The Guardian view on the return of President Trump: a bleak day for America and the world | Editorial

His voters knew what they were getting when they picked him over Kamala Harris. But his opponents cannot despair

This is an exceptionally bleak and frightening moment for the United States and the world. Donald Trump swept the electoral college and is on course to take the popular vote – giving him not merely a victory, but a mandate. If many voters gambled on him in 2016, they doubled down this time. Presented with a choice between electing the first black, female president on a promise of a sunnier future, and a racist, misogynist, twice-impeached convicted felon hawking hatred and retribution, they picked Mr Trump.

The stark divide between two Americas persists. But polls did not predict the scale of this victory. Only one president has previously won two non-consecutive terms. In 2021, Mr Trump seemed briefly to have lost his own party. Now he has increased his vote share across the country and multiple groups of voters. This – even more than the two assassination attempts en route – will convince him of his invincibility.

Do you have an opinion on the issues raised in this article? If you would like to submit a response of up to 300 words by email to be considered for publication in our letters section, please click here.

The Guardian view on the return of President Trump: a bleak day for America and the world | Editorial

Topics

Related

The Guardian view on America’s electoral college: time to scrap an antidemocratic relic | Editorial

The Guardian view on Germany’s collapsed coalition: politics in the shadow of Donald Trump | Editorial

The Guardian view on Donald Trump’s plutocrats: money for something | Editorial

The Guardian view on North Korea’s competing calendars: arranging the days of our lives | Editorial

The Guardian view on Ukraine after Trump’s victory: bracing for what lies ahead | Editorial

The Guardian view on Trump’s planet-wrecking plans: the UK government’s resolve will be tested | Editorial

The Guardian view on Trump’s tariff push: it should spark a global call for fairer trade | Editorial

The Guardian view on Labour and the US election: a storm in a teacup | Editorial

The Guardian view on ‘indie beer’: crafting a new identity | Editorial

More from The Guardian

ICC issues arrest warrants for Benjamin Netanyahu, Yoav Gallant and Mohamed Deif over alleged war crimes – Middle East live

Ukraine claims Russia fired intercontinental ballistic missile at Dnipro

John Prescott, British former deputy prime minister, dies aged 86

Transgender woman wins record payout in China after electroshock treatment

Cop29 climate finance deal hits fresh setback as deadline looms