The American People Make Their Voice Heard

In the Presidential election of November 2024, Donald J. Trump was elected, for the second time, President of the United States by a massive margin, leaving the Democratic Party contender Kamala Haris tumbling in his wake.

The Republican Party also gained control of both the Senate and the House of Representatives. The outcome gave the Republicans  charge of both the Executive and Legislative branches of the State. It was an unambiguous mandate for the Grand Old Party.

And yet two years later, almost to the date, a matured electorate had turned the table, creating history not just by the sheer margin of the victory for the Democrats but more importantly by its complexion and the message they delivered on November 3, 2026.

Understandably, there are, and will continue to be, endless commentaries and analysis  on the clear mandate won by the Democratic Party and its likely impact at home and on the larger global canvas.

Conventional wisdom says that American voters vote with a hand on their wallet. History too reinforces this line of thinking; gas prices, grocery bills, mortgage rates, medical bills are traditionally determining factors on election day.

This time though, the added elements were the style of governing by the incumbent occupant of the White House and his out of touch team in the administration, fighting unjustified wars in far off lands and its impact on domestic economy.

An unequivocal support for a genocidal government in Israel also had a loud voice in the discourse.

The broad and clear message was: a mandate, regardless of its size, is not an entitlement but an opportunity to govern rationally and with a visible sense of responsibility. 

A responsible administration in the single global superpower will not drive its time tested and trusted allies and neighbours away, it will, instead, hold them close. It will neither try to justify an unjust war nor explicitly sympathize with acts of genocide. 

At home it will seek to embrace diversity and not create divisions in the society. Racial supremacy is a thing of the past. America has changed and continues to change for the better.

The sooner those entrusted to govern accept this reality, the better it is for them and the country. It is imperative to remember that in America, both the voter and the voted, are first and foremost, Americans, regardless of their gender, race, faith, colour and  ethnicity. 

On November 3, the American voter sent yet another clear message: America is not a large Israel, it is fundamentally different, that, unlike Israel, theology does not define the American mind set, that AIPAC and corporate funding will not influence the final outcome.

America is a functioning democracy where elected representatives, both in the Executive and Legislative branches, are held accountable by the electorate.

The fact that all the four hundred thirty-five members of the House of Representatives and a third of the Senators have to face their respective constituents every two years means the voter keeps them on a short leash. This is what defines American democracy.

All what has been stated above will apply in equal measure to the newly elected legislators and state level administrators. A massive mandate is not a license, but an opportunity to firmly establish accountability, social and political justice.

One hopes the new set up will learn from the past, plan for the future but focus on the present. At the end of the day, a stable, inclusive, just and a trustable America, one that respects international laws, is in everybody’s political, economic and strategic interest.

A political party is not a personal and family property it is a collective whose ultimate controls rests with the people, that none is elected to "power" -- power belongs to the people, who use that power to entrust one to govern for a set period of time. 

President Donald Trump will continue  to remain in office for the remaining period of his term with full executive powers as ensured by the Constitution. It is his ability to legislate with a Democrat controlled Congress will most certainly be seriously weakened.

The author is a former Foreign Secretary of Bangladesh and Ambassador to the United States.