US election
Harris admits defeat: continue fighting for democracy
US voters overwhelmingly rejected Kamala Harris’ vision. However, she promises to continue fighting for freedom and justice.
Kamala Harris has admitted her defeat in the US presidential election and called for commitment to democracy. Now is not the time to despair, but time to roll up your sleeves and fight for freedom and justice, said Harris in Washington.
Republican Donald Trump won the US presidential election on Tuesday, inflicting a devastating defeat on now-Democratic Vice President Harris. She said she called Trump and congratulated him on his victory. At the same time, she said: “While I admit defeat in this election, I do not give up the fight that fueled this election campaign.”
With Trump’s return to the White House, the USA is threatened with increasingly authoritarian governance and its international allies face foreign policy uncertainty. Trump won in all of the “swing states” counted so far, i.e. the particularly hotly contested states, and achieved the necessary majority of more than 270 voters to secure the presidency again.
Trump also managed to secure a clear majority of the votes cast nationwide for the first time. The Republicans were also able to take the majority in the US Senate from the Democrats. In the second chamber of parliament, the House of Representatives, it was initially unclear whether the Republicans would be able to defend their majority there.
Trump wants a radical change of course
During the election campaign, Trump announced the “largest deportation in history” of migrants from the USA, a quick end to Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine as well as high import tariffs and tax cuts. The Republican also denies the climate crisis and announced a drastic expansion of oil and natural gas production in the USA.
In foreign policy – where Vice President Harris stood for continuity in the course of the incumbent and transatlanticist Joe Biden – Trump is considered unpredictable, also with regard to the important US support for Ukraine. There are fears that Trump could cut off aid.
“We must accept the results of this election,” Harris said. She acknowledged that many people now feared the beginning of a dark period. She hopes that won’t happen. But even then America must fill the dark sky with the light of the stars, she sought a metaphor.
President Biden also congratulated Trump on his election victory and invited him to the White House. Trump largely boycotted the transfer of power to Biden in 2020 and wanted to reverse the result.
New era for Europe and the world
Trump’s second presidency is likely to put the international balance of power and existing alliances to the test. Initial reactions emphasized the willingness to work together: “Together we can achieve much more than against each other,” said Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Berlin.
The offer of reliable cooperation also applies “in view of the threat that all NATO allies believe Russia poses to security in the European area,” he said. The USA is – ahead of Germany – Ukraine’s most important arms supplier.
Authoritarian heads of state and government are now likely to have hope that the USA will change course. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban called for a new EU strategy for Ukraine, which was attacked by Russia. Since Trump could stop American aid to Kiev, the question arises as to whether Europe alone will be able to shoulder the financial and military support for Ukraine.
Meanwhile, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the “United States is in a position to contribute to ending the conflict.” The spokeswoman for the Russian Foreign Ministry, Maria Zakharova, reacted happily. She wrote “Hallelujah” on Telegram. Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu congratulated Trump on “the greatest comeback in history.”
“It is a political victory the likes of which our country has never experienced before.”
Trump appeared on election night after Fox News was the only one to declare his victory. There was a jubilant mood in his home state of Florida: “It’s a political victory the likes of which our country has never experienced before,” he said during an appearance in front of supporters. He promised a “golden age” for America and thanked his voters for their support.
With the Senate majority, the Republicans could also further expand the conservative majority in the Supreme Court, which will shape the USA for decades. Supreme Court justices are appointed for life. Trump appointed three judges in his first term and secured a conservative majority. Among other things, they overturned the nationwide right to abortion.
The Democrats could form a counterweight in the House of Representatives – if they manage to take back the second chamber of Congress. If this also falls to the Republicans, Trump can rule virtually unhindered.
Crushing defeat for Vice President Harris
Polls had predicted a close neck-and-neck race. But the Democrat Harris experienced a debacle. It is a historic comeback for Trump. When he left the White House four years ago, he seemed politically exhausted after his supporters stormed the Capitol in Washington and he refused to recognize the election results.
The ex-president scored points in the election campaign with promises such as halving energy costs in view of the high cost of living that burdens many people in the USA. He fueled fears of an alleged invasion by criminal migrants. Compared to his loss to Biden four years ago, he did better among blacks and Latinos, whose votes Democrats have traditionally counted on.
The USA is facing a turbulent, heated election campaign. In July, Trump was slightly injured in an assassination attempt during a campaign appearance. Afterwards he said that God had protected him so that he could lead America to new greatness.
The balance of Trump’s first term in office is controversial
In his first term in office, Trump implemented tough measures at the US southern border, such as building a meter-high fence and separating migrant children from their parents. Americans were dissatisfied with his Corona policy in 2020. From the Democrats’ perspective, he disqualified himself by refusing to recognize his defeat in the 2020 election. There are several lawsuits underway against Trump. Most of these will soon no longer be an issue once he returns to the White House.
The swearing-in of the new president will take place on January 20th.
dpa
Source: Stern
I have been working in the news industry for over 6 years, first as a reporter and now as an editor. I have covered politics extensively, and my work has appeared in major newspapers and online news outlets around the world. In addition to my writing, I also contribute regularly to 24 Hours World.
