Seven Key Takeaways from Trump’s Presidential Election Victory

Donald Trump’s 2024 win reshapes the political landscape and offers insights into a changing America.

In the wake of Donald Trump’s 2024 presidential victory, experts gathered to dissect the election’s results and their broader implications for the nation. A panel of esteemed political analysts, sociologists, and historians convened at a virtual event, Insights and Impacts: Post-Election Debrief, to discuss how evolving voter behaviour, societal shifts, and economic concerns shaped the outcome

The panel included:

• Leah Wright Rigueur, Associate Professor at the SNF Agora Institute
• Soren Dayton, Director of Governance at the Niskanen Center
• Lilliana Mason, Associate Professor of Political Science
• Eugene Scott, Host of Axios Live and Fellow at Harvard University’s Kennedy School

Moderated by Steven Teles, political science professor at Johns Hopkins and senior fellow at the Niskanen Center, the event provided a nuanced understanding of the 2024 election.l

The 2024 U.S. presidential election marked a pivotal moment in American politics, reflecting deep-seated economic anxieties, shifting demographics, and evolving party dynamics. Donald Trump's victory over Kamala Harris not only secured him a second term but also underscored significant trends that will shape the nation's future. This analysis delves into seven key takeaways from the election, offering insights into the factors that influenced the outcome and their broader implications.

Video source: https://www.youtube.com/@JohnsHopkins

Economic Anxiety Remained a Decisive Factor

"We currently have the best economy in the world within the United States, … but there was a real disconnect between how the economy works in theory and on paper and how people were feeling it in their day-to-day lives," Wright Rigueur remarked.

Economic anxieties dominated voter concerns despite strong macroeconomic indicators such as record-low unemployment rates and GDP growth. Kamala Harris’s campaign highlighted wage increases and affordable housing plans, but her messaging struggled to resonate. According to analysts, the Biden administration often under-communicated its accomplishments, including infrastructure investments and advancements in green energy.

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"The economy might look great on Wall Street, but it's Main Street that votes," noted Leah Wright Rigueur, Associate Professor at the SNF Agora Institute.

Trump attracted new voters

"One of the things [Trump] was able to do quite effectively was create a multiracial, multi-ethnic coalition of grievance populism that resulted in a powerful show at the polls," Mason said.

Trump received more votes from Latino residents than any other Republican presidential candidate in history, and he also made notable inroads with Black voters. "But in specific areas, particularly in battleground states, Trump doubled his percentage of support among Black male voters," Mason said.

In Dearborn, Michigan, which usually overwhelmingly back Democrats, as many as "45% of Muslim residents voted for Donald Trump, 33% voted for Jill Stein, and support for Kamala Harris [dropped to an unprecedented] low 20s," said Wright Rigueur, who attributed the shift among Muslim voters to the Biden administration's handled the Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza.

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"One of the things [Trump] was able to do quite effectively was create a multiracial, multi-ethnic coalition of grievance populism that resulted in a powerful show at the polls," observed Lilliana Mason, Associate Professor of Political Science.

Information inconsistencies contributed.

Harris made women's reproductive rights a focal point of her campaign, but Trump didn't discuss the matter much, Mason said. When he did, he told audiences he wanted individual states to make the decision. It didn't help that "a lot of the news sources Republicans tend to consume weren't saying anything about the threat to abortion access or rights," she said.

Wright Rigueur cited another example: the stimulus relief bill passed by Congress at the end of Trump's first presidency. Trump wanted to veto the bill "but later had no choice but to sign it into law," she said. He then decided to put his name on the checks. "Everybody laughed and [thought] it was arrogant, but people remember those checks and say, 'Donald Trump gave me $1,200.'"

What they don't remember, she continued, is the second round of $1,200 relief checks sent by Joe Biden. Why? Biden didn't print his name on the checks—he followed standard practice and had the Secretary of the Treasury sign them.

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"It wasn’t what he did; it’s how he branded what he did,"noted Eugene Scott, host of Axios Live.

Results reflect a global trend.

In elections worldwide, incumbent candidates are losing, and the Harris defeat is yet another example, Mason said.

"In response to inflation or to the trauma of COVID, the whole world is still trying to process fear and uncertainty," Mason explained. "When [people] are uncertain, they tend to go toward a strongman" or anti-establishment leader who isn't the incumbent.

Similarly, fear and uncertainty have fueled what some panellists called "an anti-institution movement"—that is, a growing distrust in the government agencies, universities, schools, and medical systems entrusted to take care of, educate, and advance society.

"Institutions have different rules than rogue actors or extremist groups," Mason said, "and they're being scapegoated because they don't really fight back—they have to obey their own rules about inclusion and diversity and freedom of speech and pluralism."

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"When uncertainty prevails, people gravitate toward leaders who promise stability, even if they defy norms,"said Soren Dayton, Director of Governance at the Niskanen Center.

Realignment of Political Party Coalitions

The Republican base is now largely made up of the working class, panellists said.

"The Democratic coalition today is massively, disproportionately represented by professionals, university professors, experts, [and] all of those people who, to some degree, are the enforcers of propriety," Teles said.

The business community used to be an "anchor tenant" of the Republican Party, Teles added, and it remains to be seen whether "Trump will just accept that a lot of business is going to leave the Republican Party and that they'll pick up enough working-class party voters to be OK with business [primarily] ending up in the Democratic Party."

According to Dayton, "If you are working in a high-skill information industry, [you're likely] going Democrat fast. If you're in an extractive industry [such as] agriculture and mining, you're going to have strong reasons to like Trump."

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"The Democratic coalition today is massively, disproportionately represented by professionals, university professors, experts, [and] all of those people who, to some degree, are the enforcers of propriety,"noted Steven Teles, a senior political science expert.

The Polarizing Impact of Trump’s Persona

Panelists brought up concerns about Trump's unorthodox style on and off throughout the conversation. "I'm of the firm belief that one of the reasons Trump did as well as he did, compared to 2020, is because he's not on TV every day," Scott said. "If Trump continues being who he was, … I think people's tolerance for decency—or indecency, I should say—will be tested."

Nevertheless, many voters overlooked Trump's idiosyncrasies to cast a vote for him anyway.

"The reality is that too many voters are far less concerned about that than they are about their rent going up, the cost of X going up, higher education being incredibly unaffordable, and so many other issues affecting voters' day-to-day," Scott said.

Legislative Challenges Await Trump

Even with Republican control of Congress, Trump’s agenda faces significant hurdles. Historical precedent shows that unified party control does not guarantee smooth governance. During Trump’s first term, efforts to repeal the Affordable Care Act failed despite GOP majorities.

Experts believe similar challenges will arise as Trump pushes controversial policies on trade, immigration, and social spending. Balancing internal party divisions and bipartisan opposition will test his leadership.

"The presidency is not a monarchy. Even Trump has to navigate institutional constraints," said a constitutional scholar.

Conclusion- A Changing America

Trump’s 2024 victory was not just a referendum on economic policies or partisan divides. It was a broader reflection of America’s evolving identity—an identity shaped by cultural shifts, economic anxieties, and political realignments. The election revealed not only the growing polarization but also the adaptability of the American political system.

The coming years will reveal whether Trump’s policies align with voter expectations or whether his polarizing leadership style will create new fractures. Either way, the 2024 election marks a pivotal chapter in the story of modern America.

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