Election Earthquake: How Donald Trump Dominated 2024 | 12.29.24

Summary

Morning Wire: Election Earthquake – How Donald Trump Dominated 2024

Date Released: December 29, 2024

In this landmark episode of Morning Wire, hosted by Georgia Howe and Daily Wire Editor-in-Chief John Bickley, the discussion centers on the seismic shifts in the 2024 American political landscape. The episode, featuring insights from Daily Wire researcher Michael Whitaker, delves deep into Donald Trump's unprecedented electoral comeback, the Democratic Party's challenges, and the pivotal issues that shaped voter behavior.

---

1. The 2024 Presidential Comeback

Georgia Howe opens the discussion by highlighting Donald Trump's remarkable reelection as President, marking him as the second president in U.S. history to serve two non-consecutive terms—the first in over a century. This victory followed an unexpected trajectory, especially considering his narrow defeat in 2020 and the unprecedented nature of his candidacy.

Notable Quote:

“Donald Trump was reelected to the presidency after a Narrow defeat in 2020, becoming the second president to serve two non consecutive terms and the first in more than 100 years.”
— Georgia Howe [01:02]

---

2. Trump's Unconventional Political Strategy

Michael Whitaker provides an in-depth analysis of Trump's rise, emphasizing his break from traditional Republican strategies. Initially underestimated, Trump capitalized on his brash style, hardline immigration policies, and populist rhetoric to galvanize a broad spectrum of voters.

Key Points:

• Populist Shift: Trump moved the Republican Party towards a more populist stance, attracting working-class voters and minorities.
• Media Savvy: Utilized platforms like Joe Rogan's podcast to connect with young voters.
• Broad Coalition: Gained significant support from black and Hispanic communities, challenging Democratic strongholds.

Notable Quote:

“Trump has dominated headlines since he came down that golden escalator in 2015. He's arguably been the main character of American politics for the last decade...”
— Michael Whitaker [02:14]

---

3. Democratic Struggles and Biden's Challenges

The Democrats faced an uphill battle in 2024, grappling with internal divisions and the overshadowing presence of Trump. President Joe Biden's administration struggled with economic issues and voter perception, leading to his eventual withdrawal from the race.

Key Points:

• Economic Woes: Inflation soared under Biden, with rates more than doubling compared to Trump's tenure.
• Leadership Doubts: Concerns over Biden's age and cognitive abilities eroded voter confidence.
• Candidate Replacement: Vice President Kamala Harris was placed at the top of the ticket, a move that failed to resonate with voters.

Notable Quotes:

“Biden spent his entire life in government... The economic effects of prolonged COVID lockdowns and record deficit spending quickly caught up with the new commander in chief...”
— Michael Whitaker [04:32]

“There are 40% fewer people coming across the border illegally. That's better than when he left office...”
— Joe Biden [07:51]

---

4. Pivotal Issues Influencing Voters

Several key issues played a decisive role in the 2024 election, with economic concerns and immigration standing out as primary factors driving voter behavior.

Economic Concerns:

• Inflation Crisis: Voters were highly sensitive to the rising cost of living, with Biden's administration experiencing a significant decline in purchasing power.
• Trump's Economic Messaging: Despite controversial policies, Trump's narrative on economic recovery resonated with a majority of voters.

Immigration:

• Policy Reversals: Biden's reversal of Trump's "remain in Mexico" policy led to a surge in border crossings, undermining his stance.
• Voter Preference: Approximately 90% of voters concerned about immigration favored Trump over Harris.

Abortion:

• Double-Edged Sword: While Democrats saw abortion as a vital issue, the way it was addressed may have inadvertently benefited Trump by allowing voters to support both pro-abortion measures and his candidacy.

Notable Quotes:

“Inflation. Inflation. Inflation.”
— Michael Whitaker [05:38]

“Nearly 90% of voters who said that immigration was their top concern pulled the lever for him.”
— Michael Whitaker [05:38]

---

5. Legal Challenges and Political Polarization

Trump's campaign was marred by multiple felony charges and civil lawsuits, which paradoxically strengthened his support base by casting him as a victim of political witch hunts.

Key Points:

• Legal Troubles: Faced with charges ranging from business record falsification to inciting insurrection.
• Support Narrative: Supporters viewed these legal battles as politically motivated, enhancing Trump's image as a martyr.
• Democratic Polarization: The aggressive stance against Trump polarized the electorate further, making bipartisan solutions more elusive.

Notable Quote:

“Trump's legal issues were proof that the political establishment was willing to weaponize the government against their opponents.”
— Michael Whitaker [11:11]

---

6. Security Concerns and Assassination Attempts

The heightened political tensions culminated in two assassination attempts on President Trump, underscoring the volatile atmosphere of the election cycle.

Key Points:

• Assassination Attempts: Trump was nearly killed in Butler, Pennsylvania, and West Palm Beach, Florida, incidents that intensified his supporters' fervor.
• Elon Musk's Involvement: The billionaire tech mogul shifted his support to Trump following the attacks, contributing significantly to the campaign's funding and strategic initiatives.

Notable Quotes:

“President Trump was almost killed on two separate occasions... The assassination attempt did rally some prominent supporters to Trump's side, most notably Elon Musk.”
— Michael Whitaker [12:22]

---

7. The Aftermath and Future Implications

The episode concludes by reflecting on the broader implications of the 2024 election, highlighting the lasting impact of Trump's victory on American politics and the Democratic Party's future strategies.

Key Points:

• Party Realignment: The Democrats are compelled to rethink their strategies in the wake of their losses and the shifting political dynamics.
• Enduring Influence of Trump: Trump's tenure is expected to have long-term effects on policy, party alignment, and voter expectations.

Notable Quote:

“All the people who, you know, this is not normal. This is not who we are. You know, normalizing Trump is the great sin of this era. I feel like all that is over.”
— Unnamed Contributor [04:04]

---

Conclusion

Morning Wire provides a comprehensive analysis of the 2024 election, underscoring Donald Trump's strategic brilliance and the Democratic Party's faltering response. By dissecting crucial issues such as the economy, immigration, and abortion, the episode offers listeners a thorough understanding of the factors that led to one of the most significant political realignments in recent history.

---

Notable Quotes Summary:

• Georgia Howe [01:02]: “Donald Trump was reelected to the presidency after a Narrow defeat in 2020, becoming the second president to serve two non consecutive terms and the first in more than 100 years.”
• Michael Whitaker [02:14]: “Trump has dominated headlines since he came down that golden escalator in 2015. He's arguably been the main character of American politics for the last decade…”
• Joe Biden [07:51]: “There are 40% fewer people coming across the border illegally. That's better than when he left office...”
• Michael Whitaker [05:38]: “Inflation. Inflation. Inflation.”
• Michael Whitaker [11:11]: “Trump's legal issues were proof that the political establishment was willing to weaponize the government against their opponents.”
• Michael Whitaker [12:22]: “President Trump was almost killed on two separate occasions... The assassination attempt did rally some prominent supporters to Trump's side, most notably Elon Musk.”
• Unnamed Contributor [04:04]: “All the people who, you know, this is not normal. This is not who we are. You know, normalizing Trump is the great sin of this era. I feel like all that is over.”

---

This detailed summary encapsulates the critical discussions and insights from the December 29, 2024, episode of Morning Wire, providing a comprehensive overview for those who missed the live broadcast.

Transcript

[Georgia Howe]

2024 was a landmark year in American politics, with a presidential campaign that saw unprecedented twists and turns and culminated in the most stunning electoral comeback in modern history. In this special end of year edition of Morning Wire, we're going to take a step back to look at the bigger picture as what was once breaking news makes its way into the history books. I'm Georgia Howe with Daily Wire Editor in Chief John Bickley. It's Sunday, December 29th, and this is your MORNING Wire Year Year in review.

[Brandon]

Increased tariffs on our trade partners, tax cuts and regulation changes. Learn why gold is a viable diversification tactic. Now more than ever, birchgold is releasing their ultimate Guide for Gold in the Trump Era with the Forward by Donald Trump Jr. Text Wire to the number 989-898 for your free copy of the Ultimate Guide for Gold in the Trump Era. There's no obligation, only information from Birch Gold.

[Georgia Howe]

Looking back, unprecedented might be the word of the year for 2024. Donald Trump was reelected to the presidency after a Narrow defeat in 2020, becoming the second president to serve two non consecutive terms and the first in more than 100 years. For the first time in American history, a major presidential candidate was convicted on felony charges. The other major candidate, Joe Biden, dropped out of the race less than a month before his party's convention, and the future of that political party is now totally up in the air. Joining us to discuss all of this is Daily Wire researcher and contributor Michael Whitaker. So, Michael, let's start at the beginning. How did we get here?

[Michael Whitaker]

That is an excellent question, certainly one the Democratic Party is going to be asking itself for a long time. But it's worth remembering that not too long ago, the Republicans were the ones in the political doghouse. Back in 2012, after then Governor Romney lost decisively to President Obama, people on both sides of the aisle believe that Democrats had created an unbeatable coalition of working class voters, various minority groups, and college educated whites. A party autopsy suggested that to win over new voters, the Republican Party would need to double down on fiscal conservatism, but moderate its stances on social issues, especially immigration.

[Georgia Howe]

Well, that unbeatable coalition somewhat evaporated, it sounds like.

[Michael Whitaker]

Oh, exactly. Donald Trump came onto the scene in 2015 and flipped that advice on its head. Trump has dominated headlines since he came down that golden escalator in 2015. He's arguably been the main character of American politics for the last decade, but at the time, almost no one in the commentary thought he had a snowball's chance in hell. Donald Trump has been saying that he will run for president as a Republican, which is surprising since I just assumed he was running as a joke. And Donald, as long as I have.

[Brandon]

You here, it's pronounced huge, not huge.

[Michael Whitaker]

And here's another one. It's pronounced I am delusional, not I am running for president.

[Georgia Howe]

And none of those people are laughing anymore.

[Michael Whitaker]

Exactly. Trump's hardline stance on immigration, brash and confrontational style, and break with traditional orthodoxy on trade and foreign policy have drawn widespread criticism from the left and the right, but also have proved incredibly popular with large parts of the American electorate. Trump made significant gains of working class voters and tilted the Republican Party in a more populist direction, breaking the Democrats Midwestern blue wall in the process. His ability to market himself to low propensity voters through popular podcasts, most notably his appearance on Joe Rogan, also won him a lot of support with young voters, especially young men. And Trump made significant gains with black and Hispanic voters as well, who Democratic strategists have counted on as key pillars of their party. While some wrote off his victory in 2016 as a fluke, many prominent voices on the left are now saying that the Democrats need to go back to the drawing board.

[Georgia Howe]

Donald Trump is smarter than me, you and all critics. You know why we know? Because he has the White House, the Senate, the House.

[Michael Whitaker]

Totally agree.

[Georgia Howe]

The popular vote. And we're still saying, well, how was this guard we look like idiots to organize.

[Michael Whitaker]

You're totally right.

[Unnamed Contributor]

All the excuses that have been made for so long to kind of explain away Trump and the support he's built throughout the country are sort of over. Right. Like all the people who, you know, this is not normal. This is not who we are. You know, normalizing Trump is the great sin of this era. I feel like all that is over.

[Georgia Howe]

So Trump's political strategy was unconventional, but it proved to be remarkably successful. Of course, that's only half the story. What went wrong for Democrats?

[Michael Whitaker]

Well, it does take two of the tango. And arguably, the Democrats have been redefined by Trump almost as much as the Republicans have been, if not more so. They've been fiercely opposed to Trump from the beginning and spent much of the last few election cycles attacking him as uniquely unfit to be president. In many ways, President Biden was Donald Trump's opposite. That was arguably his main selling point. Biden spent his entire life in government. He was elected to the US Senate in 1972 when he was only 29 years old, and he served in Congress until Obama tapped him as his running mate in 2008. In 2020, Biden ran as a moderate and initially promised to be a transitional candidate. Biden came into office with a relatively high approval rating. His early days were pitched to the American people as a return to normal. But the economic effects of prolonged COVID lockdowns and record deficit spending quickly caught up with the new commander in chief and would plague him for the rest of his term.

[Georgia Howe]

Now, the economy was obviously a huge issue in this last election. According to exit polling, voters who said it was their top concern overwhelmingly broke for Trump, something like 81%, according to NBC. But at the same time, we were told by the Biden administration that the economy was doing great. So what was their main source of discontent?

[Michael Whitaker]

I have three words. Inflation. Inflation. Inflation. The Trump administration, for context, only saw an average year over year inflation rate of about 1.9%. During the Biden administration, the annual rate of inflation more than doubled to an average of 5.2%. And the purchasing power of the US dollar has declined by nearly 20% since Biden took office. But the economy was only Trump's second strongest issue at the polls. Nearly 90% of voters who said that immigration was their top concern pulled the lever for him. Many of Trump's immigration policies, including the remain in Mexico policy, were reversed by the Biden administration. And Border Patrol estimates that there have been roughly 10 million border crossings since Biden took office. When voters went to the polls, they favored Trump over Harris on immigration by nine points.

[Georgia Howe]

And Vice President Harris was at the top of the ticket, not the sitting president.

[Michael Whitaker]

Yes, that was a very unusual move. President Biden was the oldest man ever elected president, and many people were concerned that he might not be fit to serve a second term. Even during his first term, there was a great deal of speculation about his cognitive abilities. Viral videos circulated on social media of the president drifting off aimlessly and wandering around. But whether it was his age, a weak economy, or just a desire for change, there were rumblings within the Democratic base about a desire for a different candidate. Well before Biden announced he was running for reelection. However, Biden faced little to no opposition. During the 2024 primaries, a few minor candidates, like Minnesota Congressman Dean Phillips, attempted to sound the alarm.

[Dean Phillips]

I love Joe Biden. I want to make that clear. Thank goodness he won. But that's not what the numbers are saying now. There is an exhausted majority in America that wants neither of these candidates. Over 50% of Democrats want a different nominee. And yet I'm the only one out of about 260 some members of Congress only the only one out of 260 that is saying the same thing.

[Michael Whitaker]

Meanwhile, the most serious Democratic challenger, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Eventually defected from the party entirely after the DNC kept him off the ballot and refused to allow for any primary debates. He launched an independent campaign in October of 2023 and would go on to endorse Trump in August of 2024, which was itself a stunning political realignment. After clearing the primaries of no real opposition, support for Biden's campaign cratered in the wake of his first debate with Trump in June.

[Joe Biden]

There are 40% fewer people coming across the border illegally. That's better than when he left office. And I'm going to continue to move until we get the total ban on the total initiative relative to what we're going to do with more Border Patrol and more asylum officers. President Trump, I really don't know what he said at the end of that sentence.

[Michael Whitaker]

I don't think he knows what he said either. Look, the president appeared to be confused and tired, and concerns about his mental acuity were echoed in the mainstream press. After years of largely being ignored, former speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi appears to have led an internal coup within the Democratic Party to force Biden out out of concern that he might lead the party to a down ballot wipeout.

[Georgia Howe]

But Harris herself was also soundly defeated, and Democrats also lost control of both houses. So it wasn't just him.

[Michael Whitaker]

Well, that's true, and maybe Democrats would have done better if they had stuck with Biden instead of swapping him out at the last minute. Or maybe they would have done even worse. It's hard to picture that alternate timeline, but it's possible. Initially, there appears to have been some desire for a contested convention at the dnc, which may have produced a stronger candidate or may have deepened fissures between rival factions ahead of a contentious election. But Biden endorsed Harris shortly after dropping out, and the rest of the party quickly bent the knee. Harris was coordinator that the dnc. Despite never winning a single primary, she ran to the left of Biden in 2020 and dropped out before any ballots were cast. Harris had difficulty defining herself. She couldn't embrace the unpopular incumbent president, but she couldn't repudiate him as an active member of his administration. She also faced criticism for her reluctance to give long form interviews to the press and for the lack of clarification of her stances on many issues, including immigration. Fracking. I could go on. She was also criticized as a DEI hire who was selected on account of her race and sexual, something Biden himself affirmed, albeit in a more positive tone.

[Joe Biden]

To me, the values of diversity, equality, inclusion are literally, and that's not kidding, the core strengths of America. That's why I'm proud to have the most diverse administration in history that taps into the full talents of our country and starts at the top with the vice president.

[Michael Whitaker]

Now that the dust is settled, many Democrats have harshly criticized Harris for a failed campaign, which received $1.5 billion in donations yet still racked up more than $20 million in debt.

[Georgia Howe]

So the top of the Democratic ticket appears to have been unusually weak. They were also underwater on the key issues driving voters to the polls, but they did see some big wins on abortion in particular.

[Michael Whitaker]

Yes, abortion has become a signature issue for many Democrats since the Supreme Court overturned Roe V. Wade in 2022. Democrats overperformed during the 2022 midterms, especially with single women. Polling by Pew Research suggests that nearly two thirds of Americans believe abortion should be legal in most or all cases, and pro abortion initiatives have passed in Republican strongholds like Kansas and Ohio in the aftermath of the Dobbs decision. However, only 14% of voters said abortion was their top issue, even though they broke for Harris 3 to 1, it wasn't nearly as decisive as Democrats might have hoped for. Ironically, putting pro abortion measures on state ballots in battleground states like Arizona and Florida might have hurt Democrats. Trump ran to the center on the issue, saying abortion should be left to the states. By making abortion a separate issue, some voters in these key states were able to vote against restrictions on abortion while also voting for Trump.

[Georgia Howe]

Well, abortion also wasn't the only issue that Democrats leaned on. President Trump faced some significant legal challenges even during the course of his campaign.

[Michael Whitaker]

Oh, absolutely. Four separate felony cases, multiple civil lawsuits, and an effort by several states to kick him off the ballot just to rattle off the greatest hits. But instead of acting as a decisive issue, the case has turned out to be a political Rorschach test of sorts. Trump's opponents argued that he was guilty of the array of charges brought against him falsifying business records, sexual assault, inciting an insurrection and that those charges ought to have been legally and morally disqualifying. Trump's supporters, on the other hand, believed that the cases against Trump were politically motivated. They pointed to the novel legal reasoning underlying many of the prosecutors arguments, past anti Trump statements made by the prosecutors and the judges, and similar actions by other politicians that went without any kind of legal penalty. Among other things, they cited past attempts by Democrats to challenge election results and biden's own alleged mishandling of classified documents while he was Vice president. Biden was also investigated by the feds, but his case was ultimately dropped. For Democrats, the narrative that Trump was a hilarious threat to the republic was a central pillar of their campaign. While for Republicans, Trump's legal issues were proof that the political establishment was willing to weaponize the government against their opponents. That turned Trump into something of a martyr and somehow an even more polarizing figure than he was in past cycles.

[Georgia Howe]

Now, do you think that sort of heated rhetoric played into the attempts on the president's life?

[Michael Whitaker]

Oh, yeah, that did happen. It says something about the last year that two near death experiences fell out of the news cycle so quickly. But President Trump was almost killed on two separate occasions. Once in Butler, Pennsylvania, when a gunman nicked him in the air, killed one of his supporters, and hospitalized two others. And once in West Palm Beach, Florida, where the would be killer was apprehended outside one of the president's golf courses. The assassination attempt did rally some prominent supporters to Trump's side, most notably Elon Musk, who became a vocal donor and fundraiser for the Trump campaign and is now set to play a prominent role in cutting the federal budget.

[Georgia Howe]

Well, and we're already seeing the impact of that alliance now. And remarkable to think that Elon's only been at Trump's side for just a few months now.

[Michael Whitaker]

Yeah, it wasn't that long ago that Elon was a donor for Democrats. Right, but that's all ancient history now. History is just old news.

[Georgia Howe]

All right, well, Michael, thank you so much for compiling that for us.

[Michael Whitaker]

Always a pleasure.

[Georgia Howe]

That was Daily Wire researcher Michael Whitaker, and this has been a Sunday edition of Morning Wire.

[Brandon]

Hey, guys, Producer Brandon here. Balance of Nature is my go to source for dietary supplements. Balance of Nature takes fruits and vegetables. They freeze, dry them, then they turn them into a powder, then put them into a capsule. The capsules are completely void of additives, fillers, extracts, synthetics, pesticides, or added sugar. The only thing in Balance of Nature fruit and veggie capsules are fruits and veggies. Head over to balanceofnature.com and use promo code WIRE for 35% off your first order as a preferred customer. Plus, get a free bottle of fiber and spice. That's balanceofnature. Com promo code Wire.