Donald Trump’s re-election as the 47th president has surprised many, marking a turbulent political milestone as he enters his second term in the White House. Kamala Harris, seen by supporters as the saving grace for American democracy, was trumped by a campaign criticised for its violent, racist rhetoric. Dubbed one of the most pivotal elections to date, demonstrating the extremes of the current political climate in America, let’s break down all the key moments that have made the 2024 U.S. Presidential election one for the history books.
While Trump started his campaign with a low-energy speech from his Florida resort, Harris was thrust into the election following an endorsement in July from former president Joe Biden. In the early days of the campaign, Trump focused on immigration and the US-Mexico border, while Harris leveraged the momentum of Biden’s support to position herself as a catalyst for progressive change. Following a tweet from British singer CharliXCX, which read ‘Kamala is BRAT’, in reference to the top charting album of the summer, Harris garnered support, especially from Gen Z voters who appreciated the humour of the meme. Equally, Trump experienced his own surge of media virality. His claims that Haitian migrants ‘are eating the dogs’ and ‘are eating the cats’, a statement endorsed by Vice President Vance, landed him in trouble with the US National Security Council, which labelled his comments a ‘conspiracy theory…based on racism’.
Harris’ ability to bait Trump into losing his temper saw her prevail as victorious, so much so, that Trump refused to partake in a rematch debate. However, it is evident now that these mid-election successes were not indicative of a final victory.
Prehaps the most shocking moment of this election was the assassination attempt on Trump during a rally in Pennsylvania. The lone gunman, whose shot grazed Trump’s ear, instigated the iconic shot of a bloodied Trump, with his raised fist. Whilst the shooting united his core supporters, viewing it as a testament to Trump’s resilience, others speculated as to whether it was a staged publicity stunt. Furthermore, when the candidates came head-to-head, Harris, an experienced prosecutor, gained the respect of voters with her poised, combative, and alert responses. Harris’ ability to bait Trump into losing his temper saw her prevail as victorious, so much so, that Trump refused to partake in a rematch debate. However, it is evident now that these mid-election successes were not indicative of a final victory.
Away from the campaign trail, Harris rallied her reputation as a ‘joyful warrior’ with her performance on the comedy sketch show, Saturday Night Live, alongside actress, Maya Rudolph. The skit evoked anger amongst Trump supporters, who claimed the sketch ripped off Trump’s performance on the Jimmy Fallon Show in 2015. This election has been plagued by tactics that reach beyond the usual late-night talk show jabs. Trump’s strategy to erode his supporters’ trust in the election’s fairness has taken hold. Though the prospect of a Trump loss was posed as unimaginable, Harris’ defeat has left both Republicans and Democrats grappling with a shared disillusionment in America’s political institutions.
The 2024 election has deepened America’s political divides. Trump’s re-election marks a determining moment, with the nation now facing tough questions about democracy, accountability, and the role of truth in politics.
