What Makes Trump's Victory So Historic?

Former President Donald Trump is now president-elect. The polls predicted a close race, and many Americans believed the winner would not be called for multiple days. Instead, Trump made historic inroads with black, Hispanic, and female voters. The 2024 presidential election was filled with surprises, historic firsts, and political shifts.

Trump is only the second president in history to win two non-consecutive terms. Democrat Grover Cleveland, served as president from 1885-1889, but lost reelection to Benjamin Harrison. He went on to run again and served as president from 1893-1897. Trump, however, is the first ever Republican president to serve non-consecutive terms.

Early Wednesday morning, Americans not only learned that Trump had won the electoral vote, but also the popular vote. A Republican has not won the popular vote since George W. Bush in 2004.

The political left may be likely to remind the American people that Trump is the first convicted felon to win the presidency. At the age of 78, Trump is also the oldest president to be elected.

Trump’s victory also represents a historic shift away from the traditional Republican Party. Endorsements and support from figures such as Elon Musk, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., and Joe Rogan are believed to have attracted voters to Trump who otherwise might have chosen to back another candidate, or not vote at all. While Musk, Kennedy, Rogan and Trump himself promote many conservative policies, they are a far cry from the Republican Party of 50 or 60 years ago.

On this week’s edition of “Problematic Women,” we discuss the historic nature of the 2024 presidential election and reflect on the biggest moments of the campaign season.