The world is yet to see what a Trump America will look like. Will he be a people’s president?
From the moment Donald J. Trump announced his candidacy for president in 2015, people in America and around the globe snickered at the prospect of a billionaire reality TV personality with a crude mouth and offensive views—someone who had never held a government position in his life—becoming president of the United States. Today, we were proven wrong and many of us woke up to his victory speech in New York City.
As his rival, Secretary Hillary Clinton, called to concede and congratulate him, Trump walked on stage to deliver a speech, and as gracious as it was, it didn’t erase all the divisive rhetoric that was commonly used in his campaign trail.
Just 24 hours ago, one would have thought that all odds were against him. It was hard to imagine how a man that was mocked by the media, had very little support among politicians, minorities and celebrities, had an outrageous video encouraging sexual assault, and who was a bully on stage could come out with a clear majority win. This self-funded man, in comparison to Clinton, who had all the above agents on her side, had something she didn’t: authenticity.
With Trump, people knew what they were voting for. It wasn’t an act and it wasn’t the system—it was raw and different and that engaged everyone.
After Brexit in the United Kingdom and now with Trump, these shocking outcomes create a precedent for those fed up with the system to vote for change, even if that means xenophobic and radical views. Europe is at high risk of electing far-right leaders, whether it is Marine Le Pen in France, Norbert Hofer in Austria or Frauke Petry in Germany.
President-Elect Donald Trump
This election was historic as Trump won the electoral vote against all odds. He defied the polls that doubted a smooth path to the White House. As the race narrowed, the mood between Clinton supporters was grim, and to comfort them was none other than her campaign manager, John Podesta, who delivered a speech that hinted at a painful defeat.
It was quite disappointing to receive the manager and not the woman, as Democrats and others would have attributed a non-concession to the Republican candidate. Clinton’s grace would have filled the stage if she had addressed her supporters instead of cowering away in her hotel room.
The world is yet to see what a Trump America will look like. Will he build that wall, ban all Muslims and bring jobs back to the people?
While those are his promises, it is imperative to note that his most daunting task is to be the people’s president and unite a country he helped divide. Trump’s rallies have allowed for xenophobia, sexism and bigotry to surface, especially after thousands have spent decades fighting for equality. It is incredibly difficult to envision a harmonious transition into a peaceful, united and diverse America, but Trump will quickly have to realize that without embracing Clinton supporters, it will not be easy leading the free world.
The views expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect Fair Observer’s editorial policy.
Photo Credit: Mphillips007
