“Kamala Harris took sharp aim at Donald J. Trump, portraying him as someone disconnected from American values. At her rally on the Ellipse last week, she stated, ‘This is not who we are’.

Now, it seems, the whole world knows: this may be exactly who we are—or at least who most of us are.

The belief that Mr. Trump, seen as an exception soon to be forgotten, was shattered on Tuesday night. A strong red wave swept through battleground states, challenging the long-held views of America held by leaders of both parties.

The political establishment can no longer treat Mr. Trump as a temporary break in progress or a fluke who entered the White House with an unusual Electoral College victory eight years ago. With this remarkable comeback win, Mr. Trump has proven himself as a powerful leader, poised to reshape the United States under his guidance.

People were dissatisfied with the country’s new direction and frustrated with the elites. Many members of both parties recognized this but took no action. Mr. Trump’s campaign capitalized on this anger, turning it to his advantage, especially by opposing the election of the first woman president.

Here comes Trump’s Trump card, shifting the entire political game in a single move. While millions of voters were prepared to cast their ballots against him, Mr. Trump directly tapped into the sentiments of many others who felt that the country they had known for years was slipping away, falling into the wrong hands, and threatened culturally, economically, and demographically.

To counter this pivotal moment, voters endorsed the return of an audacious figure who left office three years ago. Mr. Trump, a 78-year-old political champion, is prepared to shatter norms and take bold action, regardless of whether it challenges longstanding traditions. Supporters were ready to overlook any concerns about their chosen leader.

For the first time in history, Americans have elected a president with a criminal record. The people of America chose to entrust power to Mr. Trump, who previously attempted to interfere with the past election, proposed the termination of the Constitution to reclaim his office, and expressed a desire for dictatorial power from Day 1. He is now fully committed to pursuing retribution against his opponents.

This election affirmed his argument that Washington has become disconnected from everyday Americans, who are increasingly fatigued by foreign conflicts, surging immigration, and overbearing political correctness.

Timothy Naftali, a presidential historian at Columbia University, remarked, ‘The real America becomes Trump’s America,’ emphasizing the shift in the nation’s identity under his influence.

Melody C. Barnes, executive director of the Karsh Institute of Democracy at the University of Virginia and a former adviser to President Barack Obama, remarked, ‘Americans who feel sidelined in their own culture for far too long have placed their faith in a leader who amplifies their voice and restores their sense of significance. These sentiments resonate directly with the era of Mr. Trump’s presidency.

“Instead of dismissing Mr. Trump’s provocative, polarizing rhetoric on issues of race, gender, religion, national origin, and transgender identity, many Americans found his blunt candor invigorating. They were not offended by his outlandish conspiracy theories; rather, they perceived him as unapologetically genuine. Rather than condemning him as a convicted felon and fraudster, many viewed him as a formidable voice challenging the entrenched political establishment.

Peter H. Wehner, a former strategic adviser and outspoken critic of Mr. Trump, stated that this election acted as a ‘CAT scan’ of the American populace. Though difficult to accept, it revealed a disconcerting alignment with a man who epitomizes boundless corruption. He further emphasized, ‘Donald Trump is no longer an outlier; he has become the new norm’.

The capabilities of a true warrior cannot be concealed. Mr. Trump exemplifies this warrior spirit, as he managed to recover from numerous legal and political challenges over the past four years. Many other politicians would have seen their careers destroyed by these obstacles, but this bold individual stands apart. This demonstrates his exceptional strength and unyielding determination. He remains resolute and undefeated, at least for now.

The monumental victory of Mr. Trump serves as a direct repudiation of the failures of President Biden and Vice President Harris. It clearly reflects widespread disapproval of an administration that implemented expansive relief, social, and climate initiatives but faltered under the weight of soaring inflation and unchecked illegal immigration, both of which were inadequately addressed until it was too late.

High-ranking leaders like President Biden and Vice President Harris fell short of their promises to unify the nation, a commitment they made in the last election. Only Mr. Trump, they argue, can truly bridge these divides. They struggled to address the deep-seated frustration fueling Trump’s supporters and to navigate the cultural conflicts he continues to ignite.

Ms. Harris took the reins from Mr. Biden, advancing an optimistic, forward-focused vision and striving to invigorate Democrats with promises of a brighter future. Despite these efforts, however, she could not fully secure the support of undecided voters, though her commitment was evident.

After exploring multiple strategies to counter Mr. Trump, Vice President Kamala Harris ultimately returned to Biden’s approach, emphasizing the perceived dangers posed by Trump and labeling him a burgeoning force of authoritarianism. Despite these efforts to alert Americans to potential threats to democratic values, this tactic, too, fell short of swaying public opinion.

Former Representative Carlos Curbelo, a Republican from Florida, remarked, ‘The coalition that elected Mr. Biden and Ms. Harris hoped they would unite the country, yet they fell short. This failure only intensified public disillusionment with American politics, empowering Trump’s base to achieve another narrow victory despite recent setbacks.’ This outcome, he suggests, stemmed partly from misleading assurances made by political elites.

Ms. Harris made a strong effort to turn this political season in her favor. In her final campaign days, she emphasized unity, rallying Americans under her call of ‘we are all in this together.’ Yet, her message fell far short when contrasted with Mr. Trump’s unyielding chant to ‘fight, fight, fight.’ This election highlights the deep fragmentation of the nation, revealing just how sharply divided Americans have become, where they are so polarized that mutual understanding seems almost unattainable.

Mr. Trump’s resurgence in political prominence has spotlighted a frequently underappreciated facet of America’s 248-year-old democratic framework.

Despite America’s steadfast dedication to its Constitution, there have been times when the public yearned for a powerful leader with sweeping authority, particularly during times of war or national crises. Mr. Trump portrays himself as precisely this figure of strong authority in today’s polarized era.

Ruth Ben-Ghiat, a historian and author of Strongmen: Mussolini to the Present, remarked that ‘Mr. Trump is attempting to indoctrinate Americans through his campaign to view American democracy as a faltering system.’ By openly admiring authoritarian leaders like Russia’s Vladimir Putin and China’s Xi Jinping, she added, ‘he is subtly preparing Americans to accept a shift towards autocracy.

Ms. Ben-Ghiat highlighted some of the inflammatory language Mr. Trump has adopted during his campaign, drawing from Nazi and Soviet propaganda. His phrases include labeling opponents as ‘vermin’ and describing immigrants as ‘poisoning the blood of our country.’ She remarked that, should Trump prevail, it would symbolize the triumph of his vision for America — one in which violence becomes a means of resolving political conflict.

Some caution that Mr. Trump may act on his most extreme threats without delay. Marc Short, former chief of staff to Vice President Mike Pence, who might have reason for concern given Mr. Trump’s resentment toward both him and Pence, described Mr. Trump was unfazed by any anticipated wave of retaliation.

Mr. Short said, “I don’t think that’s real. It seems more like a performance than any actual revenge.