Donald Trump gestures as he holds hands with his wife Melania during a rally in West Palm Beach, Florida.
(MV) — As the Associated Press would put it, “Donald Trump was elected the 47th president of the United States…, an extraordinary comeback for a former president who refused to accept defeat four years ago, sparked a violent insurrection at the U.S. Capitol, was convicted of felony charges and survived two assassination attempts…. In state after state, Trump outperformed what he did in the 2020 election while Harris failed to do as well as Joe Biden did in winning the presidency four years ago.”
U.S. voters also elected a Republican-controlled House of Representatives and the Senate. However, the GOP majority in the House is slim — 220 to 215. The narrow majority may exacerbate existing divisions within the Republican Party, which will also face challenges in passing legislation due to its slim margin.
Other top news
• On January 5, a door plug blew out on Alaska Airlines flight 1282 shortly after takeoff, causing chaos onboard. Fortunately, the Boeing 737 Max 9 made an emergency landing without serious injuries. An investigation revealed that four bolts meant to secure the door plug were missing, leading to scrutiny of Boeing’s maintenance practices.
• A tragic shooting occurred on September 4 at Apalachee High School in Georgia, where a 14-year-old student opened fire, resulting in the deaths of two students and two teachers. The incident raised concerns about gun access, as the shooter allegedly received the weapon as a Christmas gift from his father, who also faced charges.
• The Atlantic hurricane season was marked by Hurricane Helene, which made landfall in Florida as a Category 4 storm on September 26, causing nearly 250 fatalities and extensive damage across several states. This was followed by Hurricane Milton on October 9, which also impacted Florida with significant destruction and loss of life
• Music mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs was arrested in September and faced serious charges including sex trafficking and racketeering. Prosecutors alleged he coerced women into sexual acts through violence and intimidation. Diddy has pleaded not guilty to all charges.
• Brian Thompson, the CEO of UnitedHealthcare, was shot and killed outside a hotel in Manhattan on December 4. His murder led to public outrage against the health insurance industry and sparked a manhunt for the suspect, who was later apprehended.
