US election recap: Exit polls reveal who voted for Donald Trump and Kamala Harris presidency

The Nightly
Broadly speaking, Donald Trump won over the voters he was always meant to. But one group got behind him in an unexpected way.
Broadly speaking, Donald Trump won over the voters he was always meant to. But one group got behind him in an unexpected way. Credit: The Nightly

Donald Trump has been elected President of the US for a second non-consecutive term. Recap a huge week in politics by scrolling through the posts below.

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As election week draws to a close, so too does The Nightly’s live blog.

If you’re just joining us, feel free to scroll through the posts below to recap a huge week in world politics.

Thank you for joining us throughout the week as we witnessed an historic election result and the return of Donald Trump to the White House.

Our coverage of US politics doesn’t end here though.

Stay tuned to The Nightly for all the latest news and updates on the incoming Trump Government and don’t forget to download your free edition of The Nightly every weeknight from 6pm AEDT.

Georgina Noack

Trump names Susie Wiles his new chief of staff

Donald Trump has announced the first member of his new administration, naming Susie Wiles his chief of staff.

Ms Wiles was the co-manager of Trump’s re-election campaign, which the President-elect said was “one of the greatest political victories in American history”.

In announcing Ms Wiles’ appointment, Trump said she was an “integral part” of his 2016 and 2020 campaigns.

“Susie is tough, smart, innovative, and is universally admired and respected. Susie will continue to work tirelessly to Make America Great Again,” he said.

“It is a well deserved honor to have Susie as the first-ever female Chief of Staff in United States history. I have no doubt that she will make our country proud.”

Georgina Noack

Trump can’t force me out, says Powell as Fed cuts rates

Federal Reserve chair Jerome Powell says he will not step down if President-elect Donald Trump asks for his resignation.

When asked overnight Thursday whether he would resign if requested to by Trump, the Fed chair simply said: “No.” Mr Powell subsequently told reporters that the president does not have the power to fire or demote him.

He told reporters such a move is “not permitted under law”.

Read what else he had to say here.

Georgina Noack

Putin congratulates ‘brave man’ Trump on election win

Vladimir Putin has congratulated Donald Trump on his election victory in his first public comment on the US vote, and praised the president-elect’s courage during the July assassination attempt.

“His behaviour at the moment of an attempt on his life left an impression on me. He turned out to be a brave man,” the Russian President said on Thursday at an international forum following a speech in the Black Sea resort of Sochi.

“He manifested himself in the very correct way, bravely as a man.”

Read the full story here.

Max Corstorphan

The richest people instantly get richer as Trump wins

Wall St soared after President-elect Donald Trump secured the win in the US election and the people atop Bloomberg’s Billionaire Index got a hefty net worth bump.

Elon Musk was the most significant winner, with his worth increasing $US26.5b ($40b) to $US290 billion ($435b).

Other winners included Amazon owner Jeff Bezos, Trump supporter Larry Ellison, Microsoft’s Bill Gates and Steve Ballmer, former Google executives Larry Page and Sergey Brin and Berkshire Hathaway chief executive Warren Buffet.

The top 10 richest people gained $US64b ($95b).

Max Corstorphan

President Joe Biden urges Americans to accept the result

Outgoing US President Joe Biden has addressed the nation from the White House, acknowledging the country chose “the other” and that “we accept the choice the country makes.”

Mr Biden sprung out of the white house on Thursday morning wearing his classic aviator glasses to applause from staff who know their time in the White with the Democrats is coming to an end.

“For over 200 years, America has carried on the greatest experiment in self-government in the history of the world,” he said.

“Where people vote and choose their own leader and they do it peacefully.”

Addressing the loss, Mr Biden said: “Setbacks are unavoidable, but giving up is unforgivable.”

“We all get knocked down, but the measure of our character, as my dad would say, is how quickly we get back up.

“Remember, a defeat does not mean we are defeated. We lost this battle. The America of your dreams is calling for you to get back up. That’s the story of America for over 240 years and counting.”

“The American experience endures. We are going to be okay. But we need to stay engaged, we need to keep going and above all, we need to keep the faith.”

READ MORE

Artemisia Blythe

President Biden to address the nation

President Joe Biden has announced he will address the nation at 11am US Eastern Standard Time.

In a post to X the 46th US President wrote, “I’ll address the nation to discuss the election results and the transition”.

Artemisia Blythe

Trump’s victory forces coalition & Labor to rethink election strategy

The political comeback of incoming US President Donald Trump has given major parties in Australia pause for thought ahead of the federal election.

With cost-of-living concerns and economic woes driving votes towards the Republicans, some within the coalition believe a similar strategy will pay off when Australian voters head to the polls.

But Prime Minister Anthony Albanese insists the government was on the right track to help hip-pocket concerns, downplaying calls for Labor to change its election approach after results in the US saw Mr Trump return.

“We’re in difficult global economic times. Interest rates are higher in the United States, New Zealand, the UK than they are here. This has been a global inflationary impact,” he told reporters on Thursday.

With AAP.

Artemisia Blythe

Surprising people who could be in Trump's cabinet

It has been hinted the world’s richest man Elon Musk will take on a new role next year.

Donald Trump suggested Mr Musk will be given a role in his cabinet aimed at increasing government efficiency through cost cutting.

The possible new role is not the only benefit Mr Musk has gained from the Trump campaign.

Shares in Elon Musk’s electric car maker, Tesla, jumped 15 per cent to a record high after the Republican won the presidential election.

The increase bumped up Musk’s wealth by about $30 billion, a big return on the $180 million-plus he spent helping elect Trump.

Robert F Kennedy Jr has also been promised a role to “make America healthy again”.

BUTLER, PENNSYLVANIA - OCTOBER 05: Elon Musk embraces Republican presidential nominee, former President Donald Trump during a campaign rally at the Butler Farm Show fairgrounds on October 05, 2024 in Butler, Pennsylvania. This is the first time that Trump has returned to Butler since he was injured during an attempted assassination on July 13.  (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
Elon Musk may have a role Trump’s cabinet. Credit: Getty Images
Artemisia Blythe

World stocks gain after investor optimism over potential stimulus measures under Trump

China and Hong Kong stocks ended higher on Thursday, buoyed by investor optimism over potential stimulus measures under a second Donald Trump presidency.

Europe’s broad STOXX 600 index was last up 0.5 per cent after Asian shares had gained earlier in the day, with even onshore Chinese blue chips rising three per cent as investor optimism over potential stimulus outweighed concerns about worsening trade tensions.

US stock futures pointed higher after all three major Wall Street indexes surged to all-time peaks on Wednesday on the possibility of a Republican sweep that could quickly usher in big fiscal spending.

With Reuters.

Artemisia Blythe

Will moral superiority doom Labor like it doomed the Democrats?

Donald Trump didn’t just win, he won really big. Just like last year, Anthony Albanese didn’t just lose the Voice, he lost really badly.

The No to the Voice and election of the Left’s greatest enemy Trump is all about the “we the people” people defeating the latte-sippers, the kale-and-goat’s-cheese-munching elites and the sneering socialists.

In his ​opinion piece​, Cameron Milner suggests Labor has plenty to learn from Trump’s landslide victory.

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