The Morning After
Understanding America’s Political Landscape: Why Trump’s Appeal Endures
The morning after the American elections, the world has woken up much the same as any other morning, despite the hysteria and fear-mongering of the preceding months.
Arguably the most loathed and feared man in recent history has become the 47th president, and the sky hasn’t fallen. Moreover, he has returned to office for a second time—a feat achieved only once before—in a sweeping, landslide victory.
How is that possible?
As I wrote in an earlier article, I am neither an expert on American politics nor do I have more than a marginal interest in it. However, like everyone else, I read, listen, and observe, at least some of the time—not to mention that I’ve lived across various parts of the world. That, together with the ability to understand languages other than English and thus follow news channels outside the Anglosphere, has given me a somewhat decent overview of the situation from which I have distilled the reasons that, in my view, explain Mr Trump’s sweeping victory.
These, as Konstantin Kisin helpfully summarised it, are:
1. Americans love their country—truly, madly, passionately. None of that restrained, understated pride of Europeans. On the contrary, Americans are proud of their country and passionate about making it the best in the world.
2. America is a nation of people who conquered a continent; they admire strength and love winning. Anyone who appeals to this has a huge advantage. And who better to represent strength, resilience, and tenacity than a man who has won despite being impeached for a second time, two weeks before leaving office in 2021; pursued by a state attorney general, two local prosecutors, and a federal special prosecutor; indicted 91 times in three different criminal courts; found liable in two civil courts; convicted of 34 felonies; had his home raided by federal agents; subjected to relentless, limitless hostile press coverage unlike any other—and ultimately, shot at. Anyone else?
3. Unlike many, including my fellow Europeans, Americans have not—and are not likely to—accept what has become known as “managed decline,” including “net zero.” Americans believe in producing their own energy and making it as affordable as possible because they know their prosperity depends on it.
4. Americans are very concerned about the cost of living. The prices of everyday items have skyrocketed, and they are well aware that the reality of what they are paying is very different from what official statistics say about inflation.
5. Americans do not believe in socialism. Not. At. All. They believe in meritocracy and in a country where anyone with talent and drive can make it and become rich—considered by many Americans to be the ultimate measure of success. I dare say this is true for many others in contemporary society as well, but we’re talking about Americans right now. They are also not shy about shouting their love and celebration of success from the rooftops.
6. Immigrants built America, and Americans know that. This is why they are pro-immigration. Yes, you read that correctly. Some even say America is the most pro-immigration country in the world. Americans love nothing more than an immigrant success story! Not entirely out of the goodness of their hearts, because they appreciate talented, well-trained doctors, engineers, scientists, and so on from poorer countries coming to help build America—but they love it all the same. This is also why they battle against and reject illegal immigration. They believe in having a border.
7. Americans are very sensitive about racial issues and their country’s less-than-perfect history. They believe that those who are disadvantaged by the circumstances of their birth should be given the opportunity to succeed. However, they reject the idea that addressing past errors requires creating new ones. This is why they reject DEI.
8. Americans are among the most philosemitic nations on Earth. The 7th October attack shocked them to the core because, among other reasons, they remember 9/11 all too well.
9. Americans are very practical people—to an extreme. They care about what works, not about what sounds or looks good. This is why a presidential candidate’s rhetoric bothers them far less than his policies do. In other words, they don’t care what Mr Trump says or how he says it, but whether he and his policies deliver what they value and deem important.
10. Americans are deeply optimistic people. They hate negativity and being made to feel guilty or expected to eternally apologise for all the evils of the past (real and perceived alike). For the most part, Americans believe in moving forward together rather than endlessly obsessing over the past.
11. America is a country whose founding story involves resistance to government overreach. Americans loathe unnecessary restrictions, regulations, and control. They understand that freedom comes with a price—and that price is self-reliance, which they gladly pay.
Can Mr Trump deliver what Americans expect of him? I don't know. What I do know is that time will tell, provided he survives the next 90 days — and his mandate, of course.
Let me know your thoughts—whether you agree, disagree, or have a different perspective to share.
