Trump allies tussle for cabinet jobs as Harris concedes and tells voters to ‘never give up’

Donald Trump has won a historic second term in the White House in a shocking political comeback four years after leaving office, comfortably beating Vice President Kamala Harris.

The Republican surpassed the magic number of 270 Electoral College votes early on Wednesday morning after winning key battleground states.

He also won 51 percent of the popular vote, picking up 72.5m votes to Harris’s 68m as she fell well short of Joe Biden’s 2020 total of 81m.

The president-elect will now consider appointments to his second administration, as his conservative allies and campaign surrogates begin jostling for position in the hope of securing a top role.

Harris called Trump to congratulate him on his victory yesterday afternoon, speaking of the importance of a peaceful transfer of power and his serving as a president for all Americans.

In her subsequent concession speech at Howard University, the Democrat said that, while she concedes the election, she does not concede the fight that fueled her campaign.

“The fight for freedom, opportunity, fairness, and dignity of all people, and ideals at the heart of this nation… that is a fight I will never give up.”

Key Points

• Donald Trump defeats Kamala Harris to win the presidency

• Who could be in Trump’s cabinet?

• Harris delivers concession speech saying she will never give up fight

• When will Trump officially take office?

Daily Show host has five-word question for America after it elected first convicted felon president

09:50 , Joe Sommerlad

An angry Desi Lydic urged Americans to take a “good f***ing hard look” at themselves on last night’s show as she dissected Trump’s victory over Harris – and claimed the electorate would vote for anyone but a woman.

James Liddell reports.

Daily Show host’s five-word question for Americans electing first convict president

Elon Musk claims ‘being a normal person’ won Trump the election

09:30 , Joe Sommerlad

The social media kingmaker spoke to Tucker Carlson yesterday and suggested that the Republican nominee won the vote this week because he went on Joe Rogan’s podcast and came across as “a normal person.”

The Harris campaign failed to agree a time slot with Rogan and the influential broadcaster duly delivered a late endorsement for Trump, which in turn saw him thanked by UFC boss Dana White at the candidate’s victory party in Florida in the early hours of yesterday morning.

Here’s more from Rhian Lubin.

Elon Musk says ‘being a normal person’ won Donald Trump the election

Obamas and Clintons ‘wish Trump and Vance well’ after election win

09:10 , Joe Sommerlad

Barack Obama, Michelle Obama, Bill Clinton and Hillary Clinton all posted on social media yesterday wishing Trump and running JD Vance well after their election win (presumably through gritted teeth), leading by example in frankly accepting the result.

Both couples had been on the campaign trail for Harris but their efforts ultimately fell short.

Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren, a 2020 Democratic presidential candidate, had a more pragmatic message for disillusioned and disappointed party activists yesterday:

Here’s more from Kelly Rissman.

The Obamas and Clintons wish Trump well after his election victory

Tim Walz says campaigning with Kamala Harris was ‘the honor and privilege of my life’

08:50 , Joe Sommerlad

The Minnesota Governor was great fun on the campaign trail and attacked his task with zest.

Here he is paying tribute to the defeated nominee:

The Indy video team meanwhile has this look at where it all went wrong for the Democrats.

Where did Kamala Harris go wrong?

Justice Department reportedly looking to ‘wind down’ criminal cases against Trump

08:30 , Joe Sommerlad

The US Department of Justice (DOJ) is reportedly trying to “wind down” the federal criminal cases against President-Elect Donald Trump before he returns to the White House.

DOJ officials are considering ways to fizzle out the two federal criminal cases that Trump faces – one involving his efforts to overturn the 2020 election results and the other related to improperly storing a trove of classified documents – in order to comply with its long-standing policy not to prosecute sitting presidents.

The policy in question states: “The indictment or criminal prosecution of a sitting President would unconstitutionally undermine the capacity of the executive branch to perform its constitutionally assigned functions.”

New York attorney general Letitia James, however, is striking a more defiant note.

Here’s more from Kelly Rissman.

DOJ reportedly looking to ‘wind down’ the criminal cases against Trump

Democrat anger as blame game begins

08:10 , Joe Sommerlad

“It should come as no great surprise that a Democratic Party which has abandoned working class people would find that the working class has abandoned them,” Bernie Sanders said in a statement yesterday, setting the tone for the Democratic inquest already ongoing.

“While the Democratic leadership defends the status quo, the American people are angry and want change. And they’re right.”

Green Party candidate Jill Stein likewise told Newsweek: “The Democrats have really lost credibility. They are seen as bought and paid for… Their primaries are rigged, power is top down.

“The Democrats betrayed their base. I don’t see them coming back. The economic disparities are real. People are tired of the Democrats. They need to move over and allow a proper opposition.”

New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy said: “It’s time to look in the mirror and make sure [we] either change our substance, if it needs to be changed, or change the way we communicate what we stand for.”

Most damning of all was Philadelphia Democratic Chair and former congressman Bob Brady, who told NBC10: “I would’ve liked to see the Harris campaign – especially the national campaign – coordinate with us a little bit. Talk to us a little bit. Give us a little bit more resources. Show us some respect. Didn’t happen.

“They were just elitist and went out there, did their own thing and didn’t include Democratic city committee or (ward leaders) or committee people. They just didn’t do it.”

Here’s more from Graig Graziosi.

Democrat anger as blame game begins over Kamala Harris’s devastating loss

Who could be in Trump’s cabinet?

07:50 , Joe Sommerlad

Now Donald Trump has won the 2024 presidential election, all eyes are on who he might appoint to his top team.

The individuals selected for cabinet positions are meant to be the president’s close allies, ideally with some interest or experience in the department they head.

But the former president has made it clear his priority will be appointing loyalists rather than those best suited for a position – a takeaway from his first administration where he faced record turnover.

One person who has already ruled himself out is JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon, who has said he has no current plans to leave the banking sector.

Ariana Baio reports on some of the names being thrown out there.

Who could be in Trump’s Cabinet? Contenders for new top team from RFK Jr to Musk

Trump will meet with Biden at the White House ‘shortly’

07:30 , Joe Sommerlad

The president-elect spoke to Joe Biden late on Wednesday by phone and the two men will soon meet in person in the West Wing to discuss the peaceful transfer of power.

That was not a gesture Trump extended to the Democrat when he left the White House.

“President Joe Biden called President Donald J Trump to congratulate him on his victory and extended an invitation to the White House to ensure a smooth transition between the current Administration and the incoming Administration,” Trump campaign communications director Steven Cheung said in a statement.

“President Trump looks forward to the meeting, which will take place shortly, and very much appreciated the call.”

In their own statement, the White House said the president “expressed his commitment to ensuring a smooth transition and emphasized the importance of working to bring the country together”.

Biden is due to make a televised address this afternoon to reflect on the election.

What happens next? The key dates until Trump’s second inauguration

07:00 , Joe Sommerlad

Good morning!

Donald Trump has won the presidency for a second time, overcoming impeachments, indictments, two assassination attempts and unforced errors on the campaign trail that would have taken down most other political candidates.

But he won’t take office for another couple of months.

During that time, states will certify the results, electoral votes will be counted and a new Congress will convene.

Here are the dates that matter leading up to Inauguration Day on January 20 2025.

What happens next? The key dates until Trump’s second inauguration

Bethenny Frankel slams Kamala Harris for ‘hobnobbing with celebrities’

06:30 , Oliver O’Connell

Bethenny Frankel has criticized Vice President Kamala Harris for spending too much time “hobnobbing with celebrities” during her failed presidential campaign against Donald Trump.

The former Real Housewives of New York City star, 54, said she felt the tactic was not successful with the American public.

Kevin E G Perry reports.

Bethenny Frankel slams Kamala Harris for ‘hobnobbing with celebrities’

Russian state TV gloats over Trump victory

06:15 , Oliver O’Connell

Russian leaders and media figures responded with a mix of jubilation and caution after Donald Trump won the 2024 presidential election.

“There is only one place in the world where the mood is worse than it is at Kamala Harris’s campaign headquarters: Bankova Street, the office of the president of Ukraine in Kyiv,” the host of the Russian TV show The Big Game, Dmitry Suslov, said after the election, according to a translation from Russia analyst Julia Davis.

Josh Marcus has the story.

Russian state TV gloats over Trump victory and hails Putin for fake Harris support

RFK Jr plans on clearing out entire departments of the FDA

06:00 , Oliver O’Connell

Robert F Kennedy Jr, a likely political appointee in Trump’s new government, has already announced his intentions to clear out departments of the Federal Drug Administration.

On the campaign trail, Trump promised to let the former independent presidential candidate take over health, food and medicines government sectors during his second administration despite his much-derided obsession with debunked conspiracies.

Michelle Del Rey reports.

RFK Jr warns he plans on clearing out entire departments of the FDA

Why were the polls wrong about Trump?

05:45 , Oliver O’Connell

Kamala Harris’s collapse Tuesday evening was shocking to many in the political press, who had expected a tight election but one that, if anything, looked to be trending in her favor heading into Election Day.

There were real — or so it was thought — signs of her impending success, analysts thought.

John Bowden looks at what went wrong:

Why the polls got it wrong on Trump — again

Who could be in Trump’s Cabinet?

05:30 , Oliver O’Connell

Now Donald Trump has won the 2024 presidential election, all eyes are on who he appoints as his top team.

The individuals selected for Cabinet positions are meant to be the president’s close allies, ideally with some interest or experience in the department they head.

But the former president has made it clear his priority will be appointing loyalists rather than those best suited for a position – a takeaway from his first administration where he faced record Cabinet turnover.

Ariana Baio reports.

Who could be in Trump’s Cabinet? Contenders for new top team from RFK Jr to Musk

Steve Bannon floats idea of Marjorie Taylor Greene serving as head of Homeland Security

05:15 , Oliver O’Connell

Former Trump advisor and convicted felon Steve Bannon has floated the idea that Marjorie Taylor Greene should be appointed to the president-elect’s new administration as the head of Homeland Security.

Fellow Trump ally Greene, who was re-elected to Congress for the third time on Tuesday, spoke to Bannon following the sweeping Republican victory.

Mike Bedigan reports.

Bannon suggests Marjorie Taylor Greene serve as Trump’s head of Homeland Security

2024’s election results don’t just resemble Trump’s 2016 win over Hillary Clinton. They’re almost identical

05:00 , Oliver O’Connell

In the end, Donald Trump’s 2024 election victory was decided by Wisconsin, just as it was eight years ago in the presidential race against Hillary Clinton.

Clinton was the favorite to take the White House in 2016 and her defeat sent shockwaves around the country and the world.

This year’s results and how election night played out don’t just resemble the 2016 race – it was almost identical.

Rhian Lubin reports.

2024 election result are almost identical to Trump’s 2016 win over Hillary Clinton

Doctors fear disease outbreaks if RFK Jr has federal health oversight

04:45 , Oliver O’Connell

Rates of routine vaccinations among children are dropping, the percentage of children who are exempted from vaccine requirements is at an all-time high and cases of measles are being reported across the country.

And it could soon get worse.

Alex Woodward reports.

Doctors fear disease outbreaks if RFK Jr has federal health oversight under Trump

04:30 , Oliver O’Connell

The Simpsons fails to predict future — for first time ever

ANALYSIS: Another big winner of the US election — cryptocurrency

04:20 , Oliver O’Connell

Anthony Cuthbertson writes:

As soon as it became apparent that Donald Trump was going to win the presidency, bitcoin’s price began to rally. A few hours before the Republican candidate declared victory, and with leads in all of the crucial swing states, the world’s most valuable cryptocurrency hit a new all-time high.

Continue reading…

There’s another big winner of the US election: cryptocurrency

Report: Australian ambassador to US deleted messages about ‘traitor’ Trump

04:10 , Oliver O’Connell

Kevin Rudd, the Australian ambassador to the United States, deleted tweets criticizing Donald Trump in the campaign’s final week.

Rudd, the former Australian prime minister, scrubbed his X page of past anti-Trump remarks days before the Republican clinched the 2024 election on Wednesday morning, according to The Sydney Morning Herald.

He took down posts that referred to Trump as “the most destructive president in history” and as a “traitor to the West,” the outlet reported.

Kelly Rissman reports.

Australian ambassador to US deleted messages about Trump, report says

Mapped: Trump’s 2024 election win

04:00 , Oliver O’Connell

Donald Trump has clinched victory in the 2024 presidential election, sweeping several critical swing states to secure 292 Electoral College votes in a dramatic and historic night for America.

The Republican eliminated his Democratic rival Kamala Harris’s chances of making history as the first female president, and will now return to the White House in January 2025 to serve a second term.

Trump cemented his nationwide victory as the announcement of Wisconsin’s results took him over the line to surpass the 270 electoral votes needed to win the presidency.

Trump vs Harris: Presidential election results map

Olympian Simone Biles calls on Biden to take action before term ends

03:55 , Oliver O’Connell

US Olympic champion Simone Biles has a message for President Joe Biden following Donald Trump’s win over Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential election.

Mr Biden,

I need you to stand up, straighten your back and make some things shake before your departure

xoxo the women in america 💙

Absent from family photo, Melania speaks out for first time since Trump’s election win

03:50 , Oliver O’Connell

Former First Lady Melania Trump commented publicly for the first time since her husband’s election victory.

Hours after President-Elect Donald Trump clinched enough electoral votes for a second term, Melania posted on X on Wednesday evening about the former first couple’s coming return to the White House.

Despite being by her husband’s side to vote and as he claimed victory, she was absent from a family photo of “the whole squad” that even included Elon Musk.

Kelly Rissman reports.

Melania speaks out for first time since Trump’s win – but is absent from family photo

China’s Xi Jinping reacts to Trump win

03:46 , Oliver O’Connell

State media in China reports that President Xi Jinping said of Donald Trump’s win that the international community expects “both countries will respect each other, coexist peacefully, and achieve win-win cooperation”.

He added that US-China cooperation is a long-term goal and reiterated “both countries gain from cooperation and lose from confrontation”.

With reporting from Reuters

Despite little open support for it, Californians may vote to keep forced prison labor

03:40 , Oliver O’Connell

California voters unexpectedly look set to reject a proposed constitutional amendment that would end involuntary labor in state prisons, despite the proposition facing little public opposition and coming to the ballot with strong support from state leaders.

As of Wednesday evening, nearly 55 percent of voters were in support of rejecting the amendment, compared with just over 45 percent in favor of supporting it, with over half of the estimated vote total reported, according to The New York Times.

The lack of enthusiasm comes as something of a surprise in deep-blue California.

Josh Marcus reports from San Francisco.

Californians may vote to keep forced prison labor, despite little open support for it

What is South Korea’s 4B movement?

03:30 , Oliver O’Connell

The South Korean 4B movement has seen a spike in interest amid the shocking results from the 2024 US presidential election.

Olivia Hebert explains what it is…

What is South Korea’s 4B movement? Interest spikes after US election shock

Kinzinger says he’s ‘doubling down’ to protect democracy

03:15 , Oliver O’Connell

Adam Kinzinger, the anti-Trump former congressman who joined Liz Cheney as the only other Republican on the House select committee investigating January 6, is not done yet, despite Donald Trump’s election win.

He wrote on X this evening: “After last night, I have taken a long look and made a decision: I’m doubling down. We will protect our democracy, and never give up.”

“NEVER,” he added.

He later followed up with a video statement on his Substack:

Watch: Lara Trump floats ‘blanket federal election process that every state abides by’

03:10 , Oliver O’Connell

Democrat anger as blame game begins for Kamala Harris’ devastating loss

03:00 , Oliver O’Connell

Democrats and political talking heads have initiated the circular firing squad as they search to blame anyone else for Donald Trump’s victory in the 2024 election.

Vice President Kamala Harris and the Democratic Party lost the White House, lost the Senate, and still may lose the House. The Supreme Court has a conservative majority that handed Trump a presidential “get out of jail free” card for almost anything he does in office between 2025 and 2028.

So, who is to blame?

Democrat anger as blame game begins for Kamala Harris’ devastating loss

Melania Trump says new administration will ‘safeguard the heart of our republic – freedom’

02:52 , Oliver O’Connell

Trump and Orban have ‘big plans for the future’

02:45 , Oliver O’Connell

Watch: Trump legal team to argue New York criminal sentencing shouldn’t go ahead

02:40 , Oliver O’Connell

Harris issues defiant two-word vow after election loss

02:30 , Oliver O’Connell

Kamala Harris issues defiant two-word vow after losing election to Donald Trump

Trump transition co-chairs give update on first steps toward new administration

02:21 , Oliver O’Connell

Trump-Vance Transition Co-Chairs Linda McMahon and Howard Lutnick released the following statement on the progress and next steps for the transition to the new administration:

“Since the formation of President Trump’s transition organization and our announcement as Co-Chairs in August, we have been preparing for President Trump’s next administration. In the days and weeks ahead, President Trump will be selecting personnel to serve our nation under his leadership and enact policies that make the life of Americans affordable, safe, and secure. We are proud to volunteer our time to present President Trump with a wide array of experts from which he can select for his team. The American people decisively elected President Trump in a historic victory and delivered a mandate that puts the working men and women of our nation first. As he chooses the best people to join his team and best policies to pursue, his transition team will ensure the implementation of President Trump’s common sense agenda starting on Day 1.”

CNN’s Kaitlan Collins says there is an expectation that Trump could announce who he has selected for some key positions within days.

Obamas and Clintons react to Trump’s election win

02:10 , Oliver O’Connell

The Obamas and the Clintons congratulated Donald Trump after he decisively defeated Vice President Kamala Harris on Election Day.

Trump’s victory was called early Wednesday morning as secured his return to the White House. Barack Obama, Michelle Obama, Bill Clinton and Hillary Clinton all posted on social media later in the day wishing Trump and running JD Vance well. The Clintons and the Obamas had been on the campaign trail for Harris, but their efforts fell short.

Kelly Rissman has the story.

The Obamas and Clintons wish Trump well after his election victory

Trump offered ‘hearty congratulations’ by UK PM Sir Keir Starmer

02:00 , Oliver O’Connell

Sir Keir Starmer told Donald Trump he hopes the United Kingdom’s special relationship with the US continues to thrive for years to come.

The Prime Minister raised defence and the Middle East with the president-elect amid hostilies from Trump’s campaign team which had previously described Labour as “far left”.

But the leaders shared a “fond” phone call in the aftermath of Trump’s historic political comeback four years after leaving office.

Barney Davis reports from London.

Sir Keir Starmer offers ‘hearty congratulations’ to Donald Trump

Man tried to enter Capitol with flare gun, fuel on election day

01:52 , Oliver O’Connell

A man named Austin Olson attempted to enter the US Capitol with a flare gun, lighter, and fuel on Election Day.

Per the complaint filed by the US Capitol Police in DC federal court:

OLSON explained, on Monday, November 4, 2024, he packed up his “Political Thesis,” a flare gun, flares, two notebooks, and his backpack, and began a drive to Washington, D.C. OLSON stopped at a gas station in Westland, Michigan and filled his vehicle’s fuel tank, as well as a metal water bottle and a glass liquor bottle with gasoline. He placed the two bottles in his backpack and placed the backpack in the trunk of his vehicle. OLSON drove through the night and arrived in Washington, D.C. in the mid-morning hours of Tuesday, November 5, 2024.

OLSON admitted he wrote his “thesis” and planned to travel to the Washington, D.C. on Election Day with the intent to deliver his “thesis” to Congress and get arrested in the hope of gaining viral media attention to spread his message. OLSON specifically stated that he chose Election Day to maximize the impact of his statement. OLSON denied that he intended to start a fire or light himself on fire. OLSON denied any intent to harm anyone. OLSON stated he did intend to get arrested by bringing the flare gun and gasoline, knowing it would provoke a police response.

Read the full complaint here

ANALYSIS: What a second Trump presidency means for America

01:45 , Oliver O’Connell

His third campaign was defined by a promise of retribution and a sharpened nativist agenda to take America back again, Alex Woodward reports:

Emboldened and unshackled: What a second Trump presidency means for America

Biden to address nation from Rose Garden

01:44 , Oliver O’Connell

President Joe Biden will address the nation tomorrow at 11am from the Rose Garden at the White House.

Watch: McConnell reacts to Trump election results

01:34 , Oliver O’Connell

‘West Wing’ star Bradley Whitford blames ‘racist and sexist’ country for Trump victory

01:30 , Oliver O’Connell

Actor Bradley Whitford from The West Wing and The Handmaid’s Tale wants Democrats to avoid falling into “despair” after Donald Trump’s second victory, he told The Independent in an exclusive interview.

Whitford, known for his Emmy-winning West Wing performance as the firebrand political strategist Josh Lyman, said he was surprised by Trump’s decisive win. The 65-year-old has long been a Democratic ally, and most recently spoke at a Harris rally in Wisconsin on October 22.

“I absolutely thought we were going to win,” Whitford told The Independent outside the White House on Wednesday afternoon, less than 12 hours after Donald Trump secured his second term.

Katie Hawkinson reports.

‘West Wing’ star blames ‘racist and sexist’ country for Trump victory

How did Joe Rogan and the right-wing ‘manosphere’ help propel Trump to victory?

01:27 , Oliver O’Connell

During Donald Trump’s raucous victory party on Tuesday in West Palm Beach, Florida, a fired-up Dana White, president of the wildly popular UFC fighting league, approached the microphone to thank the people who made the Republican’s dominant win possible.

After praising Trump as one of “the most resilient, hardworking men I’ve ever met in my life,” White said, “I wanna thank the Nelk Boys, Adin Ross, Theo Von, ‘Bussin with the Boys,’ and last but not least, the mighty and powerful Joe Rogan!”

You’d be forgiven for not knowing who some of these men are, but, if you’re the Democratic party, you ignore them at your peril: this collection of edgy alternative podcasters, social media influencers, and comedians are part of the “manosphere” that may have helped win Donald Trump the election.

Josh Marcus reports from San Francisco.

How Joe Rogan and the right-wing ‘manosphere’ helped propel Trump to victory in 2024

Reproductive rights under a new Trump administration: What’s next?

01:00 , Oliver O’Connell

This story is part of an investigative series and new documentary, The A-Word, by The Independent examining the state of abortion access and reproductive care in the US after the fall of Roe v Wade.

What’s next for reproductive healthcare during the Trump administration?

‘Impeachment warrior’ Eugene Vindman wins in Virginia

01:24 , Oliver O’Connell

Democratic House candidate Eugene Vindman of Virginia has defeated Derrick Anderson — the Republican candidate accused of using a fake family in campaign materials.

Here’s what you need to know about Vindman and his role in Donald Trump’s first impeachment:

Impeachment warrior or showboater? Trump’s shadow looms over a controversial primary

And here’s CNN’s Manu Raju with what this means for who holds power in the House of Representatives:

First Jan 6 rioter lines up for their Trump pardon

00:30 , Oliver O’Connell

Just hours after Donald Trump won the 2024 presidential election, a January 6 rioter lined up for his pardon.

Christopher Carnell, who was charged and convicted of obstruction of an official proceeding earlier this year, asked Judge Beryl Howell to delay a hearing that was set to occur on Friday so lawyers could contact the presidential transition team.

Ariana Baio reports.

First Jan 6 rioter lines up for their Trump pardon with plea to judge