People are calling it "the greatest comeback in American history." I wish they’d stop doing that.
For months, we’ve been hearing that this is the most important and unprecedented presidential election of our lifetimes. "The closest race we’ve seen in decades." And just like that, the entirety of it comes crashing down into a sea of deep, dark red.
Donald Trump has polluted the political screens for a decade already, and I can’t fathom the fact that he is now back for more. He comes again with the same inappropriate behavior, racist and misogynistic rhetoric, and outrageous lies. The difference now is that Americans know this. We know what he will do to marginalized communities. We know what he will do to democracy. But alas, he makes "the greatest comeback in American history."
Trump’s blood red "Make America Great Again" propaganda has enveloped the electorate map. His red states got redder, and the blue states got purpler.
I am grappling with a confusing truth right now: Trump is so despicable that I can’t imagine how anyone could actively cast a vote for him. At the same time, his decisive win tells me that there are deep-rooted issues affecting a majority of Americans, pointing towards a profound need for change. Democracy worked, and I have to come to accept that.
In 2016, Trump won by securing a demographic people did not account for: white males without a college education. On Election Day this year, he won through a much broader coalition of support.
Trump outperformed himself from 2020 with women, Latino voters, independents, and senior citizens. In 2020, Florida was considered a swing state. It went to Trump by 3 points. In this race, Trump led Florida by 13 points. He gained in blue states as well. Trump gained 13 points in New York, causing Kamala Harris’s lead to drop from 23 to 10. Harris did not outperform Biden in a single state across the country. The Washington Post’s map of shifting voter behavior since 2020 is a sea of red.
How could it be, despite all of the horrendous things Trump has done since his last run—including inciting the Capitol attack on Jan. 6, 2021 and being convicted of 34 felony counts—that his support has grown unanimously across the country?
Americans want change.
In recent months, above all, voters have been expressing a desire for change. Biden’s approval rating is only 38.5%. Americans are extremely unhappy with the economy, the most important issue for many.
Trump drove his campaign by asking voters if they were better off now than they were four years ago. The overwhelming answer: no.
Despite knowing this, Harris still refused to distance herself from the incumbent party for most of her campaign, likely contributing to her loss of the presidency. She kept herself and policies close to Biden, ignoring the pulse on Americans looking for change. This led to a choice for voters: stick with how things are now, or roll the dice.
Except it’s not 2016 anymore. Back then, America elected Trump without really knowing what a Trump era would look like. Now, we have all the information. Trump has been clear about his plans for his second term in restructuring the fundamentals of a democratic government. And now with Congress in his hands, he can and will do that. People want change, and we will get it.
The Wednesday after the election, my Instagram feed was littered with posts of devastation, fear, and hopelessness. What was most surprising, however, was the celebratory post that popped up every so often from people in my circles who I would never have plucked as Trump supporters. I like to think that I am an understanding person, wanting to see others’ perspectives and learn about people's differences. I want to work with people with whom I disagree. But that day, I didn’t. I didn’t want to understand. I didn’t want to see the other side. Because that scares me to death for what America looks like tomorrow, for the next four years, and for the rest of history.
Democracy spoke loudly two weeks ago. It told us that there are fundamental issues rooted so deep that this country is willing to look past Trump’s contemptible character in hopes of a changed future. I only pray that this democracy will still be around in four years for the next greatest comeback in American history.
ISABEL SWEENEY is a College senior studying communications from Riverside, Conn. Her email is isweeney@sas.upenn.edu.
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