The return of Trump...

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So, who really saw Trump’s victory coming?

I can’t say I was surprised by Trump’s victory. I went to bed on November 5th, feeling that America wasn’t quite ready for a female president and one who had only been nominated relatively late in the game.

I have much admiration for Vice President Harris, who I believe did all she could in a campaign that was quite frankly too short. It was only July when VP Harris took up the role of Democratic nominee. By this point, much of the world and America were beginning to get concerned with President Biden’s advancing age, creating too many headlines. Kamala Harris’s campaign reminds me of the recent General Election here in July. I live in the constituency of Huntingdon – which remained a Conservative seat. Now, there was an excellent campaign run by all candidates – including the Rt. Hon Ben Obese-Jecty MP – but the Labour candidate Cllr. Dr Alex Bulat, I believe, did a stellar job in such a short period. Like Kamala Harris, Dr Bulat faced a brief campaigning period as she was only confirmed as the Labour candidate in March 2024.[1]

Now, why do I mention a Labour electoral candidate when we are discussing the US Presidential election? It simply boils down to how much time someone has to canvas and promote themselves. I believe that if both candidates had been granted more time to prepare for their campaigns, they would have successfully won. Success is an arbitrary term, but I think both candidates, regardless of whether or not they were successfully elected to office, can be deemed a success. Dr Bulat successfully reduced the majority of the Conservative party in Huntingdon, reducing their vote share by 24.1% from the 2019 general election.[2] Kamala Harris, meanwhile, has successfully advocated for women’s rights, with much of the election focusing on access to abortion as fundamental healthcare for all Americans. Both have stood and shared their promises and hopes. This is why, even though Kamala Harris may not be in the White House as President, she should still be incredibly proud of her efforts to confront the unknown to women’s healthcare that a Trump administration will bring.

America needs to reflect inwardly on why it chose to vote for Trump. From what we have heard on this pond side, it has been very positive and pro-Harris. At the end of the day, though, America is a complex society filled with religious ideology that may impact how voters inevitably go out and vote. With a country identifying as 20.8% Catholic and 1.6% members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (Mormon), it might be unsurprising to find that some Americans may be uncomfortable with the idea of a female President.[3] These religions traditionally reserve preaching roles for men. While not all Americans hold these views, the idea of a female President might feel unfamiliar to some. I’m not suggesting that all Americans hold these views, but these factors may influence certain voters. I am suggesting that the differences of having a female President may be something that not all Americans—due to their religious ideologies—may be on board with.

While I’m not surprised by Trump’s win, VP Harris can be proud of her resilience, her advocacy for women’s rights, and her fight for the future of healthcare—despite the odds.

Comments

  1. Desmond Scofield7 November 2024 at 15:35

    I remember July 13th like it was yesterday, I was watching the rally on live TV, I am not a supporter of Trump, I just wanted to see what all the fuss was about. Then at 11:11 when he was being shot at and survived, that was the moment I knew he won the presidency. After a moment like that, it becomes clear that he will be the next president, as well as a second attempt on his life. So as a whole, I’m very disappointed about the outcome, but I hope one day America will have it’s first female president before this decade is out… hopefully.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Freya1 December 2024 at 16:27

    Read my piece alongside the other opinions of the Oxford Labour Club here: https://oxunilabour.wordpress.com/2024/11/28/students-react-as-trump-wins-the-presidency-where-did-the-democrats-go-wrong-and-what-comes-next/

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