Trump’s Win Reflects America’s Dark Side: What It Says About Us!

The re-election of the instigator of the January 6 attack represents a severe neglect of civic responsibility by American citizens. Donald Trump received a plurality, providing him with ample fuel to potentially lead America into chaos.

The voting public has confirmed that the most unfit person to ever occupy the presidency is deserving of another term. This decision comes despite Trump being visibly older and mentally deteriorating, his campaign being aggressively hostile, and his threats to extensively detain and deport immigrants—yet, he has been granted immense power once again.

As the 2024 election neared its end, the candidates delivered their final pitches. Trump depicted the US as a grim and dangerous wasteland overrun by crime, where unconventional individuals threaten the traditional American way of life, all painted as a consequence of Democratic policies.

In 2020, it seemed we had turned away from the Trump era; by 2024, it’s clear that era has left its mark on us.

Trump continued to fuel conspiracy theories, take revengeful stances, and engage in reprehensible behavior, none of which deterred his support, and may have even bolstered it across various voter demographics.

Vice President Kamala Harris envisioned a brighter future, positioning herself as a unifier willing to collaborate across party lines and championing diversity and improvement for all Americans. Faced with a choice between a traditional Democrat and a candidate running an unprecedentedly authoritarian campaign, the electorate chose the latter.

Those who supported Trump demonstrated a troubling disregard for ethical governance, showing a profound unworthiness of the constitutional values they inherited. Electing such a figure once could be a mistake; electing him twice defines the electorate’s own character.

This election’s outcome cannot be understated as merely an overconfident Democratic strategy or the manipulation of key swing states. This time, the choice for Trump was clear and decisive, solidifying his authoritarian leanings with a disturbing endorsement from the voters.

We often hear the fantastical falsehoods believed by Trump’s base, such as the extreme abortion myths. While the media portrays these voters as misunderstood, attributing their choices to economic worries—a narrative proven to be a myth—they have chosen to ignore the truth.

Autocratic regimes depend on confused and poorly informed populations. Hannah Arendt in The Origins of Totalitarianism noted that the masses could be conditioned to believe anything and nothing simultaneously, a state of mind ripe for manipulation.

Harris condemned Trump as a fascist and a liar, well-equipped with her prosecutorial background to challenge his conduct. Yet, despite her qualifications and the clarity of her arguments, the voters chose to ignore her warnings.

Expectations that women would overwhelmingly oppose Trump due to threats against reproductive rights were unmet. Harris did win a majority of the female vote, but not decisively. Trump retained and even strengthened his support among white male voters, many of whom resonated with his archaic views on gender roles.

Despite endorsements from major celebrities, Harris couldn’t overcome the mixture of hostility and indifference she faced: over 7 million Biden supporters from 2020 did not vote for her. Trump’s increased vote tally, likely boosted by some former Biden voters, contributed to his victory.

The 2020 election was seen as a heroic stand due to the pandemic, contrasting sharply with the less passionate support for Harris. Masha Gessen once wrote on maintaining shock and outrage to prevent apathy, which now seems set in, paving the way for autocratic normalization.

Additionally, the Democratic stance on the conflict in Gaza deeply alienated many progressive voters, leading to a significant boycott or shift away from Harris, particularly affecting her chances in key areas like Michigan.

Despite the unlikely improvement in U.S.-Palestinian relations under Trump, his overt support from Benjamin Netanyahu and his aggressive policies in the Middle East were clear.

Post-election, the Democratic Party plunged into self-criticism, questioning everything from their campaign strategies to policy focuses, none of which could fully explain the extent of Harris’s defeat.

Despite living in unparalleled privilege and security, Americans voted out of fear and discomfort over minor economic grievances, illustrating a deeper discontent and susceptibility to divisive rhetoric.

The re-election of a leader known for his divisive, dishonest tactics speaks volumes about the American electorate’s values. They have endorsed a figure whose actions threaten the very principles of democracy and seem prepared to accept the severe consequences of their choice.

As president, Trump is expected to enact severe and controversial measures, fulfilling extreme campaign promises that threaten the fundamental rights and freedoms of millions.

The American political landscape has been irrevocably altered, driven by a portion of the population that supports a return to a more contentious and exclusionary form of governance. This election has shown that a significant part of America is aligned with Trump’s vision, one that disregards democratic norms and embraces authoritarian impulses.

While the future may hold potential for change, the present reality underscores a harsh truth: a significant part of the American electorate does not uphold the values enshrined in the Constitution. Like the dissenters of the past, today’s opposition finds itself alienated within its own country, facing a long and uncertain struggle ahead.