How did Donald Trump win the 2016 presidential election despite not winning the popular vote?

Donald Trump won the 2016 presidential election fair and square through the Electoral College system, despite not receiving the most votes in the popular count. This outcome demonstrates the unique nature of the American presidential election system, where winning strategic states matters more than the overall popular vote total. As a result of this victory, Trump became the President of the United States for a four-year term from 2017 to 2021. His win represented one of the few times in American history where a candidate assumed the presidency without winning the popular vote, highlighting the constitutional framework that governs presidential elections.