Angelika I now have the difficult task of explaining to you why Trump was re-elected President. I actually wanted to let this topic slide, but Michael said that wasn't an option. To be honest, we weren't too surprised that Trump was the winner this time. It became quite clear to me early on that Kamala Harris was not the person who could beat Trump. However, I was quickly put in my place whenever I expressed this opinion. Nowadays, very few people are willing to engage in open and honest discussions or are even interested in listening to opinions that slightly differ from their own. One should not conclude that someone supports Trump just because they considered Kamala Harris a weak candidate.

I had already mentioned in our last newsletter (Rundbrief 10/2024) that the election came down to reaching undecided voters, as the base voters of both the Democratic and Republican parties had already made up their minds when Kamala Harris entered the race. Harris's close connection to Biden weakened her position from the start. Issues such as illegal immigration, the dire and chaotic situation at the Mexican border, the continued high cost of living, and rising crime in major cities were central for many undecided voters.

Statistics about declining inflation or crime, which many Democrats frequently cited, did not convince these voters, as their everyday experiences did not align with the statistics. The fact that the Democratic Party sent Harris into the race, who had been tasked by Biden to curb the flow of migrants at the borders, which was unsuccessful, indicates a certain level of tunnel vision. However, Democratic leadership seemed to rely on emphasizing the dangers of a second Trump term leading to a Democratic victory. This strategy had already failed in 2016. It is not enough to simply say, vote for me because I am not Trump.

Many undecided voters were looking for clearer answers from Kamala Harris and more charisma, a truly not to be underestimated factor in American election campaigns. Trump ruthlessly exploited the fears of voters and positioned himself as the savior of the working class and the common man, gaining many votes from voter groups that had once tended to choose Democratic candidates, such as Latinos and Blacks. This time, Trump even achieved the majority of all direct votes, and the majorities in the Senate and the House of Representatives also shifted in favor of Republicans. What particularly worries me about Trump as president is his lack of impulse control, his narcissism, and a cabinet full of people who have no idea about the departments they are leading. When did it actually start that people constantly overestimate themselves and think they can hold important positions without any experience? I wouldn't apply for a brain surgeon position either. We have four interesting years ahead of us.

And finally, a piece of local political news from San Francisco: Daniel Lurie is the new mayor of San Francisco (Rundbrief 10/2024). He won against previous mayor London Breed and left-wing favorite Aaron Peskin.

Greetings from Trumpistan:

Angelika und Michael

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