Trump Shocks Critics, Returns To White House

Donald John Trump is returning to the White House after a historic victory in the keenly contested US Presidential election on Tuesday, November 5.

The former President and Republican candidate defeated Vice President and Democratic candidate Kamala Harris in one of the tightest contests in US history to emerge as the 47th president of the United States.

Trump became the 45th President of the US in 2016 after he defeated former US Secretary of State Hilary Clinton. However, his reelection bid in 2020 was stopped when current US President Joe Biden defeated him in a fractious election that almost marred the country’s reputation.

Trump had refused to accept the results of the 2020 election, which he lost to Biden, and his role in trying to overturn the election results to stay in office is still being scrutinised today.

In this year’s election, results across the 50 states of the US on Wednesday suggested that Trump,  at the time of going to press,  had garnered over 71 million popular votes (51%)  against Harris, who got over 66 million votes(47%).  Although results are still being counted when filing this report, Trump has garnered more than enough votes to become president.

In the Electoral College Votes that are the ultimate decider of victory, Trump got 279 votes, which surpassed the 270 threshold needed for victory. Trump’s Republicans have also wrestled the Senate majority from the Democrats.

Harris, on the other hand, garnered 223 of the 538 Electoral College votes, but these were not enough to satisfy her much-needed desire to become the first female President of the most powerful country in the world and the number one economy in the world.

In his victory speech to a cheering crowd, Trump said, “It is now clear that we have achieved the most incredible political feat. It is a political victory that our country has never seen before—nothing like this.  I want to thank the American people for this extraordinary honour of being elected the 47th president.

“We are going to help our country heal. We have a country that needs help, and it needs help very badly; we are going to fix our borders. We are going to fix everything about our country.”

Trump’s return to the White House appears to be a phenomenal feat never seen in recent US history, judging by the controversies and drama that characterised their exit after his defeat in 2020 by Biden.

How he secured the confidence and votes of millions of Americans, who gave him a second chance after the myriad scandals, baffles even most people worldwide.

During the campaign for this election, he survived two assassination attempts, and his original opponent, President Joe Biden, dropped out after a shaky performance in their first televised debate.

Although final votes were still being counted, most Americans in crucial battleground states had voted for him, with many citing the economy and immigration as chief concerns.

Trump is facing alleged charges of inciting the violent attack on the US Capitol on January 6, 2021. He will also make history as the first sitting president convicted of a felony after being found guilty of falsifying business records.

However, the Supreme Court ruled that the president has total immunity from prosecution for official acts in office, which makes it difficult for any prosecutor to charge him during the next administration.

His message on the economy and immigration won the hearts of many Americans, who felt his policies in his first term energised the economy and brought jobs for the people on his ‘America First’ slogan. He has threatened to close the borders, deport illegal immigrants, and reduce inflation.

…Tinubu, Other Leaders Task Trump On World Peace

Nigeria’s President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has joined other world leaders in urging US President-elect Donald Trump to leverage his second term to promote peace in an increasingly complex world.

Tinubu, in the message issued by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Mr Bayo Onanuga, on Wednesday, expressed his eagerness to strengthen the ties between Nigeria and the United States amid the complex challenges and opportunities of the contemporary world.

Tinubu said, “Together, we can foster economic cooperation, promote peace, and address global challenges that affect our citizens.”

According to him, Trump’s victory reflects the trust and confidence the American people have placed in his leadership, even as he hailed the US electorate’s commitment to democracy.

“President Tinubu believes that, given President Trump’s experience as the 45th President of the United States from 2017 to 2021, his return to the White House as the 47th President will usher in an era of earnest, beneficial, and reciprocal economic and development partnerships between Africa and the United States,” Onanuga said.

Tinubu also acknowledged the United States’ influence, power, and position in determining the trend and course of global events, trusting that President Trump will bring the world closer to peace and prosperity.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer have reacted to Donald Trump’s victory.

In his statement, Netanyahu – who has had a complicated relationship with President Biden – spoke of “history’s greatest comeback”, adding that Trump’s return to office offered a “new beginning for America, a powerful recommitment to the great alliance between Israel and America”.

UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said: “I look forward to working with Trump in the years ahead, “From growth and security to innovation and tech, I know that the UK-US special relationship will continue to prosper on both sides of the Atlantic for years to come.”

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban – a close Trump ally – said his election was “a much-needed victory for the world”.

“The biggest comeback in US political history!” he wrote in a post on X.

Orban had openly endorsed Mr Trump’s re-election bid after being the first and only EU leader to back him in 2016.

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico said Trump’s victory was a “defeat of liberal and progressive ideas.” He added that the election confirmed the need to “never trust the media and polls.”

French President Emmanuel Macron said he was ready to work together with Trump just as before, “with respect and ambition for more peace and prosperity”.

Macron added that he had held talks with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz about defending Europe’s interests and values while cooperating with the US.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said, “Germany and the US have for a long time successfully worked together to promote prosperity and freedom on both sides of the Atlantic”.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said Trump’s leadership “will again be key to keeping our alliance strong. I look forward to working with him again to advance peace through strength through NATO.”

Donald Trump has been critical of the NATO  alliance, accusing its European allies of not paying enough for security.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on X: “I appreciate President Trump’s commitment to the ‘peace through strength’ approach in global affairs. This is exactly the principle that can practically bring just peace in Ukraine closer.”

Trump had promised to push Zelensky to cut a deal with Russian President Vladimir Putin, which may involve losing territory. Ukraine fears he will reduce US military and financial support.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said Italy and the US were “linked by an unshakable alliance, common values and a historic friendship. It is a strategic bond, which I am sure we will now strengthen even further.”

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez pledged to work with Trump “on our strategic bilateral relations and a strong transatlantic partnership”.

Irish Prime Minister Simon Harris said Ireland “will work to deepen and strengthen the historic and unbreakable bonds between our people and nations in the years ahead”.

In her message to Trump, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the EU and the US were “more than just allies”.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the pair would “work together to create more opportunity, prosperity, and security for both of our nations.”

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said he was “unaware of the president’s plans to congratulate Trump on the election” since the US was an “unfriendly country”.

He added that Russia would judge Trump on his actions: “We will draw conclusions based on concrete steps and words.”

The Russian Foreign Ministry also said in a statement that Moscow would remain focused on achieving the goals of its special military operation in Ukraine.

Iran’s government spokesperson Fatemeh Mohajerani, according to the semi-official news agency Tasnim, said the US election would not affect Iranians’ livelihoods.

Trump could reimpose his “maximum pressure policy” through heightened sanctions on Iran’s oil industry and empower Israel to strike its nuclear sites, Arab and Western officials have told Reuters news agency.

In his message on X, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi described Trump as a friend: “As you build on the successes of your previous term, I look forward to renewing our collaboration further to strengthen the India-US Comprehensive Global and Strategic Partnership.

“Together, let’s work for the betterment of our people and to promote global peace, stability and prosperity.”

Turkey’s President Tayyip Erdogan also called Trump a friend. The two had a healthy relationship during Trump’s first term in office.

“I hope that Turkey-US relations will strengthen, that regional and global crises and wars, especially the Palestinian issue and the Russia-Ukraine war, will come to an end,” he said.

Argentina’s President Javier Milei congratulated Trump on a “formidable electoral victory. Now, Make America Great Again. You know you can count on Argentina to complete your task.”

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Alabanese said the US “has long played a leadership role in the stability and security of the Indo-Pacific. Australia will strive to strengthen the cooperation between our two nations in the region.”

During a routine news briefing, Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Mao Ning, said, “The US presidential election is their domestic affairs. We respect the American people’s choice.”

Trump had threatened to impose massive trade tariffs on Chinese goods entering the US, and he may push Europe to decouple more from China’s economy.

Speaking to reporters, Taiwan’s National Security Bureau Director-General Tsai Ming-yen said: “On relations across the Taiwan Strait, we believe that the US will continue its current approach of constraining China and being friendly to Taiwan.”

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr said that with Trump’s election, “the American people triumphed, and I congratulate them for their victory in an exercise which showed the world the strength of American values.”

There has been no official statement from North Korea, but analysts believe Kim Jong Un is invested in the US electoral outcome because it could reopen the possibility of talks.

Kim held three historic meetings with Trump when he was president. In the run-up to the first summit, he announced that Pyongyang would be halting missile and nuclear tests.

…Iran Indifferent, Hopes For Better Relations

The Iranian government appears indifferent following Donald Trump’s U.S. election victory.

“It does not matter who becomes president in the United States as our plans were made in advance,” said government spokeswoman Fatemeh Mohajerani.

Senior Iranian politicians did not initially comment on Trump’s election amid the frosty relations between Washington and Tehran as the two countries no longer maintain direct diplomatic relations.

Trump’s previous U.S. presidency had a significant impact on Iran, as he pulled the United States out of an international nuclear accord with Tehranimposed new sanctions and classified the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist organisation.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian expressed hope for better relations with the West when he took office, hoping that both countries could chart a new course despite these frosty relations.

…Implications For Africa, Middle East, Others

Nigerian experts in international relations have expressed less optimism about the positive outcomes of President–elect Donald Trump’s win, especially for Africa.

During his campaign, Trump insisted on his slogan of “America First.” Now, the rest of the world will feel this when he begins implementing the 20% tariffs he has proposed on US imports.

Bulus Lolo, former Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said Africa may not matter much to Trump as the continent appears to have no place of respect in his heart.

He said, “With regards to Africa, I am not sure there is much one can say because, in Trump’s first term, Africa was in the backwaters of his administration. I don’t see that changing much in his second term in office, more so because even during the campaign, Africa was hardly an issue; rather, the consideration of Africa will be with the rest of the world and the implications of his presidency.”

On the Middle East, Ambassador Lolo, who was a one-time Ambassador of Nigeria to Ethiopia, said that the Middle East is a thorny issue concerning the situation in Gaza and Lebanon, where Israel has waged a war it said is to defend itself.

He said, “Trump is very much and remains pro-Israel. The Israeli public, even though they did not vote in the election, was massively in support of Trump. So, there is jubilation in Israel, and I know that Netanyahu is over the moon because Trump has won. He had unfettered access to the White House during Trump’s first term, and I believe he will have even more access now.

“The other parts of the Middle East, Iran, for instance, will wait and see what the following line of action would be given that Iran has vowed to retaliate for the strikes that Israel conducted two weeks ago.   With the Trump Presidency, Israel will feel emboldened because there might not be any restraints to hold them back, knowing that the American administration is entirely behind them. “

International affairs expert Dr Austin Maho spoke extensively on various issues about the promises Trump has made to bring the wars in Ukraine and Gaza to an end.

He said, “We expect that America’s support for Ukraine will dwindle, and this would force Ukraine to the negotiation table with Russia having the upper hand. Ukraine may be forced to give up some land currently held by Russia as part of the peace negotiation.”

On the Middle East crisis, Maho noted that Trump may give the nod to the Israelis to finish the war in its two-front war in the Middle East against Iranian-backed armed groups Hezbollah and Hamas.  He added that, ultimately, his tactics would be to allow Israel to have its way and, after that, work for peace in the region.

On China, the expert said Trump would continue with the same policy during his first coming when he launched a trade war and pledged to introduce more steep tariffs on products made in China during the campaign.

“Trump is a nationalist, not a globalist; Africa would feature less in his policy direction. Immigration was a major issue; if Trump is to go hard on his immigration plans, many Africans living illegally in the US would face deportation,” he added.

In his remarks, Charles Onunaiju, director of the Centre for China Studies, said American foreign policy, whether in the Middle East, Africa, or Ukraine, will not dramatically change.

He added that incumbent Presidents can influence the intensity and degree of U.S. security and foreign policies but cannot dramatically change course or undermine their crucial fundamentals.

“To this extent, Mr. Trump’s policy in various regions will not suddenly wear new looks. In the Middle East, he had, in his first term, swum against the international tide by relocating the U.S embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, boosting the narrative of extremist Israeli right-wing political factions that Jerusalem would be the undivided capital of the Jewish State, against the global consensus that East Jerusalem would be the putative capital of the Palestinian State.

“He has leaned on the genocidal-prone Prime Minister Netanyahu to finish his wars sooner than later, but whether he would restrain or embolden the Israeli regime is too early to guess.

The renowned journalist and author said Africa would maintain its low profile in U.S. foreign policy priorities, as it did since Trump’s first Presidency, up to Joe Biden’s time.

“The opportunity of U.S feeble policy towards Africa is for the continent to consolidate on the diversification of her international partnership to attract more trade, investment and technology from other regions of the world,” Onunaiju said.

He pointed out that Ukraine, which is currently on the verge of military collapse before the Trump victory, will come to terms with the ultimate price of playing the pawn or proxy in the geo-political context of significant powers, especially those armed with the end-time Hydrogen bomb.

He noted that Trump would offer a deal, but not the one that would please the Kyiv regime and most of its European Union backers.

Kamala Harris Concedes Defeat, Calls Trump

Kamala Harris has congratulated Donald Trump on his electoral victory.

According to BBC, Harris called Trump and promised a peaceful transfer of power and for him to be a president for all Americans.

The US vice president is expected to address the public when she delivers remarks at Howard University later today.