Weekly Blog - 9 November 2024 - US Election
Absorbing the results of the US election and considering what it might mean for progress on tackling social injustice, ending poverty, and caring for the environment.
US election
The biggest global news story of the week has of course been the US election on Tuesday 5 November. As we all now know, this was a clear victory for former President Donald Trump and the Republican Party. They won the presidency and a majority in the Senate, and currently seem likely to also win a majority in the House of Representatives. It is universally recognised that Donald Trump is a divisive and unpredictable figure, loved by some, loathed by others. In this week’s blog we consider what the new Trump presidency might mean for the core issues of democracy, human rights, peace, strong and fair economy, poverty reduction and caring for the environment that Arise focuses on its Reform Movements and 4 Shifts campaigns. We also ask how Christians, the international community and the world might respond and engage with the new presidency.
What might the new Trump presidency mean on different crucial issues?
Looking first at the issues of democracy and human rights, this is perhaps where the greatest concern for many will be. President Trump’s flouting of many of the usual checks and balances and codes of behaviour in public life, his refusal to accept his loss in the 2020 election, and the storming of the capitol in January 2021, which he is widely seen as having encouraged, are all enormously worrying precedents. The American people, the institutions of American democracy, and the whole world will need to watch carefully to make sure democracy and human rights are not undermined in any way. Turning to consider peace and security, President Trump is a much stronger supporter of Israel than the current presidency. He is also famously a much less strong ally of Ukraine and NATO, and in general much more isolationist, with little appetite for the US to become embroiled in foreign tensions. This may result in a less stable world, with authoritarian countries like Russia, China and Iran able to wield much more influence in the international arena whilst the US retreats. On the other hand, Trump is also famous for his unpredictability and robustness in defending US interests which could lead in the other direction. In either scenario the international community will have to become deftly skilled in managing a probably volatile US foreign policy.
Turning to the issues of strong and fair economy, this is where Trump is strong (if not always fair), with economic policies that have every indication of boosting at least the US economy. Furthermore, it has to be acknowledged that the Republicans and Trump personally have struck a chord with huge numbers of blue-collar working-class voters in the US who are struggling and feel left behind and ignored, something which essentially won the election for them. This is quite an achievement, that has to be acknowledged by those on the left or mainstream of politics, and should prompt deep reflection on why so many ordinary people, right or wrongly, no longer feel represented or supported by those parties. When it comes to taxation and social spending though, Donald Trump has clear ambitions to cut taxes and US state social spending on the poorer sections of community. This means so many ordinary people will not benefit from any economic boost, and risks driving up levels of poverty and inequality. Finally, on climate change and the environment, President Trump is notoriously a climate change sceptic, and huge ally of the fossil fuel industry. Anti-environmental policies will have to be called out and opposed strongly by all those who believe in climate action and caring for God’s creation.
So where do we go from here?
As Christians we are called to respect and obey those in authority, and to pray for them, as Paul says, “I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people – for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness” (1 Tim 2: 1 – 2) (Arise Manifesto, pg 79 – 85, 53). The election was won fairly, and the new presidency will be a legitimate one. However, as Christians we are also called to call out and challenge our governments, like the prophets did in the Bible, when they fall short of God’s standards for the just, peaceful and sustainable world he wants to see. As the book of Proverbs says, “Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and the needy” (Prov 31: 8 – 9) (Arise Manifesto, pg 71 – 72). That will mean Christians in the US and around the world holding the Trump presidency (and indeed every government) to account. It will mean challenging and calling out any attempt to undermine democracy and human rights, any policy that goes backwards on tackling climate change and environmental degradation, and anything that increases poverty and inequality. Arise will continue to do this.
For the governments of other nations in the international community, especially democratic nations that believe in peace and human rights, they too must challenge and call out US government policies, and make it clear where they disagree (Arise Manifesto, pg 120). However, they should do this whilst also maintaining good and constructive diplomatic relations with the Trump presidency. This is important, no matter how distasteful they might find some of his policies, and no matter how much they might disagree. Maintaining good communications and diplomatic relations between nations is a crucial part of helping to build stability and peace in the international order (Arise Manifesto, pg 124). It is entirely possible to both retain good connections and to challenge and disagree on clear injustices. Finally, even if the US does temporarily roll back on some commitments to action on climate change, international peace and human rights, it is crucial that other democratic nations continue to hold firm to all these ideals (Arise Manifesto, pg 125 – 126). They must become stronger, clearer and more unified in standing for these values and freedoms, in a world where the ongoing support of the US amongst them is no longer as guaranteed and certain as it once was.
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Arise Manifesto – Find out more about the crucial Biblical values of peace, human rights, good governance, reducing poverty and caring for creation in the Arise Manifesto, Arise’s big picture, researched, Biblical, holistic and practical vision for a better world.
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