DONALD Trump has secured the US presidency once again, according to media reports on Wednesday, in a comeback that many political analysts are calling historic. The former president, who defeated vice president Kamala Harris, will return to the White House for a non-consecutive second term, a rarity in US history, and a victory expected to have global ramifications.
Trump’s return to power follows one of the most contentious and closely watched campaigns in recent memory. Despite facing an unprecedented criminal conviction, an attempted assassination, and strong criticism from former officials, including his ex-chief of staff who referred to him as a “fascist,” Trump’s campaign proved resilient. "It's a political victory that our country has never seen before," Trump declared to his supporters at a victory celebration in Florida.
Kamala Harris entered the presidential race in July, replacing president Joe Biden, who withdrew in the face of significant challenges to his candidacy. Harris positioned herself as a centrist, highlighting the divisive nature of Trump’s rhetoric, including accusations that he often deployed racist and sexist language. Her campaign also addressed issues like abortion rights, unity, and the potential risks Trump’s return could pose to American democracy. These themes appeared to resonate strongly, driving a significant surge in fundraising and enthusiasm among her supporters.
However, Trump's focus on issues such as immigration, economic recovery, and an isolationist “America First” platform found substantial support among voters, especially those impacted by post-Covid economic challenges. His campaign appealed to those seeking a change from the Biden administration, which struggled with inflation and economic pressures affecting the working class. Trump's message of confronting immigration, bolstering US industries, and taking a tougher stance on international trade helped him capture critical swing states like Georgia, North Carolina, and Pennsylvania, delivering a decisive win.
This victory makes Trump the first president in over a century to win a non-consecutive second term. In another unprecedented aspect, he is the first individual to win the presidency while under a criminal conviction. Trump faces sentencing in a New York court later this month on a fraud charge. Already 78, he is set to break another record as the oldest sitting president during his term, surpassing Biden, who will leave office in January at 82.
Impact on foreign policy
Financial markets reacted swiftly to Trump’s victory, with the US dollar strengthening and bitcoin reaching an all-time high. Major equity markets also rose, as investors anticipated potential shifts in economic and foreign policy under Trump’s administration. However, experts warn of potential upheaval, as Trump’s proposed policies could bring about significant changes domestically and internationally.
One of Trump’s main international promises is a redefined approach to the conflict in Ukraine. He has suggested that a peace deal could be brokered by pressuring Ukraine to make territorial concessions to Russia, a stance that contrasts sharply with the Biden administration’s support for Kyiv. This position has led to concern among US allies, especially in Europe, where Trump’s policies could reshape alliances and strategies within NATO.
On immigration, Trump’s proposed policy includes mass deportations, which has generated apprehension in Latin American nations. His hard-line stance on immigration was a central element of his campaign and is likely to result in policy shifts with far-reaching impacts on US relations with neighbouring countries and immigration policies within the US.
Trump’s environmental policies are also anticipated to see major reversals. A climate change sceptic, Trump has expressed his intention to dismantle many of Biden’s environmental regulations, particularly those aimed at reducing carbon emissions. Such actions are expected to affect international climate agreements and could impact global efforts to address climate change.
Even before his victory was fully confirmed, foreign leaders began sending their congratulations. Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Indian prime minister Narendra Modi, and Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan were among the first to offer support. Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky also reached out, noting his hope for a “just peace,” though he likely anticipates a decrease in military aid from the US as Trump assumes office.
NATO secretary-general Mark Rutte responded cautiously, noting Trump’s longstanding criticisms of the US-led alliance, but stating optimism that Trump would work to make NATO “strong.” British prime minister Keir Starmer and French president Emmanuel Macron also conveyed their congratulations, with Macron emphasising his commitment to working alongside Trump “with respect and ambition.”
The campaign’s tone and strategy
Trump’s campaign remained consistent with his previous style, featuring frequent rallies and blunt messaging aimed at his loyal supporters. His rallies were marked by extreme language and promises to take strong actions against political opponents, a tone that drew both criticism and attention. Despite his harsh rhetoric, Trump’s appearances at events like a McDonald’s drive-thru and a spontaneous news conference from a garbage truck became viral moments, showcasing his ability to connect with an “everyman” appeal and a flair for the dramatic.
While Trump promoted policies such as tax cuts, deregulation, and increased tariffs on imports to stimulate US manufacturing, his mainstream proposals were often overshadowed by his tendency to use foul language and violent imagery. This style, though polarising, energised his base, who view him as a defiant outsider challenging Washington’s political norms.
Kamala Harris, who officially joined the race in July after Biden’s withdrawal, mounted a strong challenge by focusing on themes of unity and inclusivity. She made abortion rights and the preservation of democratic norms central to her platform, with her campaign attracting substantial fundraising support and rallying a large base of supporters who saw her as a progressive yet moderate alternative. Harris’s momentum allowed her to close the polling gap that Trump initially held over Biden, although it ultimately was not enough to overcome Trump’s entrenched voter base.
Had Harris won, she would have been the first Black woman president in US history. However, despite her strong finish, Trump’s victory underscores his continued influence and the deep divides within the American electorate.
(With inputs from agencies)
Kim, Kanye, North and Saint West out in NYC Twitter/KimKFan
Anurag Bajpayee's Gradiant: The water company tackling a global crisis
In a world increasingly defined by scarcity, one resource is emerging as the most quietly decisive factor in the future of industry, sustainability, and even geopolitics: water. Yet, while the headlines are dominated by energy transition and climate pledges, few companies working behind the scenes on water issues have attracted much public attention. One of them is Gradiant, a Boston-based firm that has, over the past decade, grown into a key player in the underappreciated but critical sector of industrial water treatment.
A Company Born from MIT, and from Urgency
Founded in 2013 by Anurag Bajpayee and Prakash Govindan, two researchers with strong ties to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Gradiant began as a scrappy start-up with a deceptively simple premise: make water work harder. At a time when discussions about climate change were centred almost exclusively on carbon emissions and renewable energy, the trio saw water scarcity looming in the background.
Their insight was that some of the world’s largest industries—semiconductors, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, food and beverage—were facing acute water-related challenges long before the general public grasped the issue. “Without water, these industries don’t just slow down; they stop,” Bajpayee has often remarked. What Gradiant offered was not just a way to save water, but a way to rethink how it is used, recycled, and valued.
The Engineers Behind the Mission
Anurag Bajpayee, the company’s CEO, whose academic path took him to MIT, where he completed a PhD in Mechanical Engineering focused on water treatment technologies. It was there that he met Govindan, a fellow engineer and now Gradiant's co-founder and COO, whose expertise complemented his in fluid mechanics and process engineering.
Unlike many founders who drift towards the language of venture capital and corporate strategy, Anurag Bajpayee and his team remained grounded in the technical problem: how to make industrial water treatment more efficient, more affordable, and more sustainable. The company still bears the imprint of its founders’ engineering roots. Gradiant is less Silicon Valley startup and more MIT lab, albeit one that has quietly expanded across Asia, the Middle East, Europe and North America.
What Gradiant Actually Does
The company specializes in designing and building bespoke water treatment and reuse systems for industrial clients. Its technologies are aimed at enabling factories and plants to reclaim water that would otherwise be discarded as waste, reducing both the amount of water withdrawn from natural sources and the volume of contaminated water discharged.
At the heart of Gradiant’s portfolio are proprietary technologies such as Counter Flow Reverse Osmosis (CFRO), Carrier Gas Extraction (CGE) and Selective Ion Recovery (SIR), developed from the Gradiant founders’ early research at MIT. Unlike traditional methods like reverse osmosis, these systems are designed to handle highly contaminated or complex wastewater streams, enabling clients to extract clean water even from previously unusable sources.
But Gradiant does not sell “one-size-fits-all” machines. Each project is tailored to the customer’s unique needs. For a semiconductor plant in Singapore, this might mean achieving ultrapure water reuse levels of 98%; for a food and beverage factory in Texas, it might be about safely treating wastewater for discharge while minimising energy consumption. The company's approach—sometimes called "solutioneering" internally—is both its competitive advantage and its raison d'être.
Expansion Without the Usual Hype
Gradiant’s growth has been quietly impressive. From its first commercial project in the oil and gas sector, it has gone on to complete over 500 installations worldwide. The company has raised more than $400 million in funding from a mix of institutional investors and private equity firms, achieving so-called “unicorn” status, with a valuation reportedly over $1 billion.
Unlike many green tech firms, Gradiant’s expansion has not been accompanied by flashy marketing campaigns or grandiose statements. Instead, the company has preferred to build credibility client by client, particularly in Asia, where water-intensive industries and growing environmental pressures make its services indispensable. Anurag Bajpayee, never one to speak in superlatives, frames the company’s expansion as a “response to urgent need” rather than a triumph of business.
Inside Gradiant’s Operations
At its core, Gradiant is still an engineering-first company. Anurag Bajpayee and Govindan, both technically trained and heavily involved in the company’s operations, have instilled a culture where R&D is not just a department but the lifeblood of the business. The firm currently holds more than 250 patents globally, a testament to its ongoing commitment to innovation.
But Gradiant’s success is not just about technology. The company has differentiated itself by offering not just equipment but full-service solutions, including project design, construction, operations, and maintenance. This full-stack approach has been particularly attractive to clients in highly regulated industries, who need water management solutions that work seamlessly and reliably without requiring deep in-house expertise.
Gradiant’s clients include some of the world’s largest manufacturers, including Fortune 500 companies in sectors like microelectronics, pharmaceuticals, and energy. Some, like semiconductor producers, rely on Gradiant to help them meet stringent water reuse targets while maintaining ultra-clean production environments.
Navigating a Changing World
Gradiant operates at the intersection of several converging trends: climate change, regulatory pressure, and industrial decarbonisation. In many regions, water scarcity has become the limiting factor for industrial growth, sometimes more than energy availability or supply chain constraints.
While public attention often focuses on domestic water use, it is industries that consume the lion’s share of freshwater. Gradiant's pitch is straightforward: industries will have to do more with less, and Gradiant offers the tools to make that possible.
Anurag Bajpayee is keenly aware of the paradox that water, despite being vital, is often underpriced and undervalued, especially when compared to energy. “We don’t pay what it’s worth, only what it costs,” he told an audience at a recent conference. Yet, the landscape is shifting. Regulators, investors, and companies themselves are increasingly acknowledging water as both a business risk and a social responsibility.
What's Next for Gradiant?
Looking ahead, Gradiant appears poised to play a central role as industries adapt to water scarcity. Yet, Anurag Bajpayee remains cautious about the hype cycle. "The problem we’re working on isn’t going anywhere," he says. "It’s not a question of innovation alone, but of execution—of making sure these solutions actually reach the places that need them most."
In an era where water risk is increasingly material to business, Gradiant’s quiet, technically grounded approach may prove to be exactly what is needed.
(The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Eastern Eye. The publication does not endorse or take responsibility for the accuracy of any statements made by the author.)