PBS News Election Night 2024
Special | 1h 36sVideo has Closed Captions
Millions of voters head to the polls Tuesday for their final chance to cast a ballot.
Millions of voters head to the polls Tuesday for their final chance to cast a ballot in the race between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump.
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PBS News Election Night 2024
Special | 1h 36sVideo has Closed Captions
Millions of voters head to the polls Tuesday for their final chance to cast a ballot in the race between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump.
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Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorshipHe was not humbled after an assassination attempt.# I mean, if you look at the convention speech,## I expect to see exactly more of that, which is# 15 minutes of on-message discipline and then## 40 minutes of going on the attack.
I mean, Donald# Trump, if there#s anything we#ve known about him,## it is go on the attack at all times and# you will be rewarded.
And so I expect## that#s the type of demeanor that you will# see tonight, even given the circumstances.
BENNETT: I#m just going to say, as we keep# our eye on what#s happening in West Palm,## we saw what looked to be members of the# Trump advance team coming out on the stage## and putting prepared remarks on the lectern# there.
And then we saw in the front row,## Vivek Ramaswamy, Doug Burgum, and# Kristi Noem.
And so, you know,## is that the Trump brain trust part of it?
And# then you add to that Elon Musk and Dana White,## who we saw he was locked in conversation# in Mar-a-Lago earlier this evening?
MADDEN: Not Dana White but to Faiz#s point,# I think you#re going to see an administration## that is over-indexed on loyalty, less index# towards experience and sort of, you know,## tailored sort of experience and to their,# to the issues and that the Cabinet is going## to be charged with dealing with.
But, yes,# those are the folks who have pledged their## loyalty to Trump and have been very vocal# surrogates for Trump.
That is one of the## ways to get into his good graces.
So I expect# all of them to play very prominent roles.
Doug## Bergam was in there too, I think.
Expect# all of those to play very prominent roles.
NAWAZ: Faiz, I want to shift it back to Harris# for just a moment because we are still waiting## to make calls in those blue-wall states, but# we know what we know so far.
And the trends are## what they are.
And I just want to ask about the# choice of Tim Walls as a running mate, which was## meant to bolster her in those blue wall states in# particular.
How do you look at that decision now?
SHAKIR: Well, Jim Wallace, I don#t# think that was the issue.
You know,## let me start it this way.
The issues were not# competency of running a campaign.
You know,## she raised what, a billion dollars?
It was# a lot.
Money wasn#t the issue.
Intensity## wasn#t the issue.
You look at some of the crowds# that she built, thousands and tons of rallies.
So I say those things because now you diagnose# well, what was the issue?
Because Biden in many## ways didn#t generate the same level of intensity.# We knew that.
But when you go into the blue wall,## Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin, was he# someone who spoke to enough of the margin of 2## or 3 percent in 2020?
Certainly.
I think Walls# had a working-class appeal we didn#t really get## to see after he became, you know, the nominee# after really great VP or sorry, TV appearances.
You really hear a ton from him.
He was on the# script.
So was Harris on a script.
There was## a far more and I mentioned at the beginning a# very cautious approach to this campaign and an## assumption that, you know, a fair assumption# that had from 2022 onwards after Dobbs,## that Democrats had been performing well in a lot# of elections, that there was a gender gap, a lot## of late deciders were going to move their way.# So we were going to just basically play it safe.
And I think you don#t want to# overlearn too many lessons of Trump,## but I do think as the Democratic Party reckons# with stuff is one, not only the class populism## of appeal of getting out and talking to people# but also the type of campaigns we#re running,## right?
The level of authenticity, what#s expected# of people now to hear from candidates off color,## off script in different settings,# in different formats.
We live in## a different age where you just don#t do the# teleprompter rally, assume it#s going to -- MADDEN: I#d say really quickly the lesson is# that VPs can#t do for you what the candidate## needs to do for themselves.
And that#s# I think the lesson of the walls pick.## The idea that he was going to be able# to appeal to all of these Midwestern## working-class voters in a way that Kamala# Harris would not be able to.
They just put## a lot of false hope in that.
It#s always up# to the top of the ticket to make that case.
NAWAZ: Keeping one eye on live picture here from# Florida, West Palm, where we do expect former## President Trump to come out in just a moment.# We#re keeping the other eye over on our super## screen where Lisa Desjardins is back to give us a# little bit more information.
Lisa, take it away.
DESJARDINS: I#ll be nimble here# in case we get some action there## in Florida.
Let#s talk about Nevada.# We are getting more votes in still## 78 percent of the vote in now.
And Trump is# increasing his margin slightly in this state,## 5 percentage points.
But let#s look at what#s# going on in the biggest county, Clark County,## right now, he#s up by two 80 percent.
So this# is one reason that I think the Associated Press## is not called this race.
Still 20 percent# in the biggest county for Kamala Harris.
One thing we also talk about is the AP voter# surveys.
Nevada, 30 percent of the population,## they#re Hispanic.
And let#s look at what we# know about Kamala Harris from those voter## surveys.
60 percent of Latina women voted# for Harris.
That compares with 2020 when it## was 69 percent for Biden.
She#s lost ground# there.
Also, let#s talk about Hispanic men.
51 percent told the Associated Press that# they voted for Harris, but that compares## with 59 percent for Biden in 2020.
So this# is one place where we could see some answers## to the many dynamics in Nevada and other places.## She#s lost ground with a key group# of the electorate there in Nevada.
BENNETT: Lisa Desjardins.
Lisa, thank# you.
Let#s go to William Brangham,## who is at the Trump campaign election headquarters# tonight.
And William, one of the surreal aspects## of this moment is that Donald Trump has a# standing court date in a couple of weeks,## November 26th.
It was Judge Juan Merchan who was# overseeing his criminal case out of New York.
He## delayed his sentencing date and you correct me if# I don#t have this right, delayed his sentencing## date until after Election Day, and that stands# on November 26th.
So what#s the, what does his## potential victory mean for that case and of# course, the special counsel cases against it?
WILLIAM BRANGHAM: This, I mean, in some ways# fundamentally changes the entire legal landscape## that has been arrayed against Donald Trump thus# far.
As you mentioned, three weeks from today,## he was supposed to be sentenced for those# 34 felony counts for falsifying business## records to cover up the Stormy Daniels affair# that he had.
Now, let#s just to say for the## sake of conversation, again, we have not called# this race.
The AP has not called this race yet.
Let#s say he is the president-elect.
The pressure# on Judge Merchan to not give Donald Trump a prison## sentence for this case is going to be very# intense.
He#s 78-year-old.
He#s never had a## felony conviction before, no prior convictions.# So are you going to put the president-elect## in jail for these?
Granted, very serious# felony charges, but that#s one issue.
Secondarily, if Donald Trump becomes president,# he then takes over the Department of Justice and## as such, he would have control over the two major# federal cases against him.
Those are both of the## cases being run by special counsel Jack Smith.# The January 6th election interference case,## which is also currently on hold in# Washington, D.C. trying to work through## some of the legal complications that was created# by the Supreme Court granting Donald Trump## extensive immunity.
The second case on that is# the classified documents case at Mar-a-Lago, which## also had been indefinitely suspended because the# judge ruled that Jack Smith was inappropriately## appointed.
So both of those cases will now# fall under a potential Donald Trump Department## of Justice, and he could simply appoint a new# attorney general who would get rid of them.
Donald Trump has been very clear about# what he would like to see happen to Jack## Smith.
Not only does he want him fired# on day one of a new Trump presidency,## but he also has said that Jack Smith# should be sent out of the country and## deported because he calls him, I think it#s# a deranged maniac or something like that.
The third case that is then pending against# Trump, the fourth case, excuse me, is the Georgia## election interference case being# held by Fani Willis.
That case,## again, does not fall under the Department# of Justice, so Trump wouldn#t have direct## authority over that.
But that case would# become incredibly complicated for Willis## to prosecute if it#s allowed to go forward# simply because there is this longstanding## federal prohibition on prosecuting# sitting presidents of the United States.
So again, not to put the cart before the horse,# but if Donald Trump becomes president of the## United States, all of the legal jeopardy that he# is in for current convictions and ongoing cases## suddenly look like they many of them, if not# all, will disappear or be severely neutered.
BENNETT: Yes.
And since you mentioned there, Fani# Willis, we should just mention that the Georgia DA## Leading the Trump election case, she did win# reelection tonight.
Another thing, William,## we got a two-minute warning to Trump remarks# about, I don#t know, 15 minutes ago, which is not## uncommon on a night like tonight.
Do you have any# other guidance about when we might hear from him?
BRANGHAM: No.
What we#ve been seeing is# there#s a whole phalanx of Secret Service## members just to the right of the stage here# over my shoulder.
They clearly seem to be## anticipating the former president coming out# and walking the line of supporters.
Every one,## every time the curtain parts,# everyone#s cell phones pop out## as they were anticipating him about# to walk out.
But, oh, here we go.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: President Elect Donald# J. Trump, first lady Melania Trump,## and the Trump family, accompanied# by Vice President-elect JD Vance,## Second Lady Usha Vance, along# with friends and campaign staff.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And I#m# proud to be an American.
NAWAZ: As Donald Trump takes the stage# there.
We can now report that the AP has## called the state of Pennsylvania former# President Donald Trump.
He#s taken the## stage there with his wife, with his son# Barron, with his running mate, JD Vance,## and his family, and also the Trump adult# children.
We#re going to go live now to## Florida where President Trump, former# President Trump is expected to speak.
DONALD TRUMP:## Thank you very much.
Wow.
Well, I want to thank# you all very much.
This is great.
These are our## friends.
We have thousands of friends on this# incredible movement.
This was a movement like## nobody#s ever seen before.
And frankly, this# was, I believe, the greatest political movement## of all time.
There#s never been anything like# this in this country and maybe beyond.
And now## it#s going to reach a new level of importance# because we#re going to help our country heal.
We#re going to help our country heal.# We have a country that needs help,## and it needs help very badly.
We#re going to# fix our borders.
We#re going to fix everything## about our country.
And we made history for# a reason tonight.
And the reason is going to## be just that.
We overcame obstacles that nobody# thought possible.
And it is now clear that we#ve## achieved the most incredible political# thing.
Look what happened.
Is this crazy?
But it#s a political victory that# our country has never seen before.## Nothing like this.
I want to thank the# American people for the extraordinary## honor of being elected your 47th# president and your 45th president.
And to every citizen, I will fight for your# family and your future.
Every single day,## I will be fighting for you.
And with every# breath in my body, I will not rest until we## have delivered the strong, safe, and prosperous# America that our children deserve and that you## deserve.
This will truly be the golden age# of America.
That#s what we have to know.## This is a magnificent victory# for the American people that## will allow us to make America great again.
And in addition to having won the# battleground states of North Carolina,## I love these places.
Georgia, Pennsylvania,# and Wisconsin, we are now winning in Michigan,## Arizona, Nevada, and Alaska, which# would result in us carrying at least## 315 electoral votes.
But that -- but it#s# much easier doing what the networks did,## or whoever called it because there was no# other path.
There was no other path to victory.
We also have won the popular vote.
That was great.# Thank you.
Thank you very much.
You know, winning## the popular vote was very nice.
Very nice.
I# will tell you, it#s a great feeling of love.
We have a great feeling of love in this very large# room with unbelievable people standing by my side.## These people have been incredible.
They#ve made# the journey with me and we#re going to make you## very happy.
We#re going to make you very proud of# your vote.
I hope that you#re going to be looking## back someday and say that was one of the truly# important moments of my life when I voted for## this group of people, beyond the President,# this group of great people.
America has given## us an unprecedented and powerful mandate.
We# have taken back control of the Senate.
Wow,## that#s good.
And the Senate races in Montana,# Nevada, Texas, Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin,## the great Commonwealth of Pennsylvania were all# won by the MAGA movement they helped so much.
And in those cases, every one of them, we# worked with the senators, they were tough## races.
And I mean the number of victories in# the Senate was absolutely incredible.
And we## did tela-rallies.
We did tela-rallies with# each one of them and sometimes we did two## or three for -- and it was amazing to look at all# of those victories.
Nobody expected that, nobody.
So I just wanted to thank you very much for that.# And we have -- you have some great senators and## some great new senators.
And it also looks# like we#ll be keeping control of the House of## Representative.
And I want to thank Mike Johnson.# I think he#s doing a terrific job, terrific job.
I want to also thank my beautiful wife, Melania,## First Lady who has the number one best-selling# book in the country.
Can you believe that?## Oh no, she#s done a great job, works very# hard, works very hard to help people.
So## I just want to thank her.
But I want to thank# my whole family, my amazing children.
And they## are amazing children.
Now we all think our# children are amazing.
Everybody here thinks## their children are amazing.
But that#s# a good thing when you think they are.
But Don, Eric, Ivanka,# Tiffany, Baron, Laura, Jared,## Kimberly, Michael, thank you all, what a# help.
What a great -- my father-in-law,## Victor is tremendous.
And we miss very much# Melania#s mother, Amalia.
We miss Amalia,## don#t we, huh?
She would be very happy right now# standing on this stage.
She#d be so proud.
She## was a great woman, that one, beautiful# inside and out.
She was a great woman.
I want to be the first to congratulate our# great, now I can say, Vice President-Elect## of the United States, JD Vance, and his# absolutely remarkable and beautiful wife,## Usha Vance.
And he is a feisty guy, isn#t he?# You know, I#ve said, go into the enemy camp.
And,## you know, the enemy camp is certain networks.# And a lot of people don#t like, sir, do I have## to do that?
He just goes, okay, which one?
CNN.# MSNBC.
He#ll say, all right, thank you very much.## He actually looks -- he#s still like the only# guy I#ve ever seen.
He really looks forward## to it and then he just goes in and absolutely# obliterates them.
Say, say a couple of words here.
JD VANCE: Wow.
Well, Mr. President, I# appreciate you allowing me to join you## on this incredible journey.
I thank you for the# trust that you placed in me.
And I think that we## just witnessed the greatest political comeback in# the history of the United States of America.
And## under President Trump#s leadership, we#re never# going to stop fighting for your dreams, for the## future of your children.
And after the greatest# political comeback in American history, we#re## going to leave the greatest economic comeback in# American history under Donald Trump#s leadership.
TRUMP: Thank you very much.
He -- he#s turned out# to be a good choice.
I took a little heat at the## beginning, but he was -- I knew the brain# was a good one, about as good as it gets,## and we love the family.
And we#re going to# have a great four years and we#re going to## turn our country around, make it something# very special.
It lost that -- it lost that## little -- it lost that little -- that little# thing called special but we have to make it.## So we#re going to make this so great.
It#s going# to -- it#s the greatest country and potentially## the greatest country in the world by far.
And# right now we#re going to just work very hard## to get all of that back.
We#re going to make# it the best it#s ever been.
We can do that.
We just -- if we had to wait longer, I# don#t know.
It was going bad and it was## going bad fast.
We#re going to have to seal# up those borders, and we#re going to have## to let people come into our country.
We want# people to come back in.
But we have to -- we## have to let them come back in, but they have to# come in legally.
They have to come in legally.
Let me also express my tremendous appreciation# for Susie and Chris.
The job you did, Susie.
Come,## Susie, come here.
Come here, Susie.
Chris,# come here, Chris.
Susie likes to stay sort## of in the back.
Let me tell you, the Ice# Maiden.
We call her the Ice Maiden.
Chris,## come here.
Chris.
Susie likes to stay in# the background.
She#s not in the background.
CHRIS LACIVITA: This was unexpected,# but I just want to thank, obviously,## President Trump for this journey.
It was a# great one and he#s a hell of a candidate,## and he#s going to be a hell of a great# 47th President.
And this team that we had,## the best team, and of course, even my# boss, Susie Wiles, the best.
Thank you.
TRUMP: Thank you and thank you, Susie.
Look# at her.
She#s shy.
I#ve never seen her be shot## before.
Susie.
They#ve been -- they#re great.# Everybody up here is great.
Everybody up here## is very special.
But the Trump -- who did you# say?
Oh, let me tell you, we have a new star.
A## star is born.
Elon.
Now he is.
Now he#s an amazing# guy.
We were sitting together tonight.
You know,## he#s spent two weeks in Philadelphia and different# parts of Pennsylvania campaigning.
You know,## he sent the rocket up two weeks ago and# I saw that rocket and I saw it coming## down.
And I saw it, it was -- when it left.
It# was beautiful, shiny white.
When it came down,## it didn#t look so pretty.
It was going 10,000# miles an hour and it was burning like hell.
And I said, what happened to your paint job?# He said, we#ve never made a paint that could## withstand that kind of heat.
But I saw it come# down and turn around, and it was -- you know,## it was like 22 stories tall, by the way.
It looks# a little smaller than that but it#s big.
And it## came down and down and you saw that fire burning.# And I#m saying, only Elon could do this.
It must## be an Elon.
And I tell the story.
I told it# last night.
I had a man on the phone.
I had## the screen muted, no sound.
I was talking to a# very important man, happens to be here.
And that## very important guy, one of the most important# people.
And I would say the country, actually.
But, you know, I was President, and now# it looks like I was going to be maybe## President again.
So I figured I could ask him# to hold.
So I asked him to hold.
And because,## especially because you#re going to be President# again, they hold.
So I took the phone down and I#m## looking at the screen.
I#m seeing this crazy thing# that#s going around and coming down.
It looks like## it#s a crash into the gantry.
And I said, oh, no,# and I said, do me a favor.
Do you mind holding## for a couple of minutes?
I want to see this.
I# thought it was a space-age movie or something.
I put the phone down.
The bad part,# I didn#t pick it up for 45 minutes,## and he was holding.
But this spaceship came# down and I saw those engines firing and it## looked like it was over.
It was going to smash.# And then I saw the fire pour out from the left## side and I put it straight and it came down# so gently.
And then it wrapped those arms## around it and it held it.
And just like you# hold your baby at night, your little baby.## And it was a beautiful thing to see.
And I called# Elon.
I said, Elon, was that you?
He said, yes, it## was.
I said, who else can do that?
Can Russia do# it?
No.
Can China do it?
No.
Can the United States## do it, other than you?
No.
Nobody can do that.
I# said, that#s why I love you, Elon.
That#s great.
And you know, when we had the tragic Hurricane# Helene and it hit -- in particular, it hit North## Carolina.
They were really devastated.# The water had -- this was a big water,## as big as we#ve ever seen water hurricane.
It# built lakes out of nothing, fields became lakes,## and the danger was unbelievable.
And the people# from North Carolina came to me and they said,## would it be possible -- at all, possible for you# to speak to Elon Musk?
We need Starlink.
I said,## what#s Starlink?
It#s a form of communication.
So I called Elon and I#ll tell you what he# had -- and it was very dangerous.
People## would die.
They had no communication.
All the# wires were down.
I called Elon Musk.
I said,## Elon, you have something called Starlink.
Is that# right?
Yes, I do.
What the hell is it?
He said,## it#s a communication system that#s very# good.
I said, Elon, they need it really## badly in North Carolina.
Can you get it?
He# had that there so fast, it was incredible,## so.
And it was great.
It saved a lot of lives.# He saved a lot of lives, but he#s a character.
He#s a special guy.
He#s a super genius.
We have# to protect our geniuses.
We don#t have that many## of them.
We have to protect our super geniuses.# I want to thank some of the guys, you know,## we have up here today, the U.S. Open champion.# He#s fantastic out.
He#s slightly longer than## me.
It#s a ball.
A little bit longer than# me.
Just a little bit.
Bryson DeChambeau## is up here someplace.
What happened to# Bryson?
Where is he?
Bryson.
Oh, he was## shot.
He#s hitting balls.
Oh, he#s on the way.# He#s hitting balls.
Bryson.
Oh, look at him.
He had a great -- he#s got a great# career going.
Great U.S. Open,## Bryson.
That#s a fantastic job.
And we also# have a man, Dana White, who has done some job.## He#s that tough guy.
So Dana started# UFC and came to me.
Do you mind if## I use your -- nobody wanted to give him a# rinse because they said it#s a rough sport,## a little rough.
And I helped him out# a little bit, and I went and I said,## this is the roughest sport I#ve# ever seen.
But I began to like it,## and he loved it.
And nobody#s done a better job# in sports.
And, you know, he#s a very motivational## kind of a guy.
What he does is he gets these# fighters, and they -- they really go at it.## And it#s become one of the most successful sports# enterprises anywhere at any time.
It#s doing so## well.
I#d like to ask Dana just to say a couple# of words because people love to hear from him.
DANA WHITE: Nobody deserves this more than him and# nobody deserves this more than his family does.## This is what happens when the machine comes after# you.
What you#ve seen over the last several years,## this is what it looks like, couldn#t stop# him.
He keeps going forward.
He doesn#t quit.## He#s the most resilient, hard-working man I#ve# ever met in my life.
His family are incredible## people.
This is karma, ladies and gentlemen.# He deserves this.
They deserve it as a family.
I want to thank some people real quick.# I want to thank the Nelpoys, Aiden Ross,## Theo Vaughn, Bustin with the# Boys, and last but not least,## the mighty and powerful Joe Rogan.
And thank# you America.
Thank you.
Have a good night.
TRUMP: That is a piece of work.
Now he#s an# amazing -- he#s really an amazing guy.
But## most of all I want to thank the millions of# hardworking Americans across the nation who## have always has been the heart and# soul of this really great movement.
We#ve been through so much together and today you# showed up in record numbers to deliver a victory## like really and probably like no other.
This was# something -- this was something special.
And we#re## going to pay you back.
We are going to do the# best job.
We#re going to -- we#re going to turn it## around.
It#s got to be turned around.
It#s got to# be turned around fast.
And we#re going to turn it## around.
We#re going to do it in every way with so# many ways but we#re going to do it in every way.
This will forever be remembered as the day# the American people regained control of their## country.
So I just want to say that on behalf of# this great group of people, these are hardworking## people.
These are fantastic people and we can add# a few names like Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
He came in## and he#s going to help make America healthy# again.
And now he#s a great guy and he really## means it.
He wants to do some things and we#re# going to let him go to it.
I just said but Bobby,## leave the oil to me.
We have more liquid# gold, oil, and gas.
We have more liquid## gold than any country in the world, more than# Saudi Arabia.
We have more than Russia.
Bobby,## stay away from the liquid gold.
Other# than that, go have a good time, Bobby.
We#re going to be paying down debt.
We#re# going to be reducing taxes.
We have -- we## can do things that nobody else can do.# Nobody else is going to be able to do it.## China doesn#t have what we have.
Nobody has# what we have, but we have the greatest people## also.
Maybe that#s the most important thing.
This# campaign -- this campaign has been so historic## in so many ways.
We#ve built the biggest, the# broadest, the most unified coalition.
They#ve## never seen anything like it.
In all of American# history, they#ve never seen any, young and old,## men and women, rural and urban.
And we had# them all helping us tonight when you think.
I mean, I was looking at it.
I was watching it.# They had some great analysis of the people that## voted for us.
Nobody#s ever seen anything like# that.
It came from -- they came from all Union,## nonunion, African American, Hispanic# American, Asian American, Arab American,## Muslim American.
We had everybody and it was# beautiful.
It was a historic realignment,## uniting citizens of all backgrounds# around a common core of common sense.
You know, we#re the party of common# sense.
We want to have borders.## We want to have security.
We want to have# things be good, safe.
We want great education.## We want a strong and powerful military.
And# ideally, we don#t have to use it.
You know,## we had no wars, four years we had no wars except# we defeated Isis.
We defeated Isis in record time,## but we had no wars.
They said he will start a# war.
I#m not going to start a war.
I#m going## to stop wars.
But this is also a massive# victory for democracy and for freedom.
Together, we#re going to unlock America#s# glorious destiny and we#re going to achieve the## most incredible future for our people.
Yesterday,# as I stood at my last stop on the campaign trail,## I#ll never be doing a rally again.
Can you# believe it?
I think we#ve done 900 rallies## approximately from them.
Can you imagine?# 900, 901, something, a lot of rallies,## and it was sad.
Everybody was sad, many# people.
I said this is our last rally.## But now we#re going on to something that#s# far more important because the rallies were## used for us to put -- be put in this position# where we can really help our country.
That#s## what we#re going to do.
We#re going to make# our country better than it ever has been.
And I said that many people have told# me that God spared my life for a reason.## And that reason was to save our country and# to restore America to greatness.
And now we## are going to fulfill that mission together.# We#re going to fulfill that mission.
The## task before us will not be easy, but# I will bring every ounce of energy,## spirit, and fight that I have in my soul# to the job that you#ve entrusted to me.
This is a great job.
There#s no job like this.# This is the most important job in the world,## just as I did in my first term.
We had a great# first term, a great first term.
I will govern## by a simple motto.
Promises made, promises# kept.
We#re going to keep our promises.
Nothing will stop me from keeping my word to you,# the people.
We will make America safe, strong,## prosperous, powerful, and free again.
And I#m# asking every citizen all across our land to join## me in this noble and righteous endeavor.
That#s# what it is.
It#s time to put the divisions of the## past four years behind us.
It#s time to unite.# And we#re going to try.
We#re going to try.
We## have to try and it#s going to happen.
Success will# bring us together.
I#ve seen that.
I#ve seen that.
I saw that in the first term when we became# more and more successful.
People started coming## together.
Success is going to bring us together.# And we are going to start by all putting America## first.
We have to put our country first for# at least a period of time.
We have to fix it,## because together we can truly make America great# again for all Americans.
So I want to just tell## you what a great honor this is.
I want to thank# you.
I will not let you down.
America#s future## will be bigger, better, bolder, richer, safer,# and stronger than it has ever been before.
God## bless you and God bless America.
Thank you# very much.
Thank you.
Thank you very much.
NAWAZ: Former President Donald Trump addressing# a room of supporters on this election night,## and we should note, declaring himself# the winner in this presidential race.
The## Associated Press has called Pennsylvania, which# now brings Mr. Trump to 267 electoral votes,## which is not yet over the threshold of 270# that he needs to win but it is quite close.
Just as a reminder, the races still to be# officially called are Arizona, Nevada, Wisconsin,## Michigan, and Alaska.
If Mr. Trump wins any one of# those, he will officially the President-elect.
And## while Mr. Trump was speaking, the Associated Press# called the State of Minnesota for Kamala Harris.
BENNETT: And we should also note that Mr.# Trump said in his speech that Republicans## will win control of the House of Representatives,# although we should note that the Associated Press## has not yet called enough races to give either# party the 218 votes needed to control the## Speaker#s gavel.
As we wind our way to 3 a.m.# Eastern here, Kevin Madden.
We heard Donald## Trump say that he has the greatest political# movement of all time.
He says he#s going to## help our country heal.
And he also said that# he has an unprecedented and powerful mandate.
Again, he was speaking before the results# are final but as he is closing in on victory,## it would appear with the Associated Press calling# the State of Pennsylvania for him.
The question## now about this mandate, if he is declared# the victor by the AP, is how does he use it?
MADDEN: Well, I wouldn#t call this much of a# mandate still.
I think we have to remember that## public opinion is a process, not an event.
And# that, you know, four or five months from now,## we#re going to still -- we#re still# going to have Donald Trump probably## hovering around 45 percent approval rating# and still having the challenges with the## margins that you have in the Congress to get# very big things done.
So I also think you#re## going to have the Democrats take lessons# from this and also the long history and## memory that they have with dealing with# Donald Trump and his first presidency.## And they#re going to start to put together their# own counter agenda so those are the realities.
We saw, you know, a speech here, not yet# an acceptance speech, but that was soaring## in some of its aspirations.
But the reality# is going to set in very quickly, in my view.
BENNETT: Faiz Shakir, how do you see it?
SHAKIR: Well, when you say mandate, you know,# he#s -- it looks like he may have the Senate## and possibly the House.
And, you know, one of# the first things I was thinking of, you know,## whoever might get the trifecta first, was thinking# about abolishing a legislative filibuster,## which is probably on the table for what# they#re thinking about.
You look at the## agenda that they would want to pursue.
You# have tax cut expiration.
The Trump tax cuts## comes at the end of 2025.
There#ll be a major# tax debate coming up this year.
And obviously,## he, with Elon, will probably have some great# ideas about giving billionaires more benefits.
I think in addition to that, we#ll have seen# more drilling.
And he mentioned immigration.## I don#t know if you caught it but the way# you mentioned immigration was, you know,## we want people to come back legally.
So the# suggestion and the implication being that,## you know, deportations will begin and they# can come back legally.
So we#ll see how he## executes on that.
But, you know, he#s laid# out, I think, for many people what would be,## you know, tariffs, immigration, drilling,# and taxes that I think Democrats are going## to have a very strong agenda to counter# on because I don#t think they#re popular.
WALTER: Yes.
Well, oh, can I say?
WALTER: You know, one thing I did hear from# Democrats was the sort of divide within the## party about whether Harris should have gone# harder on this issue of deportations.
And if## you are struggling to, like, make the case that# a trumpet -- a next Trump term would be dangerous## for America, why talk about it in theoretical# and throw out the term fascist instead of saying,## now this is actually what he#s proposing.# Should -- should she have done more with.
SHAKIR: The polling on that was very difficult# and Kevin could probably speak to a little bit of## that, too.
I mean, we#re doing some polling late# in the game about mass deportations.
You know,## you use the sum of the most strident language# Trump was using.
It was over 50, 55 percent -- WALTER: Favorable.
SHAKIR: Yes, for his side.
MADDEN: And what we#ll probably# learn in the intervening weeks, too,## is just how complex the Latino vote# is in this country.
And so the idea## of deportations at a time where you#re# trying to advance the economic agenda,## at the time you#re trying to unite the country# and grow your sort of political power base here,## that will become fraught with peril for# Republicans over the next few weeks.
So## these are many of the very complex challenges that# are in front of us over the next couple of months.
BENNETT: Let#s go to our William Brigham.# Forgive me, I#m -- who#s still at the Trump## campaign headquarters.
William, your# final observations, as I understand,## the folks are exiting out of the room,# and I think we#re about to lose you soon.
BRANGHAM: That#s right.
The people here,# honestly, I think, are still in a little## bit of a sense of shock that they came here# expecting a long night, not really thinking## that the race would be virtually decided by this# evening.
All arrows, as we#ve been reporting,## pointing in that direction.
And for# those people who are celebrating,## many of them are still dancing on the floor# behind me.
This message about dealing with## the economy and dealing with immigration# resonated enormously to them, obviously.
I can only also imagine, though, that for the# other half of the country who is watching this,## the people who are aghast at the idea that we# are on the cusp of electing someone who waged a## violent riot against our democratic process, who# calls climate change a hoax, who spread racist## lies about immigrants throughout this campaign,# who has emulated dictators and says he would like## to perhaps be one.
I imagine those people watching# this have to be equally in shock as the supporters## of Donald Trump are shocked at how things turned# out for them this evening here in Florida.
NAWAZ: William Brangham reporting for# us tonight from Florida at the Trump## campaign headquarters.
William, thank you so much.
Back here with our panel, David, we# heard former President Trump there talk## about helping the country to heal, about# being a good leader for all Americans.## Forgive my skepticism.
But when in the many years# we#ve seen him on the national political stage,## have we ever seen anything other than# an incredibly divisive political figure?
BROOKS: Yes, that wouldn#t change.
Trump# doesn#t change.
He doesn#t really grow as## a person.
But I do -- in my experience,# there#s a big difference between MAGA,## Trump, people who like the people who# know who Steve Bannon is, who are, like,## on board for the whole deal, and a lot of# the Trump voters who they just want the## 2019 election -- or economy back.
DAVID BROOKS: And those voters, I think, will# impose some discipline on Trump because he can't## afford to lose them.
And he cares most about# his popularity than any ideological agenda.## And so if I wanted to tell a comforting story# to any viewers who might be upset, I do think,## as Kevin said, there are natural limits to# what he's going to be able to do.
And I'm## looking particularly at the deportations.
It's# true that people say they want deportations,## but they're used to the deportations of the Obama# era.
When it's people who are just close to the## border, not people who have been living here for# decades, that's a totally different ballgame.
GEOFF BENNETT: Definitely.
AMNA NAWAZ: That's r.. DAVID BROOKS: And the seco..
I think there's going to be surprising amount# of resistance to Trump in the Senate and in## the House to boost the tariffs as high# as he's promising.
And then on Ukraine,## I think there's going to be some resistance# among Republicans on the Hill to that.
So he'll find himself with, I think,# some more resistance among his own base## and among Republicans to that will,# I think, hem him a little, you know.
AMNA NAWAZ: You know, on immigration, though I# think it's worth remembering, in his first term,## he implemented and oversaw what has to be one of# the darkest chapters in modern American history,## and that was separating children from# their parents forcibly for the purpose## of separation as a deterrence.
So I'm not -- I'm# curious where you think a deterrence or a check## would come into play, especially if Republicans# control the Senate as well.
And as we've heard,## he will probably fill a cabinet with# loyalists and people who won't say no to him.
DAVID BROOKS: Well, that could be, but I just# think the visual images of ripping people who've## been living in their homes for decades and years# is different than the border.
Well, I could be## naive about this, but I think those visual images# will strike a lot of Americans as repulsive.
GEOFF BENNETT: With the Republican Senate,# though, he will be able to, in concert with Senate## Republicans, expand the conservative majority# on the Supreme Court for generations to come.## President Biden said that the next President# would likely have three appointments, assuming,## you know, if Thomas and Alito retire.# Those are -- they're two right there.
DAVID BROOKS: But Republicans and maybe# Sotomayor, you know, you never know.
So well,## he -- he won the presidency or he's about# to, apparently and so that's part of the## job.
You get to pick the Supreme Court# nominees.
That's just part of the job.
AMNA NAWAZ: Jonathan?
JONATHAN CAPEHART: I'm not as optimistic# about these natural .. talking about.
To William's point, you# know, I'm part of the other half of the## country who's shocked given all of the# things that Kevin said.
But to be honest,## there's also a part of me that's not# shocked.
I mean, for a lot of people,## this will be 2016 all over again.
And for me, it's# not because, you know, I lived through the first,## the four years of Trump's administration.# I know or I remember what that was like.## And I just have to say that this is a sobering# moment for me as an African American, because## things that he said on the campaign trail about# giving power to police to do all sorts of things## that would loop me in potentially to have an# encounter with the police that I didn't ask for.
As a gay American, I'm concerned because that# super -- the conservative supermajority on the## court, particularly Justice Thomas, in his# concurrence with the Dobbs decision, said,## you know what, we should go after Obergefell.
So# my -- which legalized same-sex marriage.
So my## marriage is on the line.
As a journalist, I'm# concerned because just two days ago he talked## about how I've got this piece of glass in front of# me and so if one -- if someone wants to shoot me,## they have to shoot through the press.# And, you know, that might not be so bad.
But also, as an American, I'm concerned because# of what we've done to help the people of Ukraine,## what President Biden has tried to do in bringing# a resolution to the Israel-Hamas war, America's## standing in the world, our role in NATO, in the# Western alliance being the bulwark of -- well,## the bulwark of democracy.
I mean, all# of those things are now on the line,## if indeed he is declared the next# President of the United States.
AMNA NAWAZ: Judy?
We heard William,# of course, reminding us about the many## things we've heard from former President# Trump over the years.
This idea that he's## emulated or showed admiration for dictators,# has hinted that he'd like to emulate them as## well as former Chief of Staff called him# a fascist.
We talked about democracy and## what it took to uphold democracy January# 6th and the days after.
And how are you## looking at this question right now in terms# of what a second Trump presidency would mean?
JUDY WOODRUFF: Well, I think with eyes wide open,# I'm listening to what each one of you is saying## tonight.
I do want to understand better what the# voters were saying.
I mean, to David's point,## I really want to dig in and understand and not# just by reading and looking at the exit polls,## but I do, I will continue to go around# the country, understand from people,## what were you trying to say with this vote?# What -- what are your expectations of him?
He's made some enormous promises.
He# says he's going to make the country,## he's going to fix the economy.
It's# already on the way to -- it's already## moving in a good direction, but he's going# to make it better.
There's going to be a## chicken in every pot.
He's going to fix# immigration.
He's going to fix Ukraine.
I mean, he's made a pretty ambitious list# for himself.
Is the public going to hold## him accountable?
I mean, are they going to# expect him to deliver on what he's promised?## I don't know.
I noticed at the end I# didn't -- I don't believe he mentioned## Kamala Harris's name.
I'm not sure.
He# did say at the end, I want to put the## divisions of the past behind us.
That was one# sentence in a 25-minute talk.
I don't know.
GEOFF BENNETT: But I think he mentioned her by# name but said that she had no path to victory.
JUDY WOODRUFF: She had no path to# victory.
But I think, you know,## we're, I think we all have to hope for the best.
AMY WALTER: Yeah.
And I think Kevin's point# was, is also really important that he is,## we've not had a first term lame duck president.# And so are normally we think of somebody who's a## lame duck as okay, well, this is the moment where# they're putting their legacy forward.
This is,## they're cementing them -- this is somebody who's# the future of the Republican Party?
Where does the## party go from here doesn't have to worry about# going up for reelection, is not particularly## interested in, well, what does this mean for?
It# is about what he wants to get.. going to cement his own legacy in a different# way than we're used to seeing a second-term## president do.
So we're really into the -- very# much into the unknown with so much of this.
And you know, unlike 2017, which was much# more of a shock to everybody in the system,## this Congress is much more pro-Trump.
There are# fewer of the kinds of folks who stood up to him## like we saw in 2017 and 2018.
There's no John# McCain, there's no Mitt Romney.
This -- there## are more that look like folks like J.D.
Vance.# So it will -- it sets up for a very different## kind of relationship that Trump will have, not# just with Congress, but with his own party.
GEOFF BENNETT: Let's bring in our Lisa Desjardins,## who's been patiently standing# by.
Lisa, you have a -- LISA DESJARDINS: I was listening.
I was entranced.
GEOFF BENNETT: You have a# House update, is that right?
LISA DESJARDINS: I'm going to go through# everything where w.. LISA DESJARDINS: Let's just say everything# else.
Let's talk about the Senate.
As we've## been reporting, the Republicans will take over# control, but they could also gain still four## more seats.
Pennsylvania, Wisconsin where they're# leading, Montana, Nevada, where it's a tie.
And## also if indeed Trump Vance tickets wins tonight,# as you know, as we say, the wind is at their back.
I want to congratulate the people of Ohio# because guess what, you guys get another## election.
You will have to vote for another# senator sometime in the coming months.
This## is a swing state.
And that will be something# that we will have to talk about in terms of## affecting the balance of power in the Senate# should J.D.
Vance become vice president.
Now, let's talk, let's keep going forward# and talk about some House raises here.
Laura## Gillen is winning right now in New York 4.# So this would be a pickup, a plus one for## Democrats.
Let's keep going here.
Now,# we've got on the other side a minus one## here where Susan Wild is right now behind in# Pennsylvania.
So this is telling the story of## things going back and forth in different House# RA there's really not one national tale here.
Here, this race we've been watching in# Nebraska, Don Bacon, the Republican,## has just pulled ahead just in the last few# minutes.
Maybe he survives.
There's 92% of## the vote in right there.
And then let's take# a look here in Arizona where Dave Schweickert## is still behind.
So, guys, I went# through just quickly about 60 House## races to see where we are.
And in# the end, right now I have Democrats.
If you include where everyone's leading up one# seat, that is not enough to take over the House## of Representatives.
But there are many races# that still could go either way.
A lot of close## races right on the margin.
And you know, as you# can see, we're still following all of these.
Lastly, let's talk about the presidential# race.
Of course, these are the calls by the## Associated Press as you have been calling them# out.
Amna and Jeff, right now, former President## Trump at 267 electoral votes.
I know it feels# like it's 3:00 a.m. but it's 11:00 somewhere.## And that somewhere is the State of Alaska,# which has three electoral votes.
And should## those electoral votes be called former President# Trump, then he will get the votes he needs.
Should## any of these states go former President Trump,# then he will be called as the next President.
But as it is, that hasn't been called# yet.
That could be the next state to## go.
We -- just based on the margins we're# seeing right now, but that's where we are.
GEOFF BENNETT: Lisa Desjardins, I'm# inspired by your energy at 3:08 -- 3:10,## our ninth hour of live coverage.
God bless you.
I'm coming to you, friend.
What are you# hearing from your friends, your Democratic,## well, friends in Democratic circles?
FAIZ SHAKIR: Well, now, you know, obviously# there'll be a reckoning and we'll .. and learn.
You know, this isn't pointing fingers.# Just learn, grow out of this, learn from voters.## But I will say, you know, Trump comes in with# inheriting -- like he did in the first term.## President Obama made this point, a fair amount# that he had a strong economy that he inherited.## And so when you look at the growth under Trump# and how -- what people felt about the economy,## people don't remember the presages of that and# how what established it.
And yet here it is again,## pretty strong economy, 15 plus million# jobs created.
We're in a pretty good,## stable setting.
What is about to# happen over the next four years?
Well,## a bunch of investment money was about to# go to shovels so we're hitting the ground.
A lot of trade, people in the# trade, plumbers, carpenters,## pipefitters all over this country about# to get jobs from Democratic investments## and he's going to inherit that.
And# we'll see what he decides to do.
He## campaigns on repealing certain parts of the IRA.# But I don't think he's going to do that.
I think## he understands that part of -- part of it is# being able to go and as a construction guy,## like go out and tout the successes that# Democratic Congress and President made happen.
GEOFF BENNETT: Well, Republicans who voted against## the IRA are claiming credit for# it.
So I think that would hold.
AMNA NAWAZ: Judy Woodruff, I know# we've got a few minutes left here,## but I'm just curious what you think at this point# in the evening and also when you think we'll## hear from President Biden and what he might say# coming out of this night we've just reported on.
JUDY WOODRUFF: Well, one has to assume# and I don't know when we'll hear but one## has to assume he'll be supportive of his# Vice President and I'll say that again,## this is all assuming that the outcome is# what the President -- former President Trump,## is saying.
He's going to be supportive# of her and be gracious, I'm assuming.
I## don't -- I can't -- I'm trying to think# of what else he would say at this point.
AMNA NAWAZ: Jonathan, what do you think?
JONATHAN CAPEHART: About the president?
I agree# with Judy.
I think h.. president who I think, given the circumstances,# ran a terrific campaign and did as best as she## could to win, assuming things go the way it looks# like they're going.
And I also expect him -- I## expect him to be gracious because in the end,# he's a statesman.
He is somebody who cares not## only about his party but the country.
And I think# he will probably say a prayer for the country.
GEOFF BENNETT: All right.
We are going# to sign off for now.
Our thanks to our## panel.
Former President Donald Trump is poised# to clinch the presidency.
The Associated Press## is still waiting for more vote count# in several states, including Arizona,## Michigan, Wisconsin, Nevada, and Alaska.
Any# one of them will put Donald Trump officially## over the top.
If you're watching# online or if you want to go online,## go to our website or our YouTube page and you# can see the remaining results as they come in.
AMNA NAWAZ: Just to recap, now, Republicans have# won control of the Senate.
Control of the House,## however, is not yet known with many# races still to be called.
And once again,## the big news of the night tonight, Donald# Trump has 267 electoral votes of the 270## he needs to officially be named President-Elect.
GEOFF BENNETT: A huge thank you to# our colleagues around the country## in the battleground states reporting on the# results all night, our crew, our colleagues,## and special guests here in the studio for# their excellent analysis, all nine hours of it,## nine plus hours of it.
That includes Faiz# Shakir, Kevin Madden, Amy Walter, David Brooks,## Jonathan Capehart, Judy Woodruff, and the great# Lisa Desjardins over at the PBS News Super Screen.## For all of us at PBS News, thank you for joining# us.
We'll see you back here at the News Hour.
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