Donald Trump’s election victory stands as one of the most remarkable political comebacks in modern history. The last time a U.S. president rebounded from a re-election loss to win again was back in the 19th century with Grover Cleveland.
Since then, there have been other political comeback icons—Robert Menzies in Australia, Winston Churchill in the UK, Richard Nixon and Benjamin Netanyahu, among others—but none of their journeys compare to Trump’s resilience.
After leaving office in 2021 with a 34% approval rating and widespread criticism, Trump was dismissed by many as a political relic. His return to the presidential race was met with skepticism and even mockery, with the New York Post calling it “Florida man makes announcement” and celebrating DeSantis as “DeFuture.”
Yet, each dismissal seemed to fuel Trump’s comeback. What contributed to his return? Some argue that the Democrats’ policies—particularly on immigration, crime, and economic spending—pushed Americans to reconsider Trump’s populist message.
Trump capitalised on the growing divide between metro elites and working-class communities, especially as the Democrats lost ground with their traditional base.
So, where does America go from here? The next four years may bring continued divides and challenges. How will Trump handle issues from foreign policy with China to U.S. domestic struggles? And what will his legacy ultimately be?