Is it game over for Trump?

In Google’s most-searched topic in 2020, the US election was the most searched query among Filipinos, topping even the coronavirus pandemic. Worldwide, coronavirus was first, followed by US election. This is an indication of the importance and interest of people worldwide in the US elections and its impact on the world. This is not just because some 11 million Filipinos and many other countries have nationals in the US, and the result of the election will affect their lives, but also because of the moral/ethical and political issues involved that have global and universal implications. The moral fitness and qualifications of Trump, and the impact of his governance on democratic countries and democracy have strategic and geo-political effects. The same huge interest in the US election were also in the main media of newspapers, TV and radio, but the pandemic lockdown enhanced the usefulness of the internet/social media in increasing the awareness of Filipinos on important issues.

As of December 12, 2020, Trump has lost the election and has only a 1% chance of reversing the situation with his protest and legal maneuverings. Biden has 306 of the Electoral College votes, much more than the 275 votes needed. In the national popular vote tally, Biden has over 80 million votes, 7 million over Trumps 73 million votes. Trump has filed protests and legally challenged the results in the swing states, but almost all the protests have been dismissed. Last week, the US Supreme Court ruled that the State of Texas has no standing to question the election process and results of the election outcomes in other states. The Electoral College votes will be officially cast and counted this week and Biden will be sworn in as president in January 20, 2021. Is it game over for Trump?

For the 2020 election, it is game over for Trump, but for his political and business career maybe not. The Trump campaign had raised over $200 million from his supporters since the end of the election for the protest and legal challenges. Even with the $4,000 per hour legal charges of his lawyer Giuliani, there are still $160 million that may be used by Trump and the Republicans in the 2022 and 2024 elections. This is partly the reason why some Republican are still supporting/enabling Trump in his election protests and rants.

The other reason some Republicans are still hanging on to Trump, is their perception that the core support of Trump among the rightists, conspiracy believers, misinformed, and individualistic Americans outside of the cities are still a lot of votes, and will hold for the Republicans. Of the 40% who voted for Trump, it is estimated that 25% will remain in this core group which will still elect many Republican congressmen and senators. On the other hand, the severe unsuitable personality and image of Trump has so damaged the ideology and morality of the Republican Party, that the young, educated, and informed conservative Republicans will eventually veer away from the Trump’s republicanism. It is unacceptable to them, how the Republican Party allowed an immoral, narcissist, untruthful, and opportunistic candidate take over the Republican Party. His bad governance will also be a lasting legacy for history and all to see, together with the slew of legal cases before and during his presidency, that were on hold when he had presidential immunity. Trump could still be a factor in the Republican Party, but it is unlikely that he will be a significant influence, as the Republicans have to rebuild and reframe the party ideology if they want to be relevant in the 2022 and 2024 elections.

It is game over for Trump. These are lessons to be learned for Philippine politics and the coming elections in 2022.