Trump on the strength of a clean sweep in key states ahead of a historic transition

The scale of Donald Trump's victory was confirmed on Saturday with the capture of Arizona, which allowed the Republican billionaire to win a clean sweep in key states at a time when preparations are being made for the transition, promised to be “peaceful” by Joe Biden.

The outgoing president will receive his worst political enemy in the Oval Office on Wednesday, who is beginning to speak out on the composition of his future government, to prepare his historic return to power.

After four days of counting, CNN and NBC have declared Donald Trump the winner in Arizona, a traditionally Republican southwestern state that narrowly swung in favor of Joe Biden in 2020.

He had already won the six other key states: Georgia, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Michigan and Nevada.

A photo combo created on November 7, 2024 showing Donald Trump and Joe Biden © AFP – Elijah Nouvelage, Saul LOEB

If they do not change the outcome of the vote, the 11 electors won in the last swing state in play provide further proof of Donald Trump's undeniable victory over Kamala Harris.

He is also now virtually certain to win the popular vote against the Democrat. He will then be the first Republican president in 20 years to achieve this feat, proving wrong the pollsters who predicted otherwise.

And he will be able to rely on the Senate, which the Republicans took back from the Democrats, and possibly on the House of Representatives, where his party is on track to retain the majority.

– Humiliation –

Handing over the keys to the White House to the Republican will be an immense humiliation for outgoing President Joe Biden, accused by his camp of having, through pride, facilitated this resounding comeback.

After weeks of lackluster campaigning, the latter withdrew from the race in July, weighed down by his age, 81, in favor of his vice-president.

Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi in Washington on October 16, 2024 © AFP – Mandel NGAN

Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi told the New York Times on Saturday that “if the president had left (the race) earlier, there might have been other candidates,” adding that Joe Biden's immediate support for Kamala Harris had prevented a primary from taking place.

The former speaker of the US House of Representatives, however, praised the “excitement” Kamala Harris generated during her campaign.

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The vice president, who described her opponent as a “fascist,” failed to convince Americans that she understood their economic and security concerns.

Badly beaten after a bitter campaign, she said she intended to “help” Donald Trump during this period.

Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in Milkwaukee on July 18, 2024 © AFP – ANGELA WEISS

Joe Biden also pledged to ensure a peaceful transfer of power to his worst political enemy, hoping to “lower the temperature” in a country on edge.

A very different situation from 2020, when Donald Trump refused to acknowledge his defeat and boycotted Joe Biden's inauguration ceremony. And this after his supporters stormed the Capitol, the temple of American democracy, to prevent the certification of the Democrat's victory on January 6, 2021.

Four years later, the real estate mogul, who was the target of two assassination attempts during the campaign and was charged and convicted in criminal and civil proceedings, will make an incredible return to the White House.

– Neither Pompeo nor Haley –

Joe Biden at the White House on November 7, 2024 © AFP – SAUL LOEB

His first term was marked by a waltz of ministers and advisers who successively fell from grace. The question now is what the Trump administration will look like 2.

He made his first major appointment on Thursday: Susie Wiles, the architect of his campaign, will be his chief of staff, an ultra-strategic position that had never been held by a woman.

The rest should be announced in the coming weeks. Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the assassinated president's nephew and a former independent candidate who rallied to Donald Trump, could be given responsibilities in public health.

Opponents of Donald Trump demonstrate in New York on November 9, 2024 © AFP – Leonardo Munoz

Another key figure is expected to be billionaire Elon Musk, who campaigned very actively for Donald Trump. The president-elect could task the world's richest man with profoundly reorganizing the federal administration.

The Republican, however, indicated on his Truth Social network on Saturday that he would not recall his former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who was expected to lead the Pentagon, nor the United States ambassador to the UN under his mandate Nikki Haley, who became his rival during the Republican primaries, to be part of his government.

Donald Trump promised Americans to make their lives better by cutting taxes and customs duties. The Republican also said that he would carry out “massive” expulsions of irregular migrants.

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