Trump’s comeback and hopes for peace

The year 2024 marked a significant electoral season across major nations, including the UK, the USA, Russia and India. However, global attention was particularly focused on the US presidential election.

Republican Party candidate Donald Trump made a stunning comeback to the White House, defeating Democratic candidate and incumbent Vice-president Kamala Harris. Trump, who lost the 2020 election to Joe Biden after serving his first term (2017-2021), began his 2024 campaign the day his defeat was confirmed. With years of preparation and relentless effort, his strategy paid off.  

Trump secured 312 electoral votes and 50 percent of the popular vote, surpassing the required 270 electoral votes to win leaving Harris with 226 electoral votes and 48.3 percent of the popular vote.

This election was of global importance also because it occurred amid significant global conflicts, notably the ongoing Israel-Hamas war, with Iran and Lebanon's involvement, and the Russia-Ukraine war surpassing 1,000 days. The United States played a pivotal role in these conflicts, both directly and indirectly.

These wars have had profound global repercussions, including soaring inflation rates, environmental degradation and widespread human suffering. The Democratic Party and President Joe Biden's strategies in addressing these crises have come under scrutiny, raising concerns among the American populace.

The American intelligence community, including the Central Intelligence Agency

(CIA), may have made miscalculations in assessing certain global situations. Amid these crises, the United States found itself in a precarious position, facing internal and external challenges. The repercussions of these failures were not only felt domestically but also reverberated across the globe, highlighting America’s struggles on the international stage. And these things did not go unnoticed among the Americans regardless of their political affiliations.

The American people not only elected Trump as president but also gave the Republican Party a majority in both the Senate and the House. This shift in power may reflect a desire among Americans for the US to step back from its involvement in ongoing wars. With Trump now in office, the world watches closely, hoping his first move will be to bring an end to these conflicts and restore peace.

During his election campaign, Trump clarified that he was not against immigrants but opposed illegal immigration, a stance that resonated with many. He also criticized the Democratic Party’s inability to control inflation, which had negatively impacted everyday Americans. Trump promised to tackle inflation by keeping production costs low, including pledging not to raise taxes on industrialists. Additionally, he vowed to restore America to a ‘golden age’ of prosperity. These appealing proposals during his campaign struck a chord with the American public, contributing to his victory.

It was clear that removing America from the ongoing wars would be a difficult task without Republican leadership, and even many Democratic supporters likely recognized this reality.  

Another challenge for the US comes from BRICS, the alliance of global leaders from Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Iran, Egypt, Ethiopia, and the United Arab Emirates. With new members continuing to join, there are growing discussions about creating a potentially gold-backed currency to compete with the US dollar. This proposed BRICS currency could help these nations assert their economic independence and challenge the dominance of the dollar, which currently accounts for about 90 percent of global currency trade. This emerging shift poses a significant headache for the US, and many speculate that Trump may take steps to counter BRICS’ growing influence.

Harris faced significant challenges in her campaign, particularly due to the limited time between her announcement for presidency and the election day. This short window left her with little opportunity to build momentum for her campaign by reaching out to the voters. Additionally, her light personality did not seem to convey the strong leadership needed to tackle the pressing global challenges. However, after her defeat, Harris delivered an extraordinary speech that showcased her grace and respect as a leader. Her acceptance of defeat, alongside her heartfelt congratulations to Trump, demonstrated her integrity. She also reaffirmed her commitment to the US citizens, the Constitution and the promises she made during her campaign, further solidifying her stature as a respected figure in American politics.

The elite class in the US played a significant role in helping Trump win the election, but there is hope that his administration will not solely represent the interests of the wealthy. People around the world, who view the US as a global guardian, hope that this perception will not be lost. Rhetorics aside, Trump may continue America’s support for the United Nations’ agencies and North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) as this is something the world desires as well.  

As a Nepali citizen, I extend my congratulations to Trump and hope that he will continue to uphold the hopes of people around the world.

The author is a member of the Supreme Court Bar and has been practicing corporate law for around three decades