Trump's Return Would End America’s Liberal Dominance
Europeans should resist the temptation to invest too much hope in a Democratic victory, and act instead as if a Donald Trump second term is a certainty.
America first.
Photographer: LOGAN CYRUS/AFPThe European establishment’s delight in Joe Biden’s belated decision to stand down is palpable. Before the weekend, Europe had all but reconciled itself to a Trump presidency and the end of the postwar liberal order. Surely the spotlight will now shift from Biden’s flaws to Donald Trump’s? And surely Americans will now rally behind Kamala Harris, who has secured enough votes for the Democratic nomination with remarkable speed, and is, as the Democrats will keep reminding us, a youthful 59 years of age to Trump’s 78?
The only prudent answer is: Not so fast. Trump is still the frontrunner for the presidential election in November, ahead in the polls, particularly in the vital swing states and revered by his hardcore supporters. The global mood is against incumbents, as Rishi Sunak, Emmanuel Macron and, to a lesser extent Narendra Modi have discovered to their costs. Biden left it until late to withdraw, and indeed put up strong resistance to doing so, attempts to brand him a latter-day Cincinnatus notwithstanding. And Harris is a weak candidate whose own presidential campaign flopped in 2020 and whose tenure as vice president, where she was given particular responsibility for the Southern border, is light on accomplishments.