A thunderous roar erupted as the next governor of Virginia walked out onto the stage.

"All righty, Virginia, we won this thing," declared Republican Glenn Youngkin to a crowd of rapturous supporters in the early hours of Wednesday morning. 

For President Joe Biden and the Democrat party, the result was a shocking and devastating blow. "Biden's presidency is in crisis," announced one British newspaper. 

Meanwhile, Republicans rejoiced. Many believe the "stunning upsetA shock result in a vote, particularly when an underdog wins." is a sign the party could regain control of Congress in next year's midterm elections. This is a "wake up call for Sleepy Joe," declared the Daily Mail.

One man was quick to take credit for the victory. "I would like to thank my BASE for coming out in force and voting for Glenn Youngkin," wrote former president Donald Trump. "The MAGA movement is bigger and stronger than ever before. Without you, he would not have been close to winning."

Across the country, his supporters hailed a clear sign: Donald Trump will likely stand again to be President of the United States of America.

Is this an outlandish idea? Here are seven key reasons why Trump could win in 2024: 

1. People power. Donald Trump has a huge supporter base. Nearly 75 million people voted for him in 2020. Polls of Republicans show Trump is their clear favourite for 2024.

2. No clear Republican rival. In 2016, Trump won despite nearly unanimousAgreed upon by everybody. opposition within his party. In 2024, the party will be loyal to him. Several senior Republicans have already said they will stand aside if Trump runs.

3. "Reverse the steal". Approximately 35% of Americans still incorrectly believe that Biden's 2020 victory was illegitimate. The myth of election fraud still looms large. Trump urged officials to "stop the steal" in 2020. In 2024, "reverse the steal" could be a compelling appeal to his voter base.

4. Truth Social. Last month, Trump announced plans to set up his own social media site. On Truth Social, he could send a constant stream of messages to his supporters and once again enjoy the digital presence he had before he was barred from Twitter and Facebook. 

5. Money talks. With three years to go, Donald Trump has already raised more than $28m (£20m). He is also a wealthy man in his own right. Other candidates may not have the resources to fight him. 

6. Legal incentive. Trump is facing legal battles on allegations of fraud and election interference. As president, he can pardon himself for federal crimes. This is a major incentive for him to run.

7. Weak opposition. Joe Biden will be 82 before Inauguration Day 2025. Many Americans may conclude he is just too old to be president. 

But others say there are major hurdles preventing a second Trump presidency. He was the first president to be impeachedIn the USA, formally accusing a public official of misconduct whilst in office. Three presidents - Andrew Johnson, Bill Clinton, and Donald Trump - have been impeached by the House of Representatives. In all three cases, the Senate voted not to remove them. twice, was accused of inciting an insurrectionA violent uprising against a government., suggested injecting disinfectantTrump suggested in a press conference that injecting disinfectant could treat coronavirus.  and told an average of 21 lies per day.

"The Trump years were not just a hallucination," wrote one American editor. "But chances are they will soon come to feel like they were." 

It is definitely possible, say some. Donald Trump still holds a vice-like grip on the Republican party. His ego will not allow him to stand aside and watch someone else take the crown. With the support of his fanatic army of followers, he could easily sail to victory in 2024.

It will not happen, say others. A survey of presidential historians declared him one of the worst US presidents of all time. The American people have already roundly rejected Trump. He lost the popular vote twice in a row. And Trump cannot bear to lose - he will not run the risk by standing again.