Donald Trump on Tuesday completed the most shocking hostile takeover of the U.S. political process in modern history.
His win shattered predictions across the board, from pollsters to financial markets, and left many more questions than answers about what comes next—for President Obama’s legacy, economic policy specifically and the governing agenda broadly. Never before has the nation elevated to its highest office a candidate with no prior experience in public life or the military. In Trump, Americans elected a real-estate developer and reality-TV star who made his foray into politics questioning the birthplace of the president he will succeed.
Trump’s win came amid a stunning show of Republican strength down the ballot. The GOP defied expectations to maintain narrow control of the Senate while also outperforming expectations in the House. The results mean Trump will face at least a nominally friendly Congress as he seeks to push his priorities. But the the party also remains divided on some policy basics and it remains to be seen how deeply Trump’s victory will rewire Republican thinking on issues from immigration reform to trade.
