Trump’s Victory over Harris : How did he win and what does he bring?
By Kavan Chan
The electoral map of the 2024 presidential election. (New York Times)
How did he win?
On the 6th of November, controversial former president and renowned businessman Donald Trump was elected president of the United States for a second term following a hard-fought presidential race against Democrat contender and current Vice President Kamala Harris. Results released by the Associated Press reveal that votes for both presidential candidates were somewhat evenly distributed, with Harris receiving 47% of the popular vote and Trump receiving 51%. Trump’s victory over America’s first woman Vice President resulted from advantageous public perception amongst critical swing states such as Georgia, North Carolina and most importantly, Pennsylvania, widely considered to be the tipping point in the then neck-and-neck race between Trump and Harris.
What does Trump bring to the table?
Americans are currently struggling through hefty levels of inflation, which have been rapidly falling since 2022 when its 40-year-long high ended. This has elevated the costs of basic human necessities, specifically rising prices for housing and food. The former President has stated that he seeks to “end inflation and make America affordable again” by expanding energy production by occupying the Arctic Wilderness for oil drilling and deporting or preventing the entrance of immigrants. However, these methods all face scepticism for two reasons. Firstly, the power a politician has over a nation’s economy is minor and condensed, as their period of control stems for short amounts of time when compared to the grand scheme of inflation, especially in superpower nations such as the USA. Secondly, Trump’s plans for mass deportation of immigrants have been supported almost solely by derogatory references and name-calling. Trump has frequently defined the act of immigration through the US-Mexico border as an “Invasion” whilst placing immigrants in a negative light, which he continued to do so during the Harris vs Trump debate, where he stated that Haitian immigrants were “eating the pets of people in Springfield”.
The Republican party believes that America should distance itself from international issues. As such, Trump has promised that he would end the Russia-Ukraine war “within 24 hours” of his presidency through negotiations with Zelensky and Putin. However, he has not stated which nation he supports within the warfare, and according to the Kremlin, Russia’s official seat of government, nothing can be done within such little time. Furthermore, the 45th and now 47th president has said that America would halt all cash flowing to Ukraine, stripping the invaded nation of its most powerful ally and the $64bn USD in military aid provided through the Biden administration.
Why did Harris Lose?
Kamala Harris, the Democrat representative and current vice president of the United States, has now lost to Donald Trump, and as of Nov 10th, the ratio of electoral votes is 226 to 312 in favour of Trump. Kamala Harris’s campaign garnered the support of the majority of American media through endorsements from massive celebrities such as Stephen Curry and Leonardo DiCaprio. Harris also rallied a significantly superior public perception when compared to her republican counterpart, as Trump’s name has been linked to scandalous controversies, from criminal allegations of tax evasion and sexual assault to accusations of sexism and racism via social media. So what led to the Democrat’s defeat in the election, even with all of her advantages?
It’s possible that Kamala Harris’s presidential campaign suffered from Joe Biden’s attempt at a re-election campaign. The 46th president had presented himself in a negative light on multiple occasions, and according to the BBC, his approval rating had been in the low 40s throughout his years in office, with over two-thirds of the American voters saying that the USA's government has gone down the wrong track. Biden’s image plummeted significantly during the presidential debate between him and Trump in 2024, which ultimately resulted in his resignation from the presidential position. Biden then passed on his votes to Kamala Harris, who had considerably less time than Trump to garner the support of voters. Additionally, Harris, who tried to distance her campaign from the Biden administration, faced the dilemma of attempting to escape from her predecessor's shadow without casting shade on her political party’s previous delegate. Moreover, Harris failed to deliver convincing arguments about how she would lead the country, especially around her handling of economic struggles within the nation, which had become the most significant issue in both presidential campaigns.
Why might Trump have been the wrong choice?
One of Trump’s promises as President was to revoke previously passed environmental protective policies. The republican representative has often condemned the usage of electric vehicles and sustainable methods of energy production, proven through his promises to halt the switch to renewable energy through the complete shutdown of offshore wind farms. Moreover, Trump has promised to overturn America’s transition to cleaner means of transportation, which was orchestrated by the Biden administration. These decisions will become the basis for further damage dealt to the world's already fractured environment.
Last but not least, another important factor in 2024’s presidential election dealt with the debate around abortion. Harris stated that abortion should be legal to protect the human rights of women, whilst Trump publicly condemned the process of abortion. The differences between the viewpoints and perspectives of both contenders toward certain issues have created a divide in the nation, and Trump’s victory will certainly bring change to the United States. Whether the change is good or bad, only time will tell.