Donald Trump’s sensational win over media favourite Hillary Clinton has demonstrated beyond any doubt how the US elite and several top journalists were totally out of sync with the ground realities. The President-elect has proved all his detractors wrong by wresting the world’s biggest election and has in the process, in a single stroke, dealt a major body blow to deeply embedded vested interests in Washington, DC.
Trump’s momentous feat is an indication of the impending real change in the American power establishment and is an unmistakeable reiteration of the basic definition of democracy as propounded by Abraham Lincoln that an elected government has to be of the people, by the people and for the people. Evidently, the people who ensured Trump’s triumph were of the opinion that the true and accurate picture of what was happening in the country was not being reflected by top Republicans, Democrats, the Wall Street barons and the journalists, many of whom were running a victory lap for Hillary on the eve of polling day.
It is obvious to most observers of the US presidential poll that the media was by and large biased against the billionaire candidate and its overall reportage was more wishful than it was objective. It is to Trump’s credit that despite being hounded and ridiculed, he showed exemplary belief in the people of his country and did not deviate for a single moment from his objective of marching towards the White House.
The writing on the wall that Trump was not going to be a pushover and a weak nominee was clear when he emerged from a very tough Republican field to come out as the candidate of the Grand Old Party. In the process, he overcame resistance from the powerful Bush family, the 2008 and 2012 Presidential nominees John McCain and Mitt Romney and other Republican voices such as Ted Cruz and Colin Powell, all of whom were convinced that the New Yorker was unfit to hold the highest office and had neither experience of the government, politics or statecraft. His brusque and rough demeanour rubbed people the wrong way and his limited vocabulary and play of words were both offensive as well as repulsive.
Equally complacent were the managers and supporters of Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton, described by Barack Obama as the most qualified person to be President of the United States. The split in the Democratic Party was visible when many of those who supported Bernie Sanders decided not to back Clinton and accused her of manipulating the system to get the better of “their candidate”. Sanders had enjoyed considerable support from the young people and this segment did not transfer its allegiance to Hillary, costing her the election, which, at one stage, appeared to be in her pocket.
While it is for Hillary’s support staff to figure out what went wrong with her campaign, there is evidence to show that rural America was not enchanted by either her qualifications or by her promises. Unlike Trump, who spelt out his plans for the average American and listed out his priorities, Hillary spent more time in ridiculing her opponent, who often shot back using crass and undiplomatic language used most frequently in the business he has minted his money from.
In the aftermath of the extremely divisive contest, people have trooped out on the streets to reject Trump by proclaiming that he was not going to be their President. Things would quieten down once the emotions are brought under control and life begins on its normal course. Hillary has been gracious in extending her support to her rival in the best traditions of American democracy. Nonetheless, several of her supporters continue to have doubts over how Trump would lead the country, given that he had made some outrageous declarations during the campaign against certain countries and communities.
What needs to be understood is that many things are said in the heat of elections and the perspectives change once a person assumes responsibility and comprehends how the levers and mechanisms of power work. Trump may have never held any public office, but the fact that being amongst the most successful business tycoons in the US, he is well acquainted with the way governments work and has acquired an insight of the state scenario. He is expected to bring in fresh faces and new minds to Washington DC to replace the rusted machinery that has been serving the establishment, regardless of the party in power. He may not have the experience but has the will and the ability to succeed in his plans.
Trump has the potential of being the new Ronald Reagan, the 40th President regarded as the most outstanding occupant of the White House in the post World War era, even though many still feel that Richard Nixon was exceptional, but had to pay an enormous price for his alleged involvement in the Watergate scandal. Trump’s newness to Washington also suits those who play a significant role in behind the scene operations. He has definitely ruffled some feathers in the political class, yet he has found support from conservative America. The onus is on the President-elect to prove that he not only possesses a towering monetary wealth but a razor edged political mind as well. Between us.