How Nationalism, Economic Concerns, and a Strongman Image Led to Trump’s Resounding Victory
DONALD TRUMP won with a nationalistic campaign that appealed to two very sensitive issues where Biden was seen as a complete failure:
1. The immigration issue
2.The inflation issue, with inflation reaching 19.3%
The most important point to understand is that this was a significant victory for Trump, as he swept all the swing states and increased his vote share across the board.
An interesting statistic is that, while Trump was able to form a strong white working-class coalition, he also saw an increase in vote share among Latinos and African Americans. In fact, he gained from 12% to 20% among Black male voters. Similarly, his share among young adults rose from 35% to 42%.
Another reason for Trump’s victory was that Kamala Harris failed to capture the imagination of voters, especially female voters. Her campaign focused on reproductive rights and assumed she could mobilize women, but the share of women’s votes rose only marginally and did not benefit her case. She also had to bear the burden of Biden’s unpopularity.
Kamala Harris
The gross national debt under Biden reached an all-time high of $34.73 trillion, and prices continued to rise.
Trump’s statements that he will deport the 11 million illegal immigrants living in America resonated strongly with most Americans, even Latinos and Hispanics, who felt illegal immigrants took away their jobs or lowered their wages, aside from contributing to crime rates.
Trump’s opposition to Chinese expansionism and his intention to impose heavy tariffs on Chinese imports appealed to the American business community. He has also pledged to reduce taxes, which appeals to all Americans, as many are paying close to 50% of their income in taxes.
Also Read: Trump’s White House Comeback: Global Shifts and Implications for South Asia
Finally, Americans tend to prefer a strong President, and Trump comes across as a strong leader, while Biden and Kamala Harris were perceived as weak. 
Main image courtesy: Leopold Maurer/cartoonmovement.com
Markandey Katju
Justice Markandey Katju is former Judge, Supreme Court of India and former Chairman, Press Council of India.
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