Can We See A Glimmer of Hope in a Trump Presidency?
Dare I say, the American public has spoken, although what is striking is the population of voters that chose at a critical point not to exercise their voting rights. Personally, I blame the polling that made it feel that this runoff was going to be a walk in the park for Hillary Clinton.
Welcome President Elect Trump, the soon to be sitting U.S. Commander in Chief, leader of the free world. Let’s take a moment to snapshot these last 16-months – a journey to the White House with too many background images for this frame to capture and give focus to. Against all the odds; in-spite of all the deplorable rhetoric, questionable actions and implications; and against all the open remarks that shook-up the minority population, immigrants and Muslims in the country and beyond – the results of the electoral college vote count was overwhelming, to say the least.
Many are disappointed and saddened by the results. I had remained worried during the campaign that this was likely to happen because Trump had tapped into the many frustrations of the American people, running against a candidate with trust issues. It took an unblemished Obama to defeat the status quo of those elected into this office.
How did we get here? Eight years of Obama presidency saw a Republican base, including the Tea Party, that criticized, questioned and opposed almost everything including the swagger of the man’s walk. Wall Street; the impact of lobbyists on Congress; the democratic party underestimating Trump; the Republican Party’s initial push back on Trump; the scandal surrounding Bernie Sanders’ ousting; the validity given to the voices of nationalists, and dare I say, purists and bigots; and perhaps a sense of preserving privilege afforded to some. That is, at least, one summation of how we got here.
Trump Presidency
Politicians campaigning often times do all they can to pander to their base and try to pull from the independents, at the expense of other candidates. Besides, don’t you wonder about the graciousness and the support with which opponents reconcile afterwards, especially after a nasty competition? Campaign rhetoric are often a means to an end.
So what are we to expect of a Trump presidency in a divided country to which he contributed? How differently would we have accepted any other Republican candidate who ran on many similar talking-points? Would people have taken to the streets? It seems clear that this is mostly all about Trump outside of his policy proposals. But there is an opportunity for hope, I feel, based on my characterization of Trump, in one regard. Let us hope that my prognosis is right, and not taken as some type of endorsement for Trump. After all, the race is over.
No one will argue that Trump has several issues that give us all cause for concern. But one of what we may consider a fault may end up being a major factor behind a ‘moderate’ and just President Trump. There is a sense that Trump’s ego pushes him to be the best at what he does; he takes pride at such feats. In this regard, there may be a change in his persona, a new mood brought about by the vast power and responsibility of this position, if his victory speech is an indication. I mean, is fighting a cooperate run congress such a bad thing, if he stays true to that? Is questioning America’s assumed responsibility in meddling in other nations’ businesses militarily an improper one? These are issues that many Americans have against the status quo of their government.
Read | Opinion: Who is Trump, and why am I voting for him?
Fine! It might be a lot to hope for, this optimistic image of a President Trump, but for our sake let us all hope that this prognosis is right, and that his divisive rhetoric was only a means to an end. However, there are other legitimate concerns. Clearly, his lack of political experience, especially on international policy and relations is at the top of the list, but good advisors can work well.
If this hope of a more humanistic Trump – and it is huge – is granted by the cosmos, the most monumental challenge will be to bridge the divide that his campaign contributed to (irony at work). The sentiment of the American people is true to them, including the racist ones who voted for him. Is he going to be able to suck out some of the oxygen there to reduce the potential of madness, enough imagery of which people have captured on their smart devices – even if part of him breathed on that oxygen, perhaps on more O3 than O2. The vindication and boldness that his radical and less progressive fans feel at the moment might be even too much for a Trump to subdue.
In the end, let this be a humbling experience that forces us to reflect deeply on being more deliberate and pragmatic with how we proceed with our personal lives, our supposed friends and acquaintances, and the things that we are loyal to.
There is no doubt that this presidential election results have been shocking as well as sobering. Whether we attach blame to the demographic factions of those that voted and didn’t vote, should not deviate us from accepting the reality of scary truths that surround us as a society.
The last question I’ll leave open is, was the Bernie Sander’s supposed sabotage worth it for a Hillary who many felt was more in touch with reality?
Jude Ehikwe is on Twitter: @jehiks08