The election night shattered one of the biggest enduring myths of American politics. That Donald Trump was an aberration, a fleeting exception destined to fade into infamy. Instead, he swept through the swing states and retook the presidency decisively, and also helped Republicans take the Senate back. They might even keep the House, earning a rare trifecta, when the same party keeps the White House, the Senate and the House. The Trump era, now firmly entrenched, marks a definitive move toward a right-wing populist, authoritarian political system.
For years, pundits and analysts have argued that Trump was an anomaly in the American political system. His rise to power, they argued, was a result of unusual circumstances, and once he was out of office, his influence would wane. However, his triumphant comeback has shown that his appeal is not merely a product of a chaotic political moment, but part of a deep-rooted cultural and political shift. The fact that Trump, who remains a convicted felon, has once again proven successful in reshaping the Republican Party—and even the national discourse—reveals that he has become the dominant force in American politics.
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Trump’s return to power marks a turning point, not just for the Republican Party, but for the entire country. His political message, centred around economic populism, anti-establishment rhetoric, and a rejection of cultural liberalism, resonated deeply with large swathes of the American electorate. The failure of the Biden-Harris administration to deliver on their promises of unity and effective governance only strengthened Trump’s position. His populist response to the perceived failures of the current political system—coupled with his skilful use of culture wars—helped him galvanise his base and win over key swing states.
One of the most significant factors in Trump’s victory is the continued resonance of his populist critique of the political establishment. Under Joe Biden’s leadership, the US faced a range of pressing issues, including high inflation, crime, and illegal immigration. Despite some legislative successes—such as climate change measures, health care reforms, and COVID relief—Biden failed to address the concerns of many Americans, particularly those who felt left behind by globalisation and economic transformation. These frustrations were quickly capitalised on by Trump, who positioned himself as the champion of those disillusioned by the status quo.
Trump’s success in capturing the hearts and minds of working-class voters—particularly white, male voters—has been central to his political rise. His message, which taps into the growing resentment toward Washington elites and the changing demographics of the country, struck a chord with many who felt alienated by both liberal social policies and the rapid pace of cultural change. In particular, Trump’s appeals to traditional gender roles and masculinity resonated with millions of voters who feared that the increasing influence of women and the growing prominence of feminism threatened their place in society. Trump’s unapologetic embrace of a hyper-masculine identity and his disdain for progressive gender policies further solidified his appeal among white working-class men, a demographic that has long been crucial to his political success.
While Harris made history as the first woman of colour to run on a major party presidential ticket, her campaign struggled to break through to a significant portion of the electorate, especially men. While a majority of women supported her, Trump’s campaign resonated more powerfully with white working-class men who felt marginalised by evolving gender roles. His message, which often celebrated traditional masculinity and attacked feminism, offered them a sense of empowerment and reaffirmed their place in a society they felt was increasingly stacked against them.
He also successfully ate into Harris’s support among men in both Hispanic and black communities. In a surprising turn of events, he won nearly half of the Hispanic men and about 20 per cent of black men, negating whatever chances Harris had in many crucial battlegrounds.
Trump’s politics are also deeply intertwined with a backlash against the cultural liberalism that has come to define much of the 21st century. For many of his supporters, Trump’s victory represented a rejection of what they see as an overreach of leftist policies—symbolised by the growing acceptance of queer rights, racial justice movements, and progressive ideas about gender. Trump’s culture war rhetoric, which includes crude and often divisive comments about transgender rights and gender reassignment, has struck a chord with voters who feel threatened by these changes. His political ads mocking trans rights and his attacks on Harris, whom he linked to the leftist agenda, helped Trump chip away at her support, especially among white, conservative women. They were supposed to help Harris, known for her fight for reproductive rights and female empowerment, but ultimately, as the results showed, they did not come through for her.
The roots of Trump’s appeal also lie in his ability to position himself as an outsider—someone who understands the struggles of ordinary Americans and rejects the entrenched power structures of Washington. His populist message, which blames elites for the decline of the middle class, continues to resonate with a large portion of the electorate. Trump's narrative has turned him into the political embodiment of a growing movement that seeks to challenge the established order, resist political correctness, and champion a return to traditional American values.
Perhaps, one of the most concerning implications of Trump’s victory is the growing acceptance of authoritarian rhetoric. Throughout his first term and in the run-up to this election, Trump’s admiration for strongmen like Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping, coupled with his praise for military coups, raised alarms about his intentions. In his second term, Trump’s rhetoric has suggested that he is willing to consolidate power in the executive branch, ignoring checks and balances among the three branches of the government, bypassing democratic institutions and undermining the rule of law. His call for the "termination" of the constitution and his open flirtation with dictatorial measures reveal a worrying trend toward authoritarianism.
Trump’s embrace of authoritarian ideas, combined with his continuing crusade against what he perceives as a corrupt political system, threatens to erode democratic norms in the US. His actions, such as his involvement in the January 6 Capitol riots and his refusal to accept the legitimacy of the 2020 election, have recontextualised resistance to democratic processes as patriotic acts in the eyes of many of the MAGA world. If Trump’s second term continues on this path, the US could face a shift toward a more autocratic political system, with dangerous consequences for the future of democracy.
Trump has made it clear that he intends to continue his crusade against the “deep state,” target political opponents, and wage war on the mainstream media. With the backing of a loyal Republican base and a committed MAGA movement, he is poised to continue reshaping American politics for the foreseeable future. His rise is a clear indication of the deepening divisions within the country and the growing demand for an authoritarian figure who is willing to challenge the political establishment. His influence, long dismissed as a passing phase, is now firmly entrenched, and the US and the world must deal with the implications of his vision for the future.