Live Updates: Donald Trump pulls ahead, inches closer to winning presidency

Former US President Donald Trump is leading in the initial results of the 2024 presidential election, moving closer to winning the race for the White House.

Trump has secured victories in the swing states of North Carolina and Georgia, and he currently holds a lead over Vice President Kamala Harris in Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Michigan, Nevada and Arizona. According to the New York Times count, Trump is nearing the 270 electoral votes needed to win, with 247 electoral votes compared to Harris's 214.

At 78, Trump would become the second US president to lose a re-election bid and later win a second term. The first was Grover Cleveland, who lost his re-election bid in 1888 but won again in 1892, making him both the 22nd and 24th president of the United States.

Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump speaks during a press conference at Trump National Golf Club Los Angeles on Sept. 13, 2024, in Rancho Palos Verdes, California. (Mario Tama/Getty Images)

Nearly 80 million Americans — over a third of eligible voters — have already cast early ballots, reflecting high engagement in this election cycle. 

The results are expected to impact US foreign policy on critical issues, particularly in the Middle East, where ongoing conflicts involve Israel, Gaza, Lebanon and Iran. 

Seven battleground states — Michigan, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Nevada, Georgia, Arizona, and North Carolina — will decide the race to 270 electoral college votes. Michigan, seen as part of the “Blue Wall,” has become a focal point, with many Arab American voters there expressing dissatisfaction with both candidates. 

As polls remain open until midnight and 1:00 a.m. EST Wednesday in Hawaii and Alaska, respectively, a close race could delay the results into tomorrow.