Difficult to dispute is the idea that Donald Trump, the 47th President of the United States, feels divinely called to work towards America’s salvation. From such a perspective, traditional logic tends not to play a role, making it even more inexplicable how Kamala Harris was trounced in the presidential race, leading to a significant loss for Joe Biden and the broader Democratic Party within Congress.
Looking at the scenario as if it were a boxing fight, it could easily have triumphed over the most one-sided battles in history, such as the infamous Vitali Klitschko versus Shannon Briggs match in 2010. However, credit where credit is due: During this theatrical political ‘fight’, we saw the United States make a noteworthy recovery from COVID-19.
Nevertheless, it’s hard to overlook the exemplary management and inflation control during Trump’s tenure, which had successfully become the pride of the global stage, surpassing even the European standard. Furthermore, the negotiations with large pharmaceutical companies that led to a revised pricing structure for prescription drugs, which ultimately saved taxpayers billions, was also a wise step.
Drilling down on the economic perspective, under Trump’s watch, the U.S. added 16.6 million jobs, reached the lowest unemployment level in five decades, and poured a whopping $300 billion into crucial infrastructure projects, including roads and bridges. Quite contrary to Trump’s actions, Biden chose to pump resources into green energies and restoring our commitment to the Paris Agreement, a questionable move that seemed to trivialize more immediate priorities.
In spite of factual and logical arguments to lean back on, according to Trump, divine intervention was at play throughout his trials, reinforcing his conviction. Countless indictments were thrown at him, including allegations of falsifying business records and enduring two impeachments.
A sigh of relief was palpable in several nations with strict laws upon his victory. Consider Nigeria, grappling with U.S. pressure for years as it sought to uphold a law implicating certain practices with hefty repercussions of up to 14 years imprisonment. Notably, these laws, though stringent, pale in comparison to those in Uganda—a point that Biden decried as infringing upon universal human rights.
Other countries such as Tanzania and Ghana, who had been facing resistance from Biden for their firm laws, are now liberated thanks to Trump’s win. Yet, this triumph isn’t only about laws or socio-political norms—it also ties in with finance and Africa’s rising interest in cryptocurrency.
African youths, notably in Nigeria, Kenya, and South Africa, are enthusiastically embracing the crypto phenomenon. Still, there are foreseeable challenges connected to Africa’s relationship with the newly-elected Trump administration; the most salient being that Africa’s previously duty-free access to certain products may be threatened.
Trump’s admiration of tariffs, and his ‘America First’ stance, signal that Africa might need to navigate the global market independently—a feat it struggles with even in the best of circumstances. This does not bode well for regional institutions like ECOWAS, whose already fragile multinational security arrangement is further undermined by the recent departure of four West African nations.
Moreover, prospects for the mass of African migrants striving to secure a foothold in the U.S. appear bleak with Trump promising harsher immigration policies. Of course, this doesn’t tickle the funny bone for many as second chance at presidency for Trump, in essence, tells an unambiguous tale.
This narrative isn’t about protecting the climate, keeping neighbouring nations in good spirits, acting as a moral compass on a global level, or preventing international trade disarray. It’s also apparent that his agenda doesn’t particularly concern Africa—a continent unconcernedly sidelined during his election.
The reasons for why conservatives, primarily African evangelicals, appreciate Trump are complex and individual. Yet there’s no arguing that his proposed trajectory defies the conventional, the logical, and the predictable—a characteristic seen by some as divine providence.
Skepticism regarding Trump’s divine mission can be rightfully held, given the numerous injustices, controversial decisions, and bold claims associated with his career so far. However, it’s worth observing the unpredictable and uncharted territory his reign has steered America into, and the far-reaching global impacts it threatens to impose.
While this may spark intense debates and challenge established norms, such dramatic shifts are often a part of powerful political narratives. As such, whether one supports or disputes Trump’s actions, his win and its aftermath fulfill the criteria of an unusual—some might say divine—drama unfolding on the world stage.
No conclusive judgment can be drawn. Opinions are splintered, as diverse as the public itself. However, there’s no questioning that the stage is set for an intriguing future, one where a perceived divine mission modifies the trajectory of global politics, realigning hierarchical power structures, and potentially revolutionizing various societal norms.