Washington: Built on the core principles of liberty, equality and self-governance, the edifice of the United States democracy, one of the oldest in the World, suffered worst turmoil this time.
In the 46th Presidential election of the country held in November, Joe Biden won by a margin of 8 crore votes. Uncertainty prevailed as the incumbent occupant of the White House, Donald Trump, refused to accept defeat.
Trump’s quirkiness was defeated as Joe Biden secured 306 votes from the Electoral College too.
In his tweet signifying victory statement, Biden said “In America, politicians don’t take power – people grant it to them. The flame of democracy was lit in this nation a long time ago. And we know that nothing, not even a pandemic or abuse of power can extinguish that flame.”
He appealed to Americans to “turn the page” on the divisive contest and called for national unity.
Biden has pronounced as his priority extensive vaccination to fight Covid pandemic, financial support to the poor and revival of the economy.
Read:| 'Democracy prevailed': Biden aims to unify divided nation
In the run-up to the election, Trump tried hard to divide US society into the lines of skin colour. This is evident from the record number of votes he managed to secure even in his defeat.
The unjustified indignation voiced by Trump saying victory has been stolen by Biden was the cause of street fights in Washington.
How Trump behaved was unprecedented for a US President as he abused the officials that said no irregularity took place in the election. He not only criticized the judiciary but also ousted from key positions the persons that refused to toe his line. His attitude was more dangerous than Covid-19 pandemic.
The Trump bandwagon tried to overturn the election in Michigan by trying to change 16 electoral votes. Refusing to overturn results for Trump the Republican Speaker of the House in Michigan, Mr Lee Chatfield said: “I can’t fathom risking our norms, traditions and institutions to pass a resolution retroactively changing the electors for Trump.”
The Speaker expressed fear of losing the country forever if the irregularity is allowed. His words highlight the depths to which Trump had stooped.
In a survey conducted over four years ago by “Economist”, the re-election of Trump could be the gravest danger faced by the World.
Trump did not leave any scope to prove them incorrect during the past four years. At the ceremony of his Presidential inauguration, Trump had said “From this day forward, a new vision will govern. It's going to be only America First.” But he turned all the democratic values into a laughing stock and conducted himself with an unprecedented haughtiness. With his fickle-minded decisions, he got the US isolated in the comity of nations.
Read:| Trump may not leave WH by Jan 20: Reports
Trump had unilaterally withdrawn the US from the Paris Agreement and the Nuclear Treaty with Iran. He also abandoned the Trans-Atlantic Alliance and the World Health Organization. He sought a commercial conflict with China causing much flutter among the comity of nations.
At every step, Trump tried to create obstacles for the transfer of power after the election.
Trump is now saying he will run for the 2024 Presidential election.
Biden made a victorious move by choosing Kamala Harris, whose South Indian roots are well known.
