst and BDO Capital president Ed Francisco said he still sees bright spots in the global market with Trump’s comeback at the White House.

“They might have increased tensions in China, but in a way, that doesn’t mean that business process outsourcing companies will get hit anyway, because they really need us, so we are very strategic to them,” Francisco said.

However, he said Trump’s victory may hurt China’s growth.

China sells goods worth more than $400 billion annually to the U.S. and hundreds of billions more in components for products Americans buy from elsewhere.