Yes, you have read it many times over – Donald Trump is back as the US President. Be it print, electronic, social media or whatever, the headlines screamed and the news is all over the place – widely and extensively documented. Trump’s comeback, by any yardstick, is dramatic, making it to the White House with a clear and decisive majority. His non-consecutive term, set to begin on the Inauguration Day on January 20, 2025, is what makes his win the talking point for many.
Let’s come straight to the point and peel off a few more layers of this ground-breaking event that’s set to rewrite the script for many stakeholders, including India. What worked, what didn’t for both parties? What proved to be the trump card for the President-elect? And for Democrat Kamala Harris, what could have really made all the difference?
For someone who is tracking the fortunes of the US elections, in hindsight, it’s easy to slice and dice, when the result is clear. Still, it makes more sense to have an informed perspective -- on what took the game away from Democrats and how Republicans had the last laugh.
First things first. Trump is back -- bigger and stronger. What sealed it for him is the POLITICAL REALIGNMENT. That came as the proverbial ‘silver bullet’ for him. His tough stand on immigration and Make in America proved to be a top draw with voters. This made him look more anti-plutocrat and less elitist.
Second, Trump’s promise of tax cuts and higher import tariffs to plug the trade deficit struck a chord with the voters. Which explains why he won the popular vote too this time, apart from the presidency. In earlier instances of the last two presidential elections, there have been accusations of “stealing” the presidency without actually winning the popular mandate. At least on this count, Trump breathes easy and can show off his impressive numbers.
What’s more, Republicans got back the control of the Senate and are set to retain their majority in the House of Representatives. Which effectively means, going forward, Trump will face fewer speedbumps to implement his policies on the ground and wield greater clout in running the show.
Let’s now switch sides. Despite having a strong financial backing, Harris fell short of the crease. The economy under President Joe Biden is widely seen as the spoilsport. But that’s only the tip of the iceberg, there are other elements which really didn’t add up for the Democrat leader.
1. FOREIGN POLICY. Many felt the wars in Gaza and Ukraine could have been handled better. Two major constituencies -- college students and Muslim Americans -- felt mostly let down. Take for instance, Dearborn, an Arab American stronghold, which made its displeasure known. And this city is in Michigan, a key battleground state, that weighed on the electoral fortunes for Harris.
2. MEDIA targeted Trump and Co in a big way. That could have backfired and helped Trump play the victim card, which resonated big with the electorate. The talk of legal cases and the two impeachments, for example.
3. Also, Harris’ Left liberal image, which didn’t quite match up with the heavy dose of star power (Beyonce, Tylor Swift, just to name a few) during her campaign. It made her appear all the more elitist.
The list of factors outlined above is by no means exhaustive. But it does serve as a guide that gives a bird’s-eye view on the variables at play that shaped the course of the US politics.
The bottomline: The US’ search for a woman President continues…
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