BY SAM BOKUBA
Donald Trump is US President-elect, after all! He prevailed over Kamala Harris in the November 5 election by securing both the popular vote and the majority in the Electoral College that, as a routine, determines the next occupant of the White House. It is the second coming for the 78-year old who becomes only the second person in US history to have two non-consecutive second terms in office. And on each occasion, Trump did it against women candidates to deny them a historic win as America’s first woman President.
From an interesting YouTube video named ’10 Astronomical Events That Will Happen in Your Lifetime,’ we learn that the lucky ones among us may expect to observe Halley’s comet – last seen in 1986- twice in their lifetimes as it makes its rendezvous with Earth after every 75 years.
Not even in our wildest imaginations, however, did anyone foresee the blindingly bright supernova of the mighty USA franchise beginning to unravel before our own eyes. The USA has finally joined Trump’s despicable club of “shithole nations” in remarkable style.
For a career businessman and Reality TV show host who reportedly initially entered the presidential race not to win, but to boost his media ratings, Trump’s white-washing of elite Republican veterans for the 2016 primaries was quite noteworthy. To go on to trounce former first lady, Hillary Clinton at the presidential ballot was incredible. Repeating the winning script with a wider margin against Prosecutor and current Vice President Kamala Harris in what was billed as a make or break 2024 election, is pure nirvana. Therefore, one can understand Trump’s famously compulsive need for adoration.
Forget Trump’s self-fascination, hubris and chronic boorish behaviour; his ideals have seemingly triumphed over his Trumpism which, according to The New York Times columnist, Jamelle Boule, is a performance or a series of performances. How could Trump garner a majority of the popular and Electoral College votes against a progressive Kamala Harris – who promised a highly divided America unity and decency? Trump should have scored less, especially given his unpopular leadership style. His overt bigotry and hatred for third world immigrants, coupled with his dalliance with white supremacy in the guise of ‘Making America Great Again ‘ is unprecedented. As one commentator puts it, “only in the US could Trump have been elected (and re-elected) President.” Indeed, only in the US could a man described as an existential threat to democracy; who never conceded defeat to Joe Biden four years ago when his supporters ransacked the US Capitol; who did not commit to accepting the results of the 2024 election if he loses and warned of “long prison sentences” for those he said were planning on “cheating” in the election; who has a criminal conviction, two impeachments while last in office and will face sentencing in a New York court for fraud on November 26; whose former chief of staff had served notice that he is a “fascist,” whose campaign rallies, filled with grievances, insults and misinformation, featured extreme rhetoric; yes, only in America could Trump have been elected and re-elected President.
I am no believer in American exceptionalism or that the country is the home of virtue. America is a deeply flawed country. But despite the hypocrisy in many of its policies, America has always maintained a latent desire to seek the overall good for the majority of its citizens, those that it considers strategically important and to a large measure, the world.
The greatest beauty of America is that it is never irreversibly imprisoned by its demons. That’s why a country that was defined by the most cruel savagery against its negro population fought a war primarily to dismantle the slave economy.
The country elected a black man, Barack Obama for two terms – 2008 to 2016 – as President. America has exported its brand of democracy, not always for altruistic reasons but in that way enabled many nations all over the world to expand its democratic freedoms. It has stood with many causes for human rights and good governance even as it has invested in autocrats where the national interest demanded it overlooks its better instincts. While the country has had its share of law breakers, its commitment to the rule of law has brought down presidents, industry and financial moguls and mega institutions. These positive American traits have made many world citizens harbour certain expectations about the context of its policies and the character of those that seek to lead the country.
In his first stint as President, Trump walked away from several commitments that took eons to craft, the most visible being the Trans-Pacific Partnership, the Paris Agreement on climate change and the Iran nuclear deal.
To his credit, Trump had promised to get out of these deals. Many Americans and world citizens, however, expected him to temper on his wilder promises once he recognised the magnitude of his office. Wishful thinking. What Trump does not realise or does not care, is the gut-feel this reneging does to American future credibility.
It has been amazing the unashamed contradictions that some of Trump’s actions have been; he who vilified Obama for entering into discussions with the Cubans because they were autocrats but had no problem with cuddling the ultimate dictator, Kim Jong Un, without any precondition. Even now, there are global concerns about his nationalist-minded “America First” approach. Trump has promised Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu freer rein to execute his war against Hamas in Gaza while scoffing at billions of dollars in US assistance under Joe Biden to Ukraine – which Russia invaded in 2022 – with his aides musing about forcing Kyiv to make concessions to end the war.
But the greatest damage that Trump has done to America’s profile is MORAL LEADERSHIP. Trump’s irascible, puffed up and authoritarian style, so out of place with the world’s premier democracy, gives oxygen to despots who have filled leadership positions across the world. This, coupled with his documented dalliances with women during his marriage, his unchecked misogyny, racism and obvious disregard for truth has defined a new low for American leadership. AMERICA CAN NO LONGER PRETEND TO BE THE PROVERBIAL CITY ON THE HILL. One will shudder at Washington paternalistically shouting admonitions on good governance from across the Atlantic Ocean to the rest of the world.
The interesting reality is that Trump is unchallengeable to the Republican base especially because he has touted their message above all else. Even when his policies have benefited the swamp that he came to drain more than his “forgotten voter,” the latter believes his message absolutely. Consequently, America will live with the Donald Trump reality for a while. By the time he is done, America will hardly be recognisable. Maybe that’s not altogether a bad thing!