Renowned liberal filmmaker Michael Moore expressed his viewpoints on the results of the 2024 election. Emotionally impacted, he made surprising remarks about the American populace, calling them ‘not a good people’. His disapproval was directed towards the overwhelming support they showed for President Donald Trump, who won his second term in office in an emphatic victory.
In sharp contrast to his post-election distraught, Moore was quite confident prior to the election. In fact, he was vocal in predicting that Trump’s run as the president was nearing its end, having no chance against Vice President Kamala Harris.
Dissecting the American history, Moore likened some of the less-favorable parts of it to his disapproval of the election results. However, he overlooked the reality that throughout history, societies have made mistakes and learned from them. Even America, having recognized and remedied past misdeeds, has continually evolved towards betterment.
Moore seemed taken aback that American citizens chose to have President Trump continue leading them. However, it should be remembered that these decisions were made by the majority of voting citizens, indicating a significant societal endorsement for Trump’s leadership and vision for the country.
Moore’s post-election comments make a stark contrast to his pre-election sentiments. Just a couple of days before the election, Moore expressed his belief in the rational mind of his fellow citizens and their distaste for societal divisiveness and potential for violence.
According to Moore, majority of Americans are peace-loving and prefer resolving differences amicably. He emphasized that this tolerant attitude is reflected in their acceptance of election results always, whether pleasing or disappointing. This statement, while affirming the positive mindset of the American population, contradicts his later allegations about them supporting a leader he disapproves.
Convinced that Americans would favor Harris, he predicted a staggering defeat for Trump, anticipating a major surprise for Trump’s supporters and MAGA nation members. This forecast now sounds ironic, considering the emphatic victory of Trump’s second term.
Moore held on to his belief that Trump would lose till the very end. In a television interview in October, he categorically stated, ‘Trump is toast, absolutely’. He even ridiculed Democrats, calling them ‘a frightened group of people’, for thinking Trump could win.
Following the election, Moore expressed his dissatisfaction with the Democrats, specifically the campaigning style of the Harris campaign. He implied that the alliance between the Democrats and Wall Street billionaires may not have resonated well with the working class. This perspective, however, fails to consider the complexities and multitudes of factors that can shape voters’ choice. Mere association with certain groups cannot simply dissuade mass support.
He further criticized the campaign for celebrating the endorsements from certain controversial figures, labeling them as ‘war criminals’. His remarks, however, were an attempt to oversimplify the complexities of political landscapes, failing to acknowledge that a multi-dimensional perspective often outweighs individual biases in voting decisions.
Nevertheless, Moore advocates for kindness in countering what he perceives as Trump’s negative qualities. This sentiment can arguably be universally agreed upon, as kindness and respect should form the foundation of any civilized society — irrespective of political alignment.
His call to action for his supporters included a request to ‘forgive someone.’ While it’s unclear whom he meant, the statement reflects a need for healing and moving forward, something that is imperative in any democratic society. It’s important, nevertheless, that statements like these are not driven by political bias.
Throughout his remarks, Moore’s bias due to his political allegiances is evident. What seems to be overlooked is the very principle of democracy: the collective wisdom of the majority. The majority of Americans voted for President Trump, exercising their democratic rights with their own rationality and reasoning.
Moore’s dissatisfaction with the election results serves as a reminder of the importance of respecting different perspectives in a democracy. Just as he has the right to voice his views, so does every American citizen who chose to elect Trump for a second term.
We must remember, democracy thrives on diversity of ideas and tolerance towards differences. Disagreeing with election results is valid, but devaluing the collective decision of the majority undermines this very essence.