US Election Result: Donald Trump wins with 277 electoral votes; Kamala Harris bags 224

Donald Trump Wins White House, US Election 2024 Latest: Donald Trump won the 2024 US Presidential election on Wednesday, November 6, with leads showing the Republican former US president leading in the majority of American states. By 4:15 pm in India, Trump had secured 277 of the 270 electoral votes needed to win the White House, according to news agency Associated Press. That was more than Democrat US Presidential candidate Kamala Harris's 224 electoral votes.  

Global leaders congratulate Trump as he wins White House

Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Trump on his "historic election victory". "I Look forward to renewing our collaboration to further strengthen the India-US Comprehensive Global and Strategic Partnershop," the PM wrote. 

Heartiest congratulations my friend @realDonaldTrump on your historic election victory. As you build on the successes of your previous term, I look forward to renewing our collaboration to further strengthen the India-US Comprehensive Global and Strategic Partnership. Together,… pic.twitter.com/u5hKPeJ3SY

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) November 6, 2024

Several world leaders also congratulated Trump, including Israel PM Benjamin Netanyahu, France President Emmanuel Macron, El Salvador President Nayib Bukele and Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky.

ALSO READ: Trump matches 132-year-old record, becomes 2nd US President to win inconsecutive terms

Trump wins race to White House to "make America great again!"

Earlier on Wednesday, the former US President said that people had told him that God spared his life for a reason, which was "to save our country and restore America to greatness". "Now we’re going to fulfill that mission together,” he told Republican supporters while trends showed him leading against Harris. 

“The task before us will not be easy, but I will bring every ounce of energy, spirit, and fight that I have in my soul to the job that you’ve entrusted to me,” Trump added.

Trump also took to microblogging site X (formerly Twitter) to urge Republicans to "stay in line" to vote.

On Tuesday, he wrote: "Your vote will lead us to Greatness. Your vote will unleash a new GOLDEN AGE! Your vote will MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN! GREATER THAN EVER BEFORE! VOTE TRUMP!"

Your vote will lead us to Greatness.

Your vote will unleash a new GOLDEN AGE!

Your vote will MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN! GREATER THAN EVER BEFORE!

VOTE TRUMP!#VotedForTrump #Election2024 pic.twitter.com/L4KGAUA7KQ

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 5, 2024

Trump was learned to have clinched three out of seven key swing states, and leading in three others, giving him a critical advantage over Harris in the closely watched US presidential election, according to the latest trends.

Seven American states are known as swing states in India as they lack consistent Democratic or Republican dominance in history. These states, Arizona, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Georgia, North Carolina, Michigan and Nevada, often determine the outcome of the US election.

In the 2020 US presidential polls, Joe Biden won 306 electoral votes against Trump, who secured 232.

ALSO READ: What Donald Trump's win may mean for Dalal Street | Were bulls anticipating a Trump win?

Understanding the US Election System | Can there be a hung verdict?

No. Technically, US presidential polls cannot get a hung verdict. This is because the electoral system in the world's largest economy is designed to produce a winner in most cases.

It is noteworthy that the US presidential polls work on something known as the Electoral College system, which means that the outcome of the election is decided by the Electoral College.

What is the Electoral College in American politics?

It is an institution comprising 538 members who elect a president. Each US state's electors cast their ballots for the candidate securing the popular vote in their respective zones. 

Therefore, to win the White House, a US Presidential candidate must secure a minimum of 270 electoral votes.

It is the same election system that led to the victories of Trump in 2016 and George W Bush in 2000.

Does that mean that the elector votes are not in proportion to popular votes? 

Yes, the US presidential election doesn't use proportional representation.

What that means, simply, is that even if a US presidential candidate wins a significant number of votes, they won't receive a proportionate number of electoral votes if they lose the state.