The Hill’s Changemakers: President-elect Trump

Donald Trump this year dominated the Republican primary, was convicted on 34 felony counts in a hush money trial, survived an assassination attempt and essentially faced two opponents after Vice President Harris replaced President Biden atop the Democratic ticket. 

Trump capped it off with a decisive victory in November’s election, becoming the second president ever to lose the White House and then come back to win it again, following Grover Cleveland. 

He won by assembling an unexpected coalition, and he became only the second Republican since 1992 to win the popular vote. He had the backing of former Democrats including ex-Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (Hawaii) and Robert F. Kennedy Jr., and of cultural influencers such as Joe Rogan and Elon Musk. 

His campaign also used an untested strategy of relying on outside groups to reach voters on the ground in swing states. 

“We overcame obstacles that nobody thought possible,” Trump said in his victory speech. “This will truly be the golden age of America, that’s what we have to have,” he added. 

The president-elect has already shown how he is likely to shake up Washington once again with his Cabinet selections, some of whom are known more for being staunch Trump allies and antagonists to the establishment. 

What remains to be seen is whether Trump has permanently remade the Republican Party and the electorate, or whether the GOP will have to scramble to replicate his appeal in 2028 when he is ineligible to run for another term.