What makes the 2024 U.S. presidential election different from previous ones? That's a question worth considering.
The Democrats are quite eager to see all anti-Trump voices and viewpoints. On X, formerly known as Twitter, the account "Republicans against Trump" (@RpsAgainstTrump) has a recent post from September 7 on former First Lady Barbara Bush's comment: "I don't know how women can vote for Donald Trump". In the past, this account has featured more contents, including criticisms from Senator Mitt Romney, a Republican senator, against Trump.
It should be noted that opposition to Trump from within the Republican Party is not particularly new. Republicans are essentially part of the establishment, much like the Democrats. The significance of Trump's candidacy in 2024 is that it is not merely a clash between the Republican and Democratic parties, it is actually a confrontation between the establishment and the anti-establishment. Trump represents the anti-establishment, those who are not career politicians. They may be entrepreneurs like Trump himself, or they could come from the investment circle, journalism, or various other fields. They represent the interests of the anti-establishment. Of course, they aim to change the status quo they find unsatisfactory, but this inevitably offends and challenges many interests within the establishment.
Most of the establishment figures are in the Democratic Party, with a smaller portion in the Republican Party. Both parties have their share of establishment members, who are career politicians adept at using their typical tactics. This is why we see instances of "Republicans against Republicans". In reality, the Republican Party, especially figures like senate minority leader Mitch McConnell, has provided little support to Trump. They have largely kept their distance, staying on the sidelines, and even offered critical remarks, which is telling in itself.
It is crucial to understand that the 2024 U.S. presidential election represents a fundamental contest between the establishment and the anti-establishment. The establishment is primarily concerned with issues of political correctness within the socio-cultural sphere, whereas the anti-establishment focuses on American interests, with their own interpretation of what those interests mean.
However, it is important to clarify that regardless of the outcome, the elected candidate will face significant constraints in enacting their agenda. The U.S. political system is a complex framework that includes Congress, legal institutions, the media, and external influence groups, all of which exert influence and collectively shape future policies.
The notion that a Trump victory would result in a radical transformation of America is misplaced. Instead, America is likely to change Trump rather than the other way around, and, fundamentally, America has already undergone significant changes.
