Donald Trump’s second victory against the Democratic Party, led this time by Kamala Harris, speaks volumes about the party’s internal issues and its disconnect from the broader American public. The election outcome sends a clear message that the Democratic Party needs to engage in serious introspection if it wants to reconnect with the electorate. For Pan-Africanist revolutionaries and those fighting against neocolonialism in Africa, this election also serves as a lesson: even seemingly unassailable political elites can be defeated with persistence and the right strategy, as Trump has shown by winning twice against the establishment.
Corrupt Western Media and Political System
A significant factor in this loss was the role of the liberal media. The same media outlets that promoted incumbent president Joe Biden as fit and competent in previous elections attempted to build Kamala Harris as a credible candidate. However, public perception was different. Many saw through what they felt was a media facade, with Harris portrayed as more capable than she was in reality. Her repeated verbal gaffes and lack of clear articulation on major issues only deepened public skepticism.
The media’s attempt to mask her weaknesses backfired, further eroding trust in the press. For years, U.S. media has demonized Africa, contributing to losses due to poor risk perception of more than $74 billion annually according to data from the African Development Bank. And while African and Black communities have long voiced concerns about its imperialist and racist undertones, it took someone like Donald Trump to push these accusations into mainstream dialogue.
His criticisms of the media resonated with a population that was already disillusioned about the consistent lies, misinformation, and disinformation. If they have any ability to learn, this election result will likely force a reckoning within the U.S. media establishment, which now faces the challenge of rebuilding credibility after years of perceived corruption and bias that has been building up since Trump spoke about it for the many.
Elitism and Disconnect
Historian Niall Ferguson aptly pointed out that Democratic Party elites are out of touch with the average American. Leaders like Barack Obama, Nancy Pelosi, and Hillary Clinton, who are major policy drivers of that party are seen as disconnected from the real struggles of the common citizen. Instead of addressing practical issues, these elites focused on idealistic and divisive policies that did not resonate with the public.
Their foreign policy legacy—marked by wars and interventions in places like Gaza, Ukraine, Syria, Iraq, and Libya—has left many Americans weary of the Democratic Party’s role in global conflicts. The American people are growing tired of benefiting from blood money earned through war and the destabilization of other nations.
Incompetence and Poor Policies
One of the key reasons for the Democratic Party’s loss is its inability to offer practical solutions to everyday problems. The idealistic rhetoric surrounding issues like abortion rights has its limits, as the election results showed. Material concerns—rising inflation, economic insecurity, and a sense of being left behind—trumped abstract ideological debates.
Kamala Harris’s Lack of Competence
Kamala Harris was simply not a strong candidate. Her approval ratings were dismal, and she struggled to articulate clear and original positions on key issues. Unlike Trump, who thrives on his unconventional and unpredictable style, Harris appeared coached and unconvincing. Despite attempts to improve her public image, her performance in the campaign was uninspiring, further alienating voters.
Mistakes by Democratic Party Leaders
Perhaps one of the most damaging moments for Harris’s campaign came from Barack Obama himself. In a speech, he lambasted African American men for supporting Trump, a move that was seen as deeply disrespectful in a country where individual rights and freedoms are highly valued. Instead of galvanizing Black voters, Obama’s remarks angered many, leading to an increase in Black male support for Trump, rising from 12% in 2020 to 25% in 2024.
Moreover, Harris’s association with divisive figures like Hillary Clinton and war hawk Dick Cheney confused voters about what she truly stood for. This, combined with Joe Biden’s derogatory comment calling Trump supporters “garbage,” only solidified the perception that the Democratic Party was out of touch with the electorate.
Conclusion
In the end, Kamala Harris’s campaign was weighed down by a combination of elitism, media bias, incompetence, and fatal strategic mistakes by Democratic leaders. The party’s inability to connect with ordinary Americans and its tone-deaf approach to key issues allowed Trump to secure a second victory.
For revolutionaries in Africa, this election offers a critical lesson: even the most entrenched political establishments can be toppled with the right approach, persistence, and a focus on addressing real-world concerns. The African Continental Unity Party (ACUP), in its fight against neocolonialism, can take inspiration from this outcome, using it to strategize for the rapid reconstruction of Africa.
Kwame Gonza is a Pan-Africanist member of the African Continental Unity Party-ACUP and architect of the African Railway Triangle Network Master Plan (ARTNMP).
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