Donald Trump elected 47th US president

The Republican candidate has won at least 277 Electoral College votes, per The Associated Press.

Donald Trump has been elected to return to the White House as the 47th United States president.

The vote was called for the Republican candidate by The Associated Press news agency early on Wednesday. His victory has been met by international congratulations but is likely to add further uncertainty to a turbulent geopolitical situation.

Results showed Trump beating Vice President Kamala Harris in a race far less tight than expected as he triumphed in key battleground states.

Victory in Wisconsin after earlier triumphs in Georgia, North Carolina and Pennsylvania saw the former president clear the threshold of the 270 Electoral College votes required to clinch the White House in Tuesday’s election.

Trump’s victory in those swing states currently sees him with 277 electoral votes against 224 for Harris. Polls had predicted a much tighter race, but it appears that anger fuelled the Republican’s remarkable comeback from defeat in 2020 and widespread condemnation of his refusal to accept the result.

That refusal sparked a violent insurrection at the US Capitol, and Trump was also convicted of felony charges and survived two assassination attempts.

However, his campaign, which has seen him demonise his political opponents, immigrants and many minorities, tapped into the frustrations of many voters in a bitterly polarised nation.

Speaking to his supporters as he declared victory, Trump claimed he had won “an unprecedented and powerful mandate”.

Anger and resentment

Scott Lucas, a professor of international politics at the University of Dublin, told Al Jazeera that Trump’s victory stemmed from frustrations that have been bubbling within the US public for years.

“There is anger and resentment in the US, which has been there for quite some time. It’s been a trauma since 9/11. It’s been there with the financial crash in 2008-2009. It was there in 2016 when Trump exploited it, and he exploited it again,” Lucas said, adding that Trump was able to do that because the “political system is damaged”.

Concern over the economy, and inflation in particular, under President Joe Biden was a major focus of the campaign.

That also encouraged opposition to the support Washington is giving to Ukraine in its war against Russia. Meanwhile, the failure to rein in Israel’s wars on Gaza and Lebanon has angered Muslim and liberal voters.

Those complex geopolitical issues will test Trump, who is known for his simplistic claims of being capable of quickly solving such issues.

He has promised to end the war in Ukraine in a day, an idea that has Kyiv wary that it could face pressure to strike a deal to hand over territory to Russia. NATO allies, meanwhile, fear Trump will weaken the alliance’s mutual defence guarantees.

Trump is also a strong supporter of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and has boasted he will end the war with Hamas in Gaza in hours.

“Your historic return to the White House offers a new beginning for America and a powerful recommitment to the great alliance between Israel and America. This is a huge victory!” Netanyahu said in a statement after Trump declared victory.

The enthusiasm in Israel also stems from the incoming president’s hawkish approach to Iran, which he is likely to reassert.

China is also braced for a more confrontational relationship with the US under Trump, who is expected to revive staunchly nationalistic trade policies, putting both allies and rivals on edge.

‘Much more dangerous era’

However, at home, supporters will look to Trump to put the focus on the welfare of US citizens while following through on promises to enact an agenda that would transform nearly every aspect of American government.

That will include plans to launch the largest deportation effort in the nation’s history and use the Department of Justice to punish his enemies.

The result is that “we are going into a much more dangerous era for Americans and for the world because this will not be a coherent US policy for America but one pursued for Trump,” Lucas said.

My DIL Returned My Car Totaled after a Trip to Her Friend — She Refused to Pay for the Damages, So I Taught Her a Lesson

I thought lending my car to my daughter-in-law would be a chance to mend our strained relationship. Instead, she returned it battered and covered in lies, refusing to pay for the damages. What I did next left her feeling helpless.

I’m a 60-year-old woman who’s been living alone ever since my husband passed away five years ago. Nathan died after a tough battle with cancer, and there wasn’t much we could’ve done to save him. I still remember what he said to me the day before he closed his eyes forever.

A sick man in a hospital room | Source: Pexels

A sick man in a hospital room | Source: Pexels

“Jennifer, always look after Toby,” he said as he held my hand. “I know he’s 30 and he can look after himself, but that boy is a bit too sensitive, and I know he’ll need his mother to support him.”

He was right. Toby did need me in the days following Nathan’s death. I remember how we would sit together, reminiscing about how Nathan used to take us to his favorite restaurant and make us all laugh.

A woman talking to her son | Source: Midjourney

A woman talking to her son | Source: Midjourney

Toby and I would laugh and then cry thinking about the disturbing fact that we’d never see Nathan again. It made us feel devastated, but I guess that’s part of the healing process.

However, things changed when Toby found someone to replace his aging mother. About a year after Nathan’s death, Toby introduced me to a beautiful 30-year-old woman named Layla, whom he met at work.

She wore a lovely dress, her hair neatly tied back, perfectly dressed to meet her boyfriend’s mother. I had to admit that she knew how to make a strong first impression.

A young woman | Source: Midjourney

A young woman | Source: Midjourney

“Hi, Jennifer,” she hugged me the first time we met. “How are you?”

“I’m fine, thanks,” I smiled, totally mesmerized by my son’s choice. “You look wonderful, Layla!”

At that moment, I had no clue how this woman would soon come into our lives and pull my son away from me. She seemed so nice; I never would have guessed just how cunning she really was.

A young woman smiling | Source: Midjourney

A young woman smiling | Source: Midjourney

Toby and Layla tied the knot just six months after our first meeting. I was so happy for my son as he started a new chapter of his life, and my heart was full of good wishes for him. I remember how I couldn’t stop weeping when my boy said his vows like a grown-up man.

Not long after the wedding, Toby and Layla invited me over to their place for lunch. I thought it would be a nice bonding session with my daughter-in-law since it was just the three of us, but it was anything but that.

A woman looking at herself in the mirror while getting ready | Source: Midjourney

A woman looking at herself in the mirror while getting ready | Source: Midjourney

Toby had asked me to be there at 2 p.m., but I arrived about 10 minutes late, and Layla took that as an opportunity to create a scene.

“Why are you so late, Jennifer?” she asked as soon as I stepped inside the house. I couldn’t see Toby anywhere near the entrance. “I’ve been waiting for you for so long!”

“I… I got late because of the traffic,” I stammered, taken aback by the unexpected confrontation.

A woman looking at her daughter-in-law | Source: Midjourney

A woman looking at her daughter-in-law | Source: Midjourney

“I don’t like hosting people who can’t value my time,” she muttered.

“I’m sorry for that, Layla,” I apologized. “But it was just 10 minutes.”

“I don’t care if it was 10 minutes or 10 hours,” she shot me an angry look. “You need to be on time when you come to my place, underst—”

“Oh, Mom! You’re here!” Toby interrupted. “How are you, my lovely lady?”

A man looking straight ahead, smiling | Source: Midjourney

A man looking straight ahead, smiling | Source: Midjourney

“I’m fine, Toby,” I said, hugging him, still reeling from Layla’s behavior. “How are you, my love? Looks like you haven’t been eating well.”

“Nah, I’m good, Mom,” he smiled. “What were you guys talking about?”

“Your wife was say—”

“Nothing, babe,” Layla cut me off. “I was just telling her how beautiful she looks today.”

A woman smiling while talking to her husband | Source: Midjourney

A woman smiling while talking to her husband | Source: Midjourney

“Yeah?” Toby’s gaze shifted from his wife to me. “My mom always looks the best!”

At that point, I was stunned by Layla’s behavior. Why was she being so sweet to me in front of Toby? And why didn’t she let me tell him what she had said earlier?

I spent the rest of the afternoon at their house, observing how Layla effortlessly switched on her sweet personality whenever Toby was around. But when he wasn’t looking, she’d throw mean remarks to make me feel unwelcome.

A woman talking to her daughter-in-law | Source: Midjourney

A woman talking to her daughter-in-law | Source: Midjourney

That day marked the beginning of my strained relationship with my daughter-in-law.

Then, one day, I noticed how Toby began taking her side whenever Layla and I argued in front of him.

“Layla’s right, Mom,” Toby said one day when we were at a restaurant deciding what to order for dinner. “We don’t need a large bowl of salad. It’s just the three of us. We’ll manage with a small bowl.”

A close-up shot of a man's face | Source: Midjourney

A close-up shot of a man’s face | Source: Midjourney

“See, I’ve been telling your mother to order the small bowl, but she never listens to me,” Layla chuckled. “I don’t know why she never trusts me.”

She played the victim in front of him, and my poor boy always fell for it. I don’t blame him; he had seen his father always side with me. But I wasn’t like Layla. I wasn’t pretending to be a good daughter-in-law in front of my husband.

A close-up shot of a woman looking straight ahead | Source: Midjourney

A close-up shot of a woman looking straight ahead | Source: Midjourney

Layla’s behavior toward me didn’t change until the day she called me. I was genuinely surprised to see her name on my phone screen.

“Hi, Jen!” she chirped through the phone.

Jen? I thought. That’s weird.

“Hi, Layla,” I played along, trying to sound as sweet as possible. “How are you?”

“I’m good,” she said. “I was wondering if I could borrow your car tomorrow. Would that be okay with you?”

“My car?” I asked.

A woman talking on the phone | Source: Midjourney

A woman talking on the phone | Source: Midjourney

“Yeah,” she sighed. “Actually, I was supposed to visit my friend today. She lives a few hours away, but I couldn’t go because my car broke down. The mechanic says it’ll take a few days before he can fix it.”

“Oh, my! Sounds like there’s a major problem,” I said, genuinely concerned.

“I was so upset, but then Toby suggested I ask if you could lend me your car for a day,” she continued. “I’ll be back in a week.”

A week? I thought. That’s a lot.

A woman thinking while talking on the phone | Source: Midjourney

A woman thinking while talking on the phone | Source: Midjourney

But I felt bad for her. She sounded desperate, and she mentioned Toby had suggested it, so I didn’t want to let her down. I also saw it as a chance to mend our relationship.

“Sure, I don’t mind,” I said. “You can come over today if you want.”

And that was one of the biggest mistakes of my life.

An SUV parked outside a house | Source: Pexels

An SUV parked outside a house | Source: Pexels

A week later, Layla and Toby returned my car, but I couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw it. It was covered in scratches, dents, and dust. And the inside? It smelled like rotten onions!

“What have you done to my car?” I spat out. “What happened?”

“Excuse me?” she said, squinting her eyes as if I’d said something outrageous. “What did I do to your car? It was like this when I picked it up the other day.”

A woman talking to her mother-in-law | Source: Midjourney

A woman talking to her mother-in-law | Source: Midjourney

“Stop it, Layla!” I yelled at her. “Stop lying.”

“You think I’m lying?” she snapped, turning to Toby. “Babe, look at her! She’s accusing me of lying! How dare she?”

“Mom, Layla’s right,” Toby said. “She told me your car was like this when she picked it up the other day. She’s not lying.”

“Toby? Are you serious?” I stared at him in shock, realizing there was no point in arguing with them.

A woman looking at her son | Source: Midjourney

A woman looking at her son | Source: Midjourney

I had no proof, and neither did she. But Toby sided with her because he was so blindly in love with her.

I realized that arguing might even push my son away, so I decided to teach Layla a lesson instead. I spent the night researching online and stumbled across an incredible idea. A quick call to the nearby pet shop, and my plan was in motion.

An older woman using a phone | Source: Pexels

An older woman using a phone | Source: Pexels

The next night, I drove over to their place armed with animal attractant sprays. I carefully sprayed them all over their backyard, driveway, and front porch, making sure to stay out of sight.

With the lights off, I knew they were asleep. I quickly executed my plan and quietly drove away, feeling a mix of nerves and satisfaction.

I was certain this would teach Layla not to mess with me again.

A young woman looking straight ahead | Source: Midjourney

A young woman looking straight ahead | Source: Midjourney

The next morning, I woke up to my phone ringing. It was Toby.

“Mom, I need help!” he cried over the phone.

“What happened, honey?” I asked, feigning ignorance. “Are you okay?”

“We just woke up, and it’s awful here! The yard stinks, and wild animals have turned our place into a toilet! The whole house smells horrible, and we don’t know what to do!”

I secretly smirked, listening to him rant about the mess. The irony was delicious.

A woman talking to her son on the phone | Source: Midjourney

A woman talking to her son on the phone | Source: Midjourney

“Oh, my!” I pretended to be surprised. “That sounds horrible. I guess that’s what happens when you ruin someone else’s property.”

I don’t know if Toby caught my meaning, but I’m sure his clever wife knew those animals didn’t show up by chance. She had to know it was me, her oh-so-nice mother-in-law, who never fought back before.

A close-up shot of a woman looking outside her window | Source: Midjourney

A close-up shot of a woman looking outside her window | Source: Midjourney

Since that day, Layla hasn’t dared to mess with me. We met at a dinner once, and she didn’t try to be rude or complain about me wasting her time. Meanwhile, Toby started calling me regularly, checking in to see how I was doing.

I guess my dear husband Nathan was right after all. My son did need me to pull him out of the trance Layla had drawn him into. He needed me to stand up for myself and set a boundary his wife wouldn’t dare cross again.

A young man standing outside his house | Source: Midjourney

A young man standing outside his house | Source: Midjourney

What would you have done if you were in my place?

If you enjoyed reading this story, here’s another one you might like: I thought I was a good mother-in-law and grandmother by availing myself to my son and daughter-in-law as they needed. But I soon realized that I was getting the raw end of the deal when my DIL disrespected me. I had to take matters into my own hands to remedy the situation once and for all!

This work is inspired by real events and people, but it has been fictionalized for creative purposes. Names, characters, and details have been changed to protect privacy and enhance the narrative. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental and not intended by the author.

The author and publisher make no claims to the accuracy of events or the portrayal of characters and are not liable for any misinterpretation. This story is provided “as is,” and any opinions expressed are those of the characters and do not reflect the views of the author or publisher.

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