Donald Trump wins the US presidency
- Date
- 8 November 2016
- Category
- Politics & governance
- Region
- United States
- Era
- Contemporary
- Significance
On 8 November 2016 Republican Donald Trump defeated Democrat Hillary Clinton in the United States presidential election, winning the Electoral College 304 to 227 despite losing the national popular vote by about 2.8 million ballots.
Trump's right-wing populist, nationalist campaign, built around the slogan 'Make America Great Again' and opposition to immigration, free-trade agreements, and 'political correctness', flipped industrial states such as Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Wisconsin. Widely regarded as one of the great upsets in American political history, the result, coming months after the Brexit vote, was read internationally as confirmation of a global populist and anti-establishment wave. Trump's victory reshaped American politics and the Republican Party, intensified partisan polarisation, and raised enduring debates about the role of social media, disinformation, and foreign interference in elections. His presidency and continued political dominance became a central thread in the wider story of democratic strain in the 2010s and 2020s.
One piece of history in your inbox, weekly
New empires, events and features as they land — one good email a week. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
Related politics & governance events
- The end of apartheid and Nelson Mandela's election in South Africa27 April 1994 (election); 10 May 1994 (inauguration)
- Dissolution of the Soviet UnionAugust–December 1991
- German reunification3 October 1990
- Fall of the Berlin Wall9 November 1989
- Revolutions of 1989 across Eastern Europe1989 (Autumn of Nations)
- Gorbachev's glasnost and perestroika1985–1991 (from 11 March 1985)
Also relevant
Further reading
The wider story
The Americas: A Hemispheric History
Brisk single-volume history of the whole hemisphere since European contact.
Get it on Amazon →As an Amazon Associate, Human Saga earns from qualifying purchases.