OMAHA (DTN) -- With an early morning message to the country, Donald J. Trump marked one of the most significant political comebacks in U.S. history on Wednesday as he promised to "restore America to greatness" as the country's 47th president.
"America has given us an unprecedented and powerful mandate," Trump said in his remarks.
Confidence in a Trump victory grew throughout the night as news organizations called North Carolina, Georgia and eventually Pennsylvania for Trump. Trump took his victory lap before officially hitting 270 electoral votes, but he was leading in votes in the remaining states that had not been called.
Depending on the outcome of some House races, Republicans could be looking at a unified government going into 2025. The election results could cause lawmakers to delay passing a farm bill until next year. A full GOP Congress with Trump in the White House would also allow Republicans to revamp Trump's 2017 tax cuts that are set to expire at the end of next year.
FARM BUREAU CONGRATULATES TRUMP
Zippy Duvall, president of the American Farm Bureau Federation, early Wednesday congratulated Trump as president-elect. Duvall also highlighted there was "no shortage of critical issues requiring immediate attention" and stated farmers are committed to working with the country's leaders to strengthen agriculture and rural America.
"Now that the American people have spoken, it's time to put politics aside and begin the work of ensuring families nationwide can prosper," Duvall said. "Among the most pressing issues in rural America is the need for a new, modernized farm bill. The two-year delay is unacceptable. The new administration must also address the impending tax hikes, which would crush many of America's farmers and ranchers when stacked on top of inflation, high supply costs and market instability. Another big issue on farmers' minds is the labor shortage and skyrocketing costs."
Trump said in his comments that economic success will bring a divided country together.
"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 you've entrusted to me."
Trump added, "I will govern by a simple model. 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."
He added, "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."
Harris did not make a statement but ended her rally in Washington, D.C., as it became clear her path to the White House was blocked by losses in those battleground states. Harris is expected to speak about the election results on Wednesday.
The election came down to Trump carrying rural areas by wide margins while Harris was winning the urban and suburban areas by smaller margins than President Joe Biden four years ago. For the first time in his three elections, Trump also won the popular vote in the race. He was leading Harris by more than 5.3 million votes early Wednesday.
The rural vote has been the cornerstone of Trump's support since his first campaign in 2016 and that remains true through this year.
Harris had relied on the "blue wall" of Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, but that effort collapsed as it became clear Harris wasn't gaining ground in Pennsylvania and was trailing elsewhere.
In his remarks, Trump also talked about Elon Musk who became an avid supporter and has said he would lead an effort in the Trump administration to cut spending and make federal bureaucracy more efficient. Trump also mentioned Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who Trump said is "going to make America healthy again."
Kennedy has said he wants to reform both the Department of Health and Human Services and the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Kennedy has called for banning certain pesticides and focusing agriculture on "regenerative ag." He also wants to change the country's diets and shift people away from processed foods. Trump has indicated he supports Kennedy's goals.
In his remarks, Trump added he has plans for the country's oil supply. "We have more liquid gold than any country in the world, more than Saudi Arabia. We have more than Russia."
Trump said the country would pay down the debt while reducing taxes as well. "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."
Harris conceded the race in a speech Wednesday afternoon at her alma mater, Howard University. Harris congratulated Trump and said, "I told him that we will help him and his team in their transition, and that we will engage in a peaceful transfer of power, a fundamental principle of American democracy is that when we lose an election, we accept the results."
Chris Clayton can be reached at Chris.Clayton@dtn.com
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