The 2016 U.S. presidential race has entered a new stage with Donald Trump, a real estate tycoon, emerging as the Republican Party's presumptive presidential nominee. Despite criticism of his lack of experience in public office and controversial remarks, as well as persistent efforts by the party establishment to dislodge him, Trump won one primary election after another, making it certain that he will win the 1,237 delegates needed for the GOP nomination at its July convention in Cleveland.
On the Democratic Party side, Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders has put up a good fight against former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who the U.S. media predict will eventually clinch the nomination at the July party convention in Philadelphia.
Few predicted Trump's victory when 12 presidential hopefuls began their campaigns for the GOP nomination in the Iowa caucus on Feb. 1. In the ensuing four months, Trump defeated his rivals one by one and in the process collecting more than 10 million votes — among the highest number ever won by a Republican presidential candidate. He fought his campaign with a simple platform: "America first" and "Make America great again."