- Details
- By Levi Rickert
Native Vote 2024. WASHINGTON — Donald Trump has been projected by The Associated Press to win enough Electoral College votes to win a second term and become the 47th president of the United States. With his win, he made history by being the first candidate convicted on criminal charges to be elected president of the United States. He defeated Vice President Kamala Harris, who became the second woman to be defeated for the nation's highest elective office. Trump beat former secretary Hillary Clinton in 2016.
The AP's projection came shortly after 5:30 a.m. EST on Wednesday when Wisonsin's 10 electoral votes put Trump over the top.
As Election Night continued into the wee hours of Wednesday, the crowd gathered at Harris' event at Howard University began to dwindle as results showed Harris' pathway became elusive. Then around 1 a.m., Harris's campaign co-chair Cedric Richmond addressed the crowd and said: 'We still have votes to count. We still have states that have not been called yet. We will continue, overnight, to fight to make sure that every vote is counted, that every voice has spoken. So you won’t hear from the vice-president tonight, but you will hear from her tomorrow."
Down the east coast in West Palm Beach, Florida, where Trump’s supporters, clad in "Make America Great Again" gear, danced and cheered to a playlist of his political rally songs, including the Village People’s "YMCA."
"Frankly, this is, I believe, the greatest political movement of all time... and now it's going to reach a new level of importance," Trump declared shortly before 2 a.m. "Look at what happened—this is crazy! But it’s a political victory unlike anything our country has ever seen."
The 2024 presidential election was Trump's third run for the presidency. This year's victory was the first time he won the popular vote. Shortly after 8 a.m. on Wednesday Trump led with 71,202,731 votes (51.0%) to Harris' 66,257,069 votes (47.5%) with votes being tallied in some states.
Trump was convicted in May on 34 counts of falsifying business records to cover up a hush money payment to an adult-film star alleging an affair with the former president. His sentencing is scheduled for Nov. 26 in a New York courtroom even as the presidential transition will be underway.
Trump will be sworn in on January 20, 2025.
More Stories Like This
Native News Weekly (August 25, 2024): D.C. BriefsUS Presidents in Their Own Words Concerning American Indians
Native News Weekly (August 4, 2024): D.C. Briefs
Seattle Seahawks Tackle Preservation Projects at Daybreak Star Indian Cultural Center for Annual Day of Service
Native News Weekly (June 15, 2025): D.C. Briefs
Help us tell the stories that could save Native languages and food traditions
At a critical moment for Indian Country, Native News Online is embarking on our most ambitious reporting project yet: "Cultivating Culture," a three-year investigation into two forces shaping Native community survival—food sovereignty and language revitalization.
The devastating impact of COVID-19 accelerated the loss of Native elders and with them, irreplaceable cultural knowledge. Yet across tribal communities, innovative leaders are fighting back, reclaiming traditional food systems and breathing new life into Native languages. These aren't just cultural preservation efforts—they're powerful pathways to community health, healing, and resilience.
Our dedicated reporting team will spend three years documenting these stories through on-the-ground reporting in 18 tribal communities, producing over 200 in-depth stories, 18 podcast episodes, and multimedia content that amplifies Indigenous voices. We'll show policymakers, funders, and allies how cultural restoration directly impacts physical and mental wellness while celebrating successful models of sovereignty and self-determination.
This isn't corporate media parachuting into Indian Country for a quick story. This is sustained, relationship-based journalism by Native reporters who understand these communities. It's "Warrior Journalism"—fearless reporting that serves the 5.5 million readers who depend on us for news that mainstream media often ignores.
We need your help right now. While we've secured partial funding, we're still $450,000 short of our three-year budget. Our immediate goal is $25,000 this month to keep this critical work moving forward—funding reporter salaries, travel to remote communities, photography, and the deep reporting these stories deserve.
Every dollar directly supports Indigenous journalists telling Indigenous stories. Whether it's $5 or $50, your contribution ensures these vital narratives of resilience, innovation, and hope don't disappear into silence.
The stakes couldn't be higher. Native languages are being lost at an alarming rate. Food insecurity plagues many tribal communities. But solutions are emerging, and these stories need to be told.
Support independent Native journalism. Fund the stories that matter.
Levi Rickert (Potawatomi), Editor & Publisher
