Donald Trump stunned the world when he was voted as the 45th President of the United States. Bill Bowkett examines his victory and assesses the fall out from his victory
In June 2015, Donald Trump shocked the world when he said that he was run as the Republican nominee in the US Presidential Primaries. He had had no previous executive or legislative experience in politics, and was famous for his staring role on the reality TV show The Apprentice.
Trump had his fair share of competition, against distinguished and experienced politicians like Ted Cruz, Marco Rubio and Jeb Bush. He needed to stand out from the crowd, in order to gain the support needed to become President. His campaign slogan ‘Make America Great Again,’ was a promise by Trump to revive the American Dream and make America the “Greatest nation on earth”. Trump was the most far right and neo-conservative of the candidates, due to his attitude towards immigration and foreign affairs.
However, for all of the high profile support he was received, he had his fair share of enemies. In fact, it looked like his campaign was going to end prematurely, after he remarked that he was going to ban all muslims from entering the United States. This was not the end though to his shocking statements. He went to say he wanted to build a wall on the Mexican border to stop the influx of illegal refugees, and he wanted Mexico to pay for it. He also expressed extreme views on the issue of abortion. Trump said that women who receive abortions once the procedure is illegal will face punishment.
Did it make a difference to the race? Trump it seemed was only getting stronger every rally. He was besting traditional Republicans and, in July this year, Trump became the official Republican candidate for President. This outraged many. Literally hundreds of top-ranked Republicans opposed Trump's candidacy, and this included former Presidents George Bush, George W Bush and former Secretary of State, Colin Powell.
It was to be Trump of the Republicans and Hillary Clinton of the Democrats. Early opinion polling gave Clinton a healthy lead. What Trump had to battle against was the media. He was haunted by his past - especially his remarks against women which included words like ‘pigs’ and ‘slobs’. He went on the offensive, questioning Clinton's ‘stamina’ to become President.
It was a campaign that was steeped in insults. Policy was rarely addressed, this campaign was clearly about the personal qualities to be president.
The campaign was long and hard, but the day came and the polls had Clinton for the win. The events which subsequently followed would send shock waves around the earth.
It is always the swing states which decided the result. Apart from the exception of Virginia which voted Democrat, Trump trumped Clinton in every vital state. North Carolina, Ohio and Florida turned red. America was red; Trump had become the President-elect.
Although Trump managed to receive a majority under the Electoral College, Clinton actually won in the popular vote, by 0.2%. This shows the fatal flaw of the electoral system in America, as it has now happened twice within the space of 20 years.
No one can also deny that it was a shocking night for the party in blue. They are no longer in office and in the mid-term elections, the Republicans have taken control of Congress once more. Clinton was clearly upset about the result. She failed to attract to all of the working class white men that voted for Obama.
Now, Obama has been trying to settle the Trumps to the White House; a month after Obama said on Jimmy Kimmel that Trump will never become a President and over a year after Trump tweeted that Obama was “The worse ever US President ever.” It is all rather crazy in America right now.
This election has left more questions than it has answers. What is Trump relationship with NATO going to be like? Does democracy need improving in America? Is liberalism dead?
In my view, the public elected Trump to the White House. It is a bit like Brexit, when the people voted against the establishment of the EU and it suddenly caused outrage with the media. Trump is showcasing the new political movement in the west and I am seeing my future unfold before my very eyes.
Views expressed are author's own and do not represent those of Knights Templar School or its staff.