Elections in the USA 2024: This is how President-elect Donald Trump succeeded in tearing down the ‘blue wall’

As Donald Trump re-enters the White House as president-elect after winning key battleground states including Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, experts have pointed to his concerted efforts to dismantle the so-called “Blue Wall,” a term that refers to a group states that have historically voted for Democratic presidential candidates as the primary reason for his unprecedented victory.
The ‘Blue Wall’ includes key battleground states such as Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin, which were pivotal in both the 2016 and 2020 elections.
Trump’s approach this time utilized both traditional campaign tactics and innovative strategies to mobilize voters and secure victories in these critical areas.

The Blue Wall

The Blue Wall includes states that consistently supported Democratic candidates from 1992 to 2012. However, that trend began to shift in 2016, when Trump successfully flipped three of those states—Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Wisconsin—by ​​appealing to disillusioned working-class voters over the Democratic Party.
In 2020, Joe Biden managed to regain these states, but they remained very competitive until the 2024 election.
Trump’s campaign recognized that these states were critical to any path to victory. Thus, his strategy focused on energizing his base while reaching out to undecided and infrequent voters who may have felt ignored by mainstream politics.

Mobilization of core support

One of the key elements of Trump’s strategy was to energize his core demographic rather than significantly expand his voter base. This involved focusing on issues that resonated with his supporters, such as immigration, economic concerns and national security.
Trump’s messages often underscored a narrative of America under siege by external threats, particularly regarding immigration.
He framed the Biden administration’s policies as harmful to American workers and security, arguing that uncontrolled immigration led to increased crime and job losses for “real Americans.”
This rhetoric played well in areas where economic anxiety was high and helped rally support from working-class voters who felt left behind by globalization and technological change.

Innovative campaign tactics

Trump’s campaign also used innovative tactics that departed from traditional methods.
For example, he focused heavily on digital outreach and social media engagement, aided by significant support from influential figures such as Elon Musk. This allowed Trump to amplify his messages directly to millions of followers without relying solely on conventional media channels.
In addition, Trump’s ground game included efforts to mobilize irregular voters—those who typically do not participate in elections—by encouraging them to register and vote. His campaign trained supporters to monitor polling places and disseminated information about voting procedures, helping to build a sense of community among his base.

Targeting key issues

Exit polls indicated that voters in battleground states were primarily concerned about democracy, the economy and immigration.
Trump’s campaign effectively exploited these concerns by portraying Kamala Harris as a threat to democratic values ​​while presenting himself as a candidate who could restore order and prosperity.
In particular, Trump exploited economic fears exacerbated by inflation and job insecurity during the Biden administration.
He promised to revive American manufacturing and bring jobs back from overseas, appealing directly to voters in states like Michigan and Pennsylvania where manufacturing has historically been a cornerstone of the economy.

Other swing modes

Swing states played a crucial role in Trump’s strategy. In addition to focusing on Blue Wall informsTrump also led vigorously in other battlegrounds such as North Carolina and Georgia. His approach involved making several campaign stops in these regions leading up to Election Day, reinforcing his commitment to winning back voters who had previously supported him.
By concentrating resources on swing states where he could make significant gains, Trump aimed to repeat his success in 2016 while adapting his message to contemporary concerns. This included addressing issues like crime and public safety — issues that resonate deeply with suburban voters who may have shifted away from him in the previous election cycle.