2016 presidential election news
The 2016 United States presidential election was a highly contested and unprecedented election that saw Donald Trump, a businessman and reality TV star, defeat Hillary Clinton, a former First Lady, Senator, and Secretary of State, to become the 45th President of the United States. Here are some key news stories and events from the 2016 presidential election:
Primary Elections
- The Republican primary election season was marked by a crowded field of candidates, including Trump, Ted Cruz, Marco Rubio, John Kasich, and Jeb Bush.
- Trump's unconventional campaign style and populist rhetoric resonated with many voters, and he quickly rose to the top of the polls.
- On the Democratic side, Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders engaged in a heated primary battle, with Sanders ultimately losing to Clinton.
General Election
- The general election campaign was marked by controversy and scandal, including the release of a video showing Trump making lewd comments about women, and the FBI's investigation into Clinton's use of a private email server.
- Trump's campaign was also marked by divisive rhetoric and attacks on his opponents, including Clinton and the media.
- Clinton's campaign was criticized for its handling of the email scandal and for being perceived as out of touch with working-class voters.
Election Day
- On November 8, 2016, Trump won the presidential election, defeating Clinton in the Electoral College by a margin of 304 to 227.
- Trump won 30 states, including several key battleground states such as Florida, Ohio, and Pennsylvania.
- Clinton won 20 states, including her home state of New York and several states in the Northeast and West Coast.
Post-Election
- Trump's victory was met with widespread protests and demonstrations across the country, with many people expressing concerns about his divisive rhetoric and policies.
- Trump's transition to the presidency was marked by controversy, including the appointment of several cabinet members who had been criticized for their views on issues such as climate change and LGBTQ rights.
- Clinton conceded the election and congratulated Trump on his victory, but many Democrats continued to question the legitimacy of the election and the role of Russian interference in the outcome.
Russian Interference
- In the months following the election, it was revealed that Russia had engaged in a widespread campaign to interfere in the election, including hacking into the email accounts of the Democratic National Committee and releasing sensitive information to damage Clinton's campaign.
- The Trump campaign had also been in contact with Russian officials during the election, and some of Trump's associates had been accused of colluding with Russia to influence the outcome of the election.
Investigations
- The FBI launched an investigation into Russian interference in the election, and several Trump associates were charged with crimes related to the investigation.
- The investigation was led by Special Counsel Robert Mueller, who was appointed by the Department of Justice in May 2017.
- The investigation concluded in March 2019, with Mueller's report finding that there was no evidence of collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia, but that the Trump campaign had welcomed Russian interference in the election.
Overall, the 2016 presidential election was a highly contested and unprecedented election that saw Donald Trump defeat Hillary Clinton to become the 45th President of the United States. The election was marked by controversy and scandal, and its aftermath has continued to be the subject of intense political debate and investigation.