WEST PALM BEACH, Florida – Former president Donald Trump has pulled off a stunning comeback in the 2024 US election, riding on a multiracial coalition of supporters that not only powered his Electoral College win, but also appeared to vindicate his controversial politics by awarding him the popular vote.

       Four years after leaving Washington in disgrace, blamed for inciting an insurrection and refusing to concede that he lost the 2020 election, he will become the first American president in more than 130 years to serve non-consecutive terms.

       At 78, he will also be the country’s oldest president ever, turning 82 by the end of his term.

       And also its most resilient: Impeached twice, convicted 34 times and nearly assassinated, he defied the odds to get here.

       His triumph in the Nov 5 election was not just the story of a base energised, but also a base significantly expanded.

       After receiving less than 47 per cent of the popular vote in his two earlier campaigns in 2016 and 2020, Trump was favoured this round to win the popular vote and end a 20-year losing streak among Republican candidates in vote totals.

       His party also took control of the Senate, after flipping seats in Montana, Ohio and West Virginia, and beating back challenges in Florida, Nebraska and Texas.

       This is critical for Trump’s ability to pick a Cabinet of his choice because those appointments require a Senate confirmation.

       And if the Republicans retain their majority in the House of Representatives – the race was still too close to call at press time – he will be nearly unstoppable in carrying out his legislative agenda.

       Trump declared victory in a speech in Florida after winning the key swing states of Pennsylvania, North Carolina and Georgia, while streaking ahead of his Democratic rival, Vice-President Kamala Harris, in Wisconsin and Michigan.

       While the key states of Michigan, Arizona and Nevada remained too close to call at press time, he had already surpassed Ms Harris in the tally of electoral votes, 277-224, in the process of securing the simple majority needed to win the White House.

       “This is a magnificent victory for the American people,” Trump said in an hour-long speech from a stage bedecked with American flags just after 2am (Eastern Time).

       He was flanked by his wife Melania, his children, as well as his running mate Senator J.D. Vance and high-profile supporters.

       He said he would fight for “every citizen” and promised to deliver on his campaign pledge to strengthen the economy. “This truly will be the golden age of America,” he said.

       He also spoke of the attempted assassination in July, and said he had been told that God spared him “to save our country and to restore America to greatness”.

       He described the sweeping win that he pulled off as a “historic realignment” that arose from a consolidation of the white vote and the addition of black and Hispanic voters.

       And he lost no time in smoothly switching to a unity message. “Success will bring us together,” he said.

       Many world leaders offered congratulatory messages within hours – among them Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong.

       “Singapore stands ready to work closely with you and your administration to advance our bilateral ties and to further strengthen the US’ partnerships in the Asia-Pacific,” PM Wong said.

       French President Emmanuel Macron posted that he was “ready to work” with Trump, while both Nato leader Mark Rutte and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said they appreciated the US President-elect’s “peace through strength” approach to global affairs.

       Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said he was not aware of any plans by Russian President Vladimir Putin to congratulate Trump.

       “Let us not forget that we are talking about an unfriendly country, which is both directly and indirectly involved in a war against our state,” Mr Peskov reportedly told reporters, referring to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

       In his campaign speeches, Trump has claimed he would be able to bring the war in Ukraine and Gaza to a quick end, restrict China’s trade practices, and force allies to pay their “fair share” for benefiting from collective security arrangements largely underwritten by the US.

       The extent of his hold on supporters appears extraordinary. In Norristown, Pennsylvania, Ms Dana Boccella, 41, said she had not only mailed in her ballot, but also went to a polling place: “I’d feel crappy if they never received it. I’m too invested in this to not make sure.”

       Outside the Palm Beach County Convention Centre, hundreds stood waiting long past midnight for a chance to see Trump sweep by in his motorcade.

       Mr John Deiz, a business owner, said he had no doubt that “good times will roll” once Trump is back in the White House.

       US stock futures rallied at the prospect of a second Trump administration and the US dollar was on course for its biggest daily gain in two years.

       But economists remain watchful of his promises of drastic tax cuts, sharp increases in tariffs, and new controls on immigration.

       Ms Harris’ defeat marks the second time in eight years that a woman has failed to shatter the country’s highest glass ceiling. She has promised to address her crushed supporters on Nov 6.