US Elections: Trump Wins

After months of a presidential election campaign characterised by torrents of misinformation, assassination attempts, political violence, cheered-on racism and misogyny, democracy has lost the battle - this time. Donald Trump will become President of the United States for a second time. We stand in solidarity with all those who have fought for another outcome and with all who feel and are threatened by a second Trump presidency. We hope that the democratic and liberal forces continue the fight for the realisation of another United States, a United States where lies and indecency are not rewarded with the honour of taking the highest office.

In a time of globalised crises, progressive democratic forces must work together to protect the foundation of democracy at home, and to strengthen the basis of a rule-based multilateralism grounded in international law. Otherwise, the escalation of conflicts into catastrophic wars will continue, and the degradation of the ecosystems we humans depend on will accelerate due to pollution and climate breakdown. The crises of today will descend into a bleak future that leaves future generations with reduced wealth, health, rights, and resources. The US still has the choice to be at the heart of the international efforts for a liveable future based on the rule of law, in contrast to a future darkened by the rule of the powerful and the survival of the fittest. The actions and inactions, the words and deeds of Donald Trump, however, leave little doubt that his choice will not be a choice we would wish for.

With Donald Trump openly fantasising about dismantling electoral and human rights, democracy as such was on the ballot on 5 November, and the result has been devastating. If the last months have taught us anything, it is that democratic culture in the Global North is at a breaking point, whether it is in presidential elections in the US, general elections in France and Austria or regional elections in Germany. Democracy is in crisis. Both the conservative narratives preaching “the safety of the status quo” as well as progressive narratives promoting “the power of change for the better” have lost credibility, giving space to narratives of hate and hopelessness. The solution cannot be to reduce campaigns to a competition of money-raising and spending. The solution cannot be to reduce politics to theatrical displays of heroes and villains. The solution cannot be to reduce political visions to ever more frantic and surreal promises of peace and wealth. Instead, we must find our way to a culture of political honesty that allows us to meet where we are instead of where we want each other to be, where political differences can be seen as opportunities instead of as sources of fear and disrespect.

The election of Kamala Harris would have been a chance to turn the tides for the better. Now, more than ever, the EU has to do its homework, whether it is on defence spending, nature restoration and climate crisis mitigation, coherent and consequential support for international law, or economic policies of innovation and green transition. A world where the US could be a partner in this, rather than a competitor or a reluctant bystander, would be a better world. Alas, the US has voted otherwise. Now, the EU no longer has the luxury of relying on international allies to ensure a secure future for our people. If we want a green, safe, and progressive future, the EU better get to work.