By Jen Schumann | Commentary, Rocky Mountain Voice
When Americans awoke Nov. 6, following an Election Night which went into the wee hours of the early morning, they learned Donald J. Trump had been elected as the 47th U.S. President with 286 electoral votes, defeating Kamala Harris.
The broad support of working-class Americans, resulting in Trump’s win, signals a clear call to tackle the nation’s pressing issues.
Trump won important battleground states, including Georgia, North Carolina and Pennsylvania. This secured his victory.
This election also marked the first time since 2004 that a Republican has won the national popular vote, a milestone CNN contributor Scott Jennings described as “a big deal.”
According to sources from Associated Press and Decision Desk HQ, Trump’s win was bolstered by the GOP’s control of the Senate, reclaimed with key seats in states like West Virginia and Ohio. Or rather, Trump’s win may have bolstered those Senate victories. Either way, the GOP has control of the Senate and control of the House remains undecided, with several races still pending at the time of this writing.
Trump’s acceptance speech, plus CNN’s Scott Jennings and others, highlighted the deep desire for change and a renewed commitment to American ideals.
“This was a movement like nobody has ever seen before. It’s time to put the divisions of the past four years behind us,” Trump proclaimed in his victory speech. Speaking to his supporters, he promised to work with unwavering dedication for them, adding, “We will make America safe, strong, prosperous, powerful and free again. It’s time to unite. Success will bring us together.”
He called for unity amid his opponent, Kamala Harris, failing to concede the election to him.
Trump’s focus on American resources and industry was also clear, as he humorously advised Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., “But Bobby, leave the oil to me. We have more liquid gold than any country in the world. Stay away from the liquid gold.”
For Jennings, Trump’s victory represents a powerful voice from the American working class. He described the win as “the revenge of just the regular, old working class American, the anonymous American who has been crushed, insulted, condescended to.”
This election, according to Jennings, is a statement from everyday Americans who feel left behind: “They’re not garbage. They’re not Nazis. They’re just regular people who get up and go to work every day and are trying to make a better life for their kids.”
Jennings was blunt, calling the media’s coverage a clear failure of the political news system. He noted that, during the campaign, inflation and hardship were overshadowed by side issues.
“We were just ignoring the fundamentals,” Jennings argued, pointing to the disconnect between the legacy media and voters’ concerns. His take is a reminder that “we have to figure out how to understand, talk to, and listen to the half of the country that rose up tonight and said, we’ve had enough.”
The 2024 election gave the GOP a Senate majority, winning key races in West Virginia and Ohio. Trump, pleased, acknowledged the Senate victories, saying, “We have taken back control of the Senate.” With Trump’s re-election and a Republican Senate, the GOP can now tackle issues like economic policy, immigration reform and crime. With the House still undecided, pending races may shift power to a GOP stronghold behind President Trump.
Having control of the two chambers, along with the Presidency, is a way to make progress in Washington, D.C., without the delays of a slow-moving government.
Vice President-elect J.D. Vance expressed his gratitude and commitment to the Trump administration’s mission. “We just saw the greatest political comeback in U.S. history,” Vance said. He pledged to always fight for American families. He also shared his vision for an economic turnaround: “We’re gonna leave the greatest economic comeback in American history under Donald Trump’s leadership.”
UFC President Dana White, a Trump supporter, added his own encouragement. “This is karma, ladies and gentlemen. He deserves this,” White said, commending Trump’s resilience. “He keeps going forward. He doesn’t quit,” he added, describing Trump as one of the most hardworking and determined leaders he has known.
He’s also had the support on the campaign trail of another widely popular celebrity, an entire generation of Americans have known for decades: Hulk Hogan. Trump additionally received an endorsement from widely-popular podcaster Joe Rogan. Making multiple appearances with Trump has also been entrepreneur and businessman Elon Musk.
NBC reports that Kamala will call President-elect Trump on Wednesday to concede the election. Two aides confirmed she will address the public afterward.
Editor’s note: Opinions expressed in commentary pieces are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the management of the Rocky Mountain Voice, but even so we support the constitutional right of the author to express those opinions.
Link to original article