The Global
Spotlight on America's 2024 Election: Trump vs. Harris and the Growing Fear of
a Repeat Capitol Crisis.
As the 2024 U.S. presidential election nears,
much of the world’s attention has focused on what a victory for former
President Donald Trump might look like. However, many Americans—including some
of Trump’s staunchest opponents—are increasingly apprehensive about what could
happen if he faces defeat. Trump, currently locked in a neck-and-neck race with
Democratic candidate Kamala Harris, has never formally accepted any of his
prior election losses, from the 2016 Iowa primary through the 2020 presidential
election. This pattern of denials has intensified polarization in the U.S. and
raised alarms about potential unrest, echoing the violence that marked the 2021
Capitol riot.
The Fear of another
Tumultuous Election Outcomes.
Trump’s ongoing
rhetoric and actions have stoked distrust in the electoral system, sparking
concerns that he may again contest unfavorable results. During the 2020
election, Trump’s unfounded claims of voter fraud resulted in his supporters
storming the Capitol on January 6, 2021. This event, a culmination of Trump’s
repeated assertions that he had been wrongfully denied victory, led to deadly
violence and lasting political division. Critics fear a similar scenario in
2024, especially as Trump has continued to assert that any loss he might face
would be due to electoral fraud. Recently, he remarked, “If I lose, it’s
possible because they cheat. That’s the only way we’re going to lose—because
they cheat.”
Trump’s Legal
Troubles and History of Election Disputes.
Trump’s current
legal situation has only intensified the election’s stakes. He faces 34 felony
convictions tied to hush-money payments made to silence an adult film actress
before the 2016 election. Further, he has been indicted twice and impeached
twice, all linked to his alleged efforts to influence the 2020 election
outcome, which he has yet to concede. Even after American voters rejected him
four years ago, Trump and his supporters inundated the media with
unsubstantiated claims of fraud and irregularities, resulting in over 60
lawsuits contesting state and local election processes. These legal challenges
were nearly universally dismissed by judges, who ruled that the lawsuits should
have been filed well before the election took place. Now, Republicans are
preemptively challenging voting procedures once again, with over 100 new
lawsuits filed across the country in preparation for this election.
Concerns over the Future of U.S. Democracy.
With Trump on the
campaign trail, his statements and actions continue to raise questions about
the resilience of U.S. democracy. His assertions that the election is only fair
if he wins are likely to inflame tensions, regardless of the outcome. Many fear
that his influence could again trigger unrest or violence if he contests the
election results, as he did in 2020. As the election approaches, America stands
on the brink of yet another consequential vote. The world watches with
anticipation—and concern—over whether the nation can overcome the political and
social divisions that have deepened in recent years.
Ref-The
economics times.
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