Thursday Briefing: Welcome to ‘Trump’s America’

What Trump's victory means for the world

View in browser|nytimes.com November 7, 2024 By Natasha Frost Good morning. Today's special edition is on what another Trump presidency means for America and the world. Donald Trump on election night in West Palm Beach, Florida. Doug Mills/The New York Times Welcome to 'Trump's America' Donald Trump survived a criminal conviction, indictments, an assassin's bullet, accusations of authoritarianism and an unprecedented switch of his opponent. Now, in an astonishing political comeback, he will be the next president of the United States. He is the first former leader in more than 120 years to be elected for a second nonconsecutive term. Trump's defiant plans to upend the country's political system held appeal to tens of millions of voters. He picked up support among Latino and Black working-class voters, giving the Republican Party hope for a new way to win in a diversifying nation. Some voters saw him as their only choice to combat what they saw as out-of-control immigration or to bolster the U.S. economy. Others were compelled by the power of his campaign. But many Americans still found him unappealing, and his victory may say more about the country's dissatisfaction with Vice President Kamala Harris and the Democratic Party. Trump's electoral victory is shaping up to be substantial: He won all five of the battleground states that have been called so far, he leads by comfortable margins in the other two, and he is on track to become the first Republican to win the popular vote in 20 years. The Republicans also took control of the Senate, which will allow Trump to more easily carry out his priorities. Control of the House has yet to be determined. Legal troubles: Trump will be able to dispense with federal criminal charges against him while postponing or derailing the state and local cases that threatened to send him to prison and wipe out his wealth. Jack Smith, the special counsel who charged Trump, has already begun discussions about winding down his cases. Concession speech: Harris conceded the race yesterday afternoon. "It is OK to feel sad and disappointed, but please know it is going to be OK," she told tearful supporters in Washington. "Here's the thing: Sometimes the fight takes a while." Analysis: "No longer can the political establishment write off Trump as a temporary break from the long march of progress," Peter Baker, our White House correspondent, writes. "With his comeback victory to reclaim the presidency, Trump has now established himself as a transformational force reshaping the United States in his own image." From Opinion: Democrats lost because they dismissed inflation and immigration and were hyperbolic about Trump's threat to democracy, Bret Stephens argues. Trump's and Harris's campaigns pitted men against women. Men won, Maureen Dowd writes. Returning Trump to the White House sets the nation on a precarious course that no one can fully foresee, The Times's Editorial Board writes. What to expect from a Trump presidency Immigration: Mexico is in Trump's firing line. Ukraine: Trump will enter office with a record of skepticism, if not outright hostility, to continued U.S. aid. Climate: Trump believes global warming is a hoax. Global economy: Most economists predict Trump's plan for tariffs will invite retaliation, slow growth and fuel inflation. Middle East: Trump has a history of strong support for Israel. Watching news of the U.S. presidential election in Tokyo, on Wednesday. Richard A. Brooks/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images Global consequences for Donald Trump's victory The results of this week's election have left America's allies and adversaries alike preparing for another four years of unpredictability and "America first" protectionism that could reset the global order. Here's how it may affect the world. Times correspondents shared thoughts on how the coming Trump administration could affect different regions. "Chinese officials do see a potential upside if Donald Trump pulls the United States back from its role as a global leader. That could provide China with an opportunity to fill the vacuum." — David Pierson, China correspondent. "During Trump's first term, his engagement with the African continent fluctuated from disdain to neglect — he did not visit the continent once." — Abdi Latif Dahir, East Africa correspondent. "Donald Trump's victory is a setback to the world's attempt to rein in dangerous levels of warming." — Somini Sengupta, international climate reporter. Read more analysis, including what the results mean for NATO, India and the Middle East. In the U.S.: Trump has promised to deport millions of immigrants living in the country illegally. He has centered his economic plans around large tariffs that could jolt the global economy and increase inflation in the U.S. He has suggested that he might tap Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to reshape the public health sphere. For more: "Trump's first term was this odd mix of 'not my problem' and military threats. It's unpredictable, and he revels in the unpredictability." Read an interview with David Sanger, a White House and national security correspondent for The Times. How are you approaching Trump's second term? What are the things you'd like to see happen in the next four years? To share your thoughts, fill out this form. Network television screens play news of Donald Trump victory on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange. Timothy A. Clary/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images How Trump could affect the economy In the hours after Donald Trump's conclusive victory, stocks surged to record highs, the dollar strengthened around the world, and government bond yields soared. It was a sign, analysts said, that traders anticipated government spending, lighter regulation, bigger deficits and accelerating growth. Economists have warned that Trump's proposals could make inflation worse. For months, high prices have weighed heavily on consumer confidence, even though the unemployment rate is very low and companies have been hiring. Much of Trump's strategy hinges on cutting gas prices — and inflation — through deregulation and geopolitical maneuvering. How the Trump administration will handle policy decisions that are crucial to the global economy's path — on trade, technology, climate, industrial policy, the threat and opportunity of A.I. and more — is still unclear. By the numbers: The S&P 500 rose 2.5 percent, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite index moved almost 3 percent higher. The Dow lurched 3.6 percent higher. The Russell 2000 jumped almost 5 percent, its biggest one-day increase in roughly two years as well. Big-money politics: Trump largely let Elon Musk run his $175 million ground game — a gamble that allowed an ultrawealthy donor to take advantage of America's evolving campaign-finance system. MORE TOP NEWS Eric Lee/The New York Times Germany: Chancellor Olaf Scholz fired his finance minister, effectively ending his three-party ruling coalition and leaving the government teetering. Cuba: Hurricane Rafael made landfall today as a Category 3 storm. Israel: A decision by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to fire his popular defense minister, Yoav Gallant, caused backlash from protesters and opposition leaders. Japan: Mount Fuji ended its longest snowless period in 130 years. Animals: The Edinburgh Zoo playfully started (and then quickly ended) a rivalry between two baby pygmy hippos. SPORTS NEWS Pickleball: Can a high-level "world championship" turn amateur interest into long-term fandom? Running: How Zach Bates, a man with autism, runs an ultramarathon. Soccer: Manchester City has been ordered to pay the majority of Benjamin Mendy's unpaid wages after an employment tribunal. Golf: How Donald Trump's election may "clear the way" for a PGA Tour-PIF deal. MORNING READ Haiyun Jiang for The New York Times How exactly did Donald Trump win the election? He made gains in every corner of the country and with nearly every demographic group. Dive into the data. CONVERSATION STARTERS "It" pants: For fashion enthusiasts, wearing these pants is akin to carrying a flashy designer handbag. Wildlife: To understand how vampire bats get their energy, scientists put them on a treadmill. Lip-reading Kendall Jenner: With readings of stars' private conversations, Jackie G has become a star herself. Old faithful: After the death of the creator of JanSport backpacks, readers recalled how their bags served them on life's journeys. ARTS AND IDEAS Kezia Gabriella Reinventing the 'theater kid' label For a long time, "theater kid" was an insult in Hollywood, with connotations of being annoying, try-hard or essentially uncool. "The public wanted stars to feel effortless; theater kids were full of effort and wanted you to know it," our critic writes. "They were the equivalent of the class know-it-all." But times are changing. Recently, stars like Sabrina Carpenter, Ariana Grande and Lady Gaga have elevated the virtue of showmanship with an elaborate commitment to performances that embody the theater-kid ethos. For more: We interviewed Grande and Cynthia Erivo, who star in "Wicked," a prequel to "The Wizard of Oz" adapted from Broadway. We hope you've enjoyed this newsletter, which is made possible through subscriber support. Subscribe to The New York Times. RECOMMENDATIONS Linda Xiao for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Monica Pierini. Cook: This creamy, cheesy, crunchy pasta bake is a vegetarian dish that's got it all. Read: Escape to a fantasy world with these immersive, adventurous books. Wear: Ripped jeans have managed to remain in style. Treat: You can hand wash all of your clothes, even the delicate stuff. Listen: These songs will make you love the vibraphone. Play the Spelling Bee. And here are today's Mini Crossword and Wordle. You can find all our puzzles here. That's it for today's briefing. See you tomorrow. — Natasha Reach Natasha and the team at briefing@nytimes.com. Need help? Review our newsletter help page or contact us for assistance. You received this email because you signed up for Morning Briefing: Europe Edition from The New York Times. To stop receiving Morning Briefing: Europe Edition, unsubscribe. To opt out of other promotional emails from The Times, including those regarding The Athletic, manage your email settings. To opt out of updates and offers sent from The Athletic, submit a request. 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