This code has expired and is no longer valid

Trump’s Election Win Reopens a Dark Chapter for the U.S. and the World

Trump’s Election Win Reopens a Dark Chapter for the U.S. and the World
Then-Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump arrives to speak at a campaign town hall, in Oaks, Penn., Oct. 14, 2024 (AP photo by Alex Brandon).

When push came to shove, a campaign that prominently featured racism, misogyny and unabashed disregard for the truth was not enough to disqualify Donald Trump in the eyes of American voters, who returned him to the White House for another four years in yesterday’s U.S. presidential election. The implications for the U.S. and the world are as alarming as they are fatiguing.

Perhaps the greatest selling point for Vice President Kamala Harris’ candidacy was that, had she won, we would have been able to put Trump, as a figure and the avatar of a political movement, behind us. That would not have undone the damage he has already done to American democracy, nor would it have re-bottled the dangerous daemons he has helped uncork over his eight-year political career. But it would have allowed us to lower our guard just a bit, to turn our focus away from a defensive vigilance and toward a more proactive engagement with the challenges of the day, both in the U.S. and around the world.

Instead, we are now confronted with the daunting prospect of having to navigate not only the chaos and provocation Trump creates and thrives on, but also the consequences of both.

Keep reading for free

Already a subscriber? Log in here .

Get instant access to the rest of this article by creating a free account below. You'll also get access to three articles of your choice each month and our free newsletter:
Subscribe for an All-Access subscription to World Politics Review
  • Immediate and instant access to the full searchable library of tens of thousands of articles.
  • Daily articles with original analysis, written by leading topic experts, delivered to you every weekday.
  • The Daily Review email, with our take on the day’s most important news, the latest WPR analysis, what’s on our radar, and more.