Newsom Rising, Unity Fading

California Governor Gavin Newsom’s chances of becoming the next President of the United States increased significantly after the current head of state, Donald Trump, decided to use tough measures to quell the riots in Los Angeles.

If—and when—this happens, it will mean a further deepening of the divide within the United States. This is because Newsom belongs to the progressive wing of the Democratic Party and will likely face off against a Trump-aligned Republican. 

This does not bode well for the global superpower that has led the world for a long time, and which is increasingly being challenged by China economically, militarily, and politically. Nor is it good news for Western Europe, where people have, for far too long, operated under the assumption that the U.S. will selflessly take care of global security matters without EU countries investing in their own defense to the same extent.

That’s why it is important for Americans, after the Trump era, to succeed in finding more common ground rather than allowing politically opposed leaders to dig even deeper trenches between different segments of the population. And neither Newsom nor his potential Trumpist opponent is the right person to lead such a unifying process.

Previous thoughts on the same topic:
Ego at the Altar
Should Finland Heed the Warnings of a Left-Wing Idealist?
Europe Needs Leadership and Urgent Defense Actions

The Free World Needs America’s Leadership Now

It has been difficult for us Europeans to understand why Donald Trump has been so popular among American voters. Of course, he has made some good decisions regarding immigration and the excesses of value liberalism, but on the other hand, his foreign policy endangers the unity of the Western world in the face of China and Russia and leads to a decline in the standard of living on both sides of the Atlantic.

Naturally, we do understand that behind this lies the economic self-sufficiency stemming from the greatness of American society, which slows down the impact that closing borders has on the daily lives of ordinary citizens. And, of course, the DEI/woke movements that have eroded American society from within during the Democrats’ time in power, and which many have grown thoroughly tired of.

According to recent information, however, it now seems that even for Americans, enough is enough. This is indicated by a fresh poll showing that 50.2 percent of Americans disapprove of the president and his administration’s actions, while only 46.4 percent approve. Even Elon Musk has noticed that Trump’s actions are becoming costly for him personally as well.

It remains to be seen how Trump will respond to these numbers — and how that will affect how he leads the country in relation to the rest of the world.

Right now, the most important thing would be to express strong support for Ukraine, both in words and actions. This is because Russia has just launched its spring offensive, and its success would be in no Western country's interest — least of all the USA’s, since Putin and Xi seem to have found common ground and, for the first time since the end of the Cold War, pose a significant security threat to the Americans.

Previous thoughts on the same topic:
Number of Predators is Increasing in Russia
Has President Trump Lost His Grip on Reality?
Economic Decline Awaits Americans as Trump Imposes Tariffs

Biden's Withdrawal Opens a New Possibility for Democrats!

Yesterday brought the long-awaited news of Joe Biden's announcement to not pursue a second presidential term. This immediately reshaped the course of the U.S. presidential election.

At this point, many are likely certain that Biden’s withdrawal has secured Donald Trump’s re-election for a second term as the president of the world's leading superpower. However, I am not so sure about this.

Of course, I admit that Trump’s challenger is in a hurry to justify to the nation why he or she should be elected. The situation is not made any easier by the fact that the competitor has gained sympathy from an assassination attempt against him.

In reality, however, the new candidate—whoever he or she may be—holds a trump card, at least if he or she is relatively unknown to most of the electorate. This way, his or her first national appearance will create an unusually significant impression on the voters.

If this impression pleases the majority of voters, Donald Trump will be in trouble, because despite his great popularity, he also evokes a lot of negative feelings among people. Therefore, in a country with low voter turnout like the United States, an appealing candidate might motivate even those voters who could not imagine placing their trust in either Biden or Trump.

Therefore, the Democrats should look for a candidate who has the potential to successfully launch their campaign in the manner I described above. But if they fail to do so, another four years of Trumpism lies ahead.

Previous thoughts on the same topic:
Joe Biden Must Step Aside, But Can a Suitable Candidate Be Found?
Biden's dementia and Trump's speeches may improve European security
Risk of dementia in the U.S. presidential elections