US election 2024: New York Times predicts Donald Trump victory ahead of Kamala Harris

Natalie Richards
The Nightly
A major US news outlet has sensationally predicted a 95 per cent chance of a Donald Trump victory in the US election, despite other analysts saying it’s far too early to make the call.
A major US news outlet has sensationally predicted a 95 per cent chance of a Donald Trump victory in the US election, despite other analysts saying it’s far too early to make the call. Credit: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

A major US news outlet has sensationally predicted a 95 per cent chance of a Donald Trump victory in the US election, despite other analysts saying it’s far too early to make the call.

The New York Times’ “needle” reads that it’s now “very likely” Trump will return to the White House, predicting wins in Georgia and North Carolina.

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But seasoned politics buffs will be treating the prediction with a degree of cynicism.

The ABC reports the same tracker predicted a 95 per cent chance of a Hillary Clinton victory in 2016 — the same year Trump became president.

Other major US news outlets are holding back from making any early predictions, with CNN declaring “battlegrounds are too early to call”.

Unsurprisingly, Fox News’ Sean Hannity has also all-but predicted a Trump win but incorrectly claimed he would secure the presidency by 2pm AEDT.

President Donald Trump and his wife Melania Trump depart after casting their votes at a polling place in the Morton and Barbara Mandel Recreation Center on Election Day.
President Donald Trump and his wife Melania Trump depart after casting their votes at a polling place in the Morton and Barbara Mandel Recreation Center on Election Day. Credit: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

Trump is leading in all key battleground states, including Pennsylvania.

The former president called into US radio presenter Rich Zeoli to declare if he wins Pennsylvania, he wins “the whole deal”.

He also urged Republicans to “stay in line”.

“We’re going to make this country greater than ever before, but you have to stay in line,” he said, according to CNN.

“And don’t let them slow ball you. You have an absolute legal right and get that vote in because if we win Pennsylvania, if we win the good old Commonwealth, we’re going to win the whole thing. We win everything.”

Delaware, Arkansas, Alabama, Florida, Missouri and Oklahoma have been projected as likely Trump wins.

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