Trump’s Sweeping Victory: A Message from Working-Class America Donald Trump secured a decisive victory over Vice President Kamala Harris in the 2024 U.S. presidential election, marking a significant return to power for the former president. Trump’s win spanned swing states, red states, and even made inroads into traditional Democratic strongholds.
CNN’s Scott Jennings says President Donald J. Trump’s victory is “revenge of just the regular ole working class American“
“I’m interpreting the results tonight as the revenge of just the regular ole working-class American. The anonymous American who has been crushed, insulted,… pic.twitter.com/VZyLVFnQ6v
— RedWave Press (@RedWave_Press) November 6, 2024
Working-Class Support Fuels Trump’s Triumph Trump’s success was largely attributed to overwhelming support from working-class voters. He outperformed his previous election results in blue cities, Rust Belt areas, and rural regions. Republican strategist Scott Jennings described the outcome as “the revenge of the regular old working-class Americans.” He added, “They feel like they’ve been told to shut up.”
Surprising Performance in Democratic Strongholds Contrary to expectations, Trump performed well in suburban areas, defying predictions of a backlash from educated voters and women over abortion rights issues. In New York State, he narrowed his loss margin to just 900,000 votes, while in New Jersey, he came within 5 percentage points of winning. New York City saw Trump’s vote share increase to 30%, up from 23% in 2020 and 16% in 2016.
GOP’s Realignment and Trump’s Improved Performance Republicans view this victory as a realignment of American politics, with the GOP now representing working-class anger towards cultural elites. Trump improved his standing in about 90% of counties nationwide compared to the 2020 election. He also outperformed his previous results in red states like Florida and Texas. Gains Among Latino Voters Trump made significant inroads with Latino voters, winning 45% of their vote, a 12-point increase from 2020. He even secured a majority among Latino men. However, his efforts to gain Black voter support were less successful, with Harris maintaining traditional Democratic margins among this demographic.
Media Reaction and Analysis The election results sparked diverse reactions across media outlets. Fox News described Trump’s victory as a significant political comeback, likening it to a “phoenix from the ashes.” In contrast, MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” adopted a somber tone, analyzing Vice President Kamala Harris’s unsuccessful campaign.
Scott Jennings’ Analysis on CNN On a CNN panel, Republican pundit Scott Jennings provided a candid analysis of Trump’s victory, leaving other panelists momentarily silent. Jennings interpreted the results as a mandate to address issues like the economy, immigration, and crime for working-class Americans. He stated, “I’m interpreting the results tonight as revenge of just the regular old working-class American, the anonymous American who has been crushed, insulted, condescended to.”
Some Democratic analysts attribute Trump’s success to racism and sexism, while others suggest the party needs to better listen to voter concerns. Democratic Rep. Debbie Dingell emphasized the need for the party to engage in soul-searching and address voter dissatisfaction. Basil Smikle, a Columbia University professor and Democratic analyst, noted, “It’s not a problem that can be solved by a (political) campaign. These are deep-rooted issues in our country that we absolutely need to address.”
Looking Ahead As Trump prepares to become the oldest president ever inaugurated, surpassing Joe Biden’s record, the nation faces the prospect of continued division. Despite his victory, Trump’s rhetoric suggests challenges in uniting a polarized country. The 2024 election has reshaped the political landscape, highlighting the need for both parties to reassess their strategies and engagement with working-class voters.
