Donald Trump has declared victory in the US presidential race on a seismic night for America and the wider world.
The Republican won the 270 votes needed to secure his path to the White House, picking up battleground states such as Pennsylvania, North Carolina and Georgia. He called victory in a speech to jubilant supporters in Florida, saying he had been given “an unprecedented and powerful mandate” by the American people.
There’s still counting going on in a handful of states. But in reality – it’s over and Mr Trump will return to the White House as 47th President of the United States.
A second Trump presidency has massive ramifications for the world. From the war in Ukraine, to the economy – here’s what it means.
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Getty Images)
Global security
Mr Trump’s unpredictability could prove disastrous world on a number of fronts – and is likely to herald an upheaval in America’s security and defence approach. In particular, he is expected to chart a new course on the ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East.
Mr Trump has said he wants to end the war in Ukraine, sparking fears in Kyiv that he could push for a rushed deal with Vladimir Putin. He has accused Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky of being the “greatest salesman on earth” for persuading the US to give billions of dollars in weapons and other assistance to the war effort.
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Global Images Ukraine via Getty)
If the US pulled its support for Ukraine, Kyiv would struggle to continue its resistance to Russia. He could push for a deal with Putin which would likely mean Ukraine ceding territory to Moscow.
Mr Trump could also wade into the conflict in the Middle East. He took a hard line against Iran during his last stint in the White House and could weigh in harder behind Israel against Tehran.
In his first term, Mr Trump threatened to pull out of the Nato alliance over complaints that the US was bankrolling European security. Such a move would be a significant challenge for the UK, Canada and European allies, following years of underinvestment in defence.
There is also the question of China, which is battling the US for superpower status. Mr Trump has spoken about slapping tariffs on Chinese imports, which could push Beijing towards closer economic ties with Russia.
Relationship with UK
Keir Starmer was quick to congratulate Mr Trump on his victory this morning, saying the UK and the US would remain the “closest of allies”. Behind the scenes, the UK has been wooing the Republican’s camp for months.
Mr Starmer met Mr Trump for a two-hour dinner in New York in September in a bid to shore up their personal relationship. Foreign Secretary David Lammy has also been on a charm offensive with senior Republicans as he sought to put his previous criticisms of Mr Trump behind him.
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Mr Lammy branded the ex-President a “woman-hating, neo-Nazi-sympathising sociopath” who was a “profound threat to the international order” when he was a backbencher in 2018. But Mr Lammy joined the PM and Mr Trump for what is believed to have been a convivial dinner.
The UK is particularly concerned about maintaining US support for Ukraine, as well as its position on the war in the Middle East. But there are economic questions too. Joe Biden’s administration refused to entertain the idea of a US-UK trade deal – which is much prized in Britain.
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Economy
The US is the world’s largest economy and whatever happens is felt around the globe. The cost of US and UK borrowing rose in the run-up to the election amid concerns about the price-rising impact of a Trump presidency.
Mr Trump has threatened to slap tariffs on goods, sparking fears of a trade war. Tariffs are a tax on the import or the export of goods, which could make it more expensive for foreign companies to sell to the US, and for Americans to buy products from overseas.
If he goes through with threats to place a 60% tariff on Chinese goods and a 10% tariff on goods from all other countries, it could be felt across the world. The National Institute of Economic and Social Research (NIESR) said it could result in weaker economic activity, rising inflation and higher interest rates from the Bank of England.
Environment
Mr Trump has previously called climate change a “hoax” and branded incentives for Americans to switch to electric cars “insane”. He is expected to usher in a new wave of oil and gas drilling in the US.
It comes at a crucial time for the battle to stop the climate crisis, as countries around the world face heatwaves and catastrophic weather events like hurricanes and flooding. Even inaction will have a cost. A change in direction from the US could prove disastrous.