Donald Trump’s defeat suggests that the first draft of history—written by pundits, politicians, and political scientists over the past four years—was unduly pessimistic.
My case for optimism about America's future.
[Thread]
theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/…
My case for optimism about America's future.
[Thread]
theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/…
Over the past years, many Americans—including not only the president's supporters, but perhaps especially his opponents—concluded that he has revealed the "true" face of the United States.
But that is far too simple.
But that is far too simple.
Trump caused staggering suffering and subjected the country’s democratic institutions to a frightening test.
But today, America accomplished a rare feat: to defeat an authoritarian populist at the polls.
This is a testament to the strength of the country's people institutions.
But today, America accomplished a rare feat: to defeat an authoritarian populist at the polls.
This is a testament to the strength of the country's people institutions.
Pundits kept writing Joe Biden off as an anachronism. But it turns out that he is very much in tune with this historical moment.
Eschewing the zero-sum terms of our culture war, he alone gave the nation what it longed for: neither woke nor anti-woke, he is, simply, decent.
Eschewing the zero-sum terms of our culture war, he alone gave the nation what it longed for: neither woke nor anti-woke, he is, simply, decent.
For the past four years, it became very fashionable to claim that Donald Trump became president thanks to his racism.
But while racism helped him win the primaries in 2016, the best evidence now suggests that it always harmed his standing with the American public at large.
But while racism helped him win the primaries in 2016, the best evidence now suggests that it always harmed his standing with the American public at large.
Just one example:
When voters were asked about Trump’s job performance during his last year in office, they gave him comparatively good marks on the economy and even his handling of the coronavirus.
The issue on which he did, by far, the least well was race.
When voters were asked about Trump’s job performance during his last year in office, they gave him comparatively good marks on the economy and even his handling of the coronavirus.
The issue on which he did, by far, the least well was race.
Over the past four years, Trump actually made gains among African Americans and, especially, Latinos.
If he lost anyway, it is in part because he was abandoned by a significant number of white voters who simply had enough of him.
The American electorate is depolarizing by race.
If he lost anyway, it is in part because he was abandoned by a significant number of white voters who simply had enough of him.
The American electorate is depolarizing by race.
America stopped an authoritarian populist from destroying our democratic institutions. We came together in unprecedented numbers to show that Trump is not the true face of this country.
After four years of dread and shame, this is a moment for hope and pride.
[End.]
After four years of dread and shame, this is a moment for hope and pride.
[End.]
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