Following an unconventional campaign that deviated from the norms of bourgeois democracy, Trump won the election with the slogan “Make America Great Again.” Unlike previous campaigns, where billionaires and celebrities typically lent their support to their preferred side from behind the scenes, this time they jumped directly into the fray to stoke the electoral fervour. Elon Musk’s offer of a daily one-million-dollar lottery for registered voters raised eyebrows, even within the framework of bourgeois democracy. Offering money or incentives to encourage voting or voter registration could easily be seen as bribery, which casts a stark shadow on the image of bourgeois democracy.

On the Democratic side, alongside aligned international media, they pointed to the dangers of a fascist resurgence, attempting to rally support for Kamala Harris by warning of a potential Trump comeback.

Despite using every possible means to draw people to the polls, voter turnout in 2024 was lower than in 2020. In the 2016 election, the turnout rate was about 55.7%, meaning roughly 100 million people didn’t participate. By 2020, this rose to 66.8%, with around 80 million abstaining from voting. However, in the 2024 election, turnout dropped to 63.1%, leaving nearly 92.5 million people who didn’t vote. Trump emerged victorious with 72.6 million votes. Though he received more votes than in 2016, it appears his tally was lower than in 2020, when he lost. Neither Trump nor Kamala Harris are ideal choices for America’s bourgeois factions; in other words, the American bourgeoisie was unable to orchestrate the electoral game as smoothly as in the past to establish a new ruling group without controversy.

Through populist policies, empty promises, and tapping into public anger and frustration, Trump positioned himself as the saviour and representative of the “ordinary people.” His promises to improve the economic conditions of the working class are nothing more than an attempt to mask the harsh reality of growing inequality and increased exploitation.

Trump consistently stokes nationalist sentiments and exploits ethnic, racial, and gender divides to sow discord among different social groups, aiming to weaken class solidarity and unity. By pitting “citizens” of the US against immigrants, he attempts to distract attention from the real issues caused by the capitalist system.

Trump’s policies targeting immigrants, minorities, and vulnerable social groups not only heighten divisions but also serve to suppress the united struggles of the working class. Especially during periods of severe economic crisis and social inequality, these policies signal a deepening of repressive and exploitative measures.

During his previous presidency, Trump repeatedly demonstrated that his priority was the interests of the capitalist class. By cutting taxes for capitalists and large corporations and strengthening anti-labour laws, he pursued policies that clearly served the bourgeoisie. Now, his return to power will not only continue these policies but will also intensify the repression of workers’ and social protests. On the other hand, his closeness to figures like Elon Musk, who have openly opposed workers’ rights as has Trump, signals a government that will work against workers’ rights and in favour of the limitless interests of capitalists.

Trump appeared as a peacekeeper, claiming he would end the war in Ukraine and establish peace in the Middle East, and he apparently told Israel to finish things off before his return to the White House. However, we will witness an increase in imperialist tensions, not because Trump is an unstable and unpredictable figure whose actions are uncertain, but because, firstly, these tensions are a product of decaying capitalism, and secondly, tensions in a decaying capitalism have taken on a more destructive form. In other words, regardless of who occupies the White House, the imperialist tensions will inevitably manifest themselves dialectically.

The strategy of the United States, which began during Obama’s era, is the containment of China. However, each of the main factions of the American bourgeoisie has its own tactics for this strategy. Trump attempted to contain the Silk Road and China’s expansion through economic warfare and direct confrontation with China, whereas the Democrats, during Biden’s presidency, pursued a policy of isolating China by weakening countries close to China, such as Russia, North Korea, and Iran. The Russia-Ukraine (NATO) war, unprecedented sanctions against Russia, North Korea, and Iran were part of this approach. The policy of containing China will continue under Trump, but it will take different forms. The policy of containing China will lead to the intensification of imperialist tensions, as mentioned above.

The working class must realise that within the structure of capitalism, whether Democrats or Republicans, all serve capital and represent the interests of the bourgeoisie, and that choosing one party over the other will not bring about any change for them. The working class must be aware that hope for change through bourgeois elections is futile, and only united and nationwide struggles can create the conditions for real transformation and the end of exploitation and the oppression of capitalism. It is only through united struggle, self-organisation, and class awareness that the working class can confront the existing conditions and stand up against repressive policies.

The working class is a global class, and accordingly, class struggle has a global nature. The working class in the United States, as an important battalion of the global working class, can only rely on the support and class solidarity of workers from other countries, not on the bourgeois factions for improving its conditions. It is only the global working class, through internationalist struggle and its indictment of the capitalist system, that can, via communist revolution, put an end to the barbarity of capitalism and shape a bright future for humanity.

The future belongs to the class struggle!

F.A.

13 November 2024

Download as PDF