American voters will decide who will be the country’s 47th president (Democrat) Kamala Harris or Republican Donald Trump. Whoever wins, both candidates will face significant challenges, such as wars in Ukraine and the Middle East, immigration and the continuing fight against inflation. However, the main challenge will be to get supporters of the losing candidate to accept the official results and to avoid scenes of violence, such as those seen during the attack on the Capitol on January 6, 2021.

Some worrying signs are already appearing. A new report from the Global Project Against Hate and Extremism (GPAHE) has identified trends in social media conversations that are reminiscent of those leading up to the insurrection. Trump has suggested he will not accept any result other than victory and that he may encourage his supporters to disrupt the counting and certification process, as he did four years ago.

On the other hand, Harris has said she would accept whatever the outcome, and there is no indication that her supporters are inclined to resort to violence. However, it cannot be ruled out that isolated individuals may seek to take matters into their own hands, especially in a year where Trump has already been the target of two assassination attempts.

Once the winner begins the transition process and takes possession of the Oval Office, they will need to address the following key questions.

Polarization

Whatever the outcome, the new president will inherit a deeply divided nation, split into two nearly equal halves. An important part of their responsibility will be to heal the wounds and heal the growing distrust between Democrats and Republicans, which has become so extreme that people are increasingly choosing where to live based on their political affiliation.

Harris expressed her commitment to being president for all Americans and fostering unity. In the final weeks of the campaign, one of her recurring messages was that she had a “to-do list” to help the American people. In contrast, Trump has pledged to be a “dictator” on “day one” of his new administration. In the final weeks of the campaign, he also threatened “revenge” on his political opponents, including representatives of the opposition party and the media.

Economy

THE Americans’ biggest concern is the economy. According to a YouGov survey conducted in October, 44% of respondents believe there is an imminent risk of “economic collapse.” And yet, it seems difficult for the country’s economic health to improve. The country’s GDP is one of the most dynamic of advanced economies, the unemployment rate stands at 4.1%, effectively signaling near full employment, and inflation, which exceeded 9% during the first half of Biden’s term, has been under control.

However, voters are drawn to Trump’s promises to impose tariffs on foreign goods to incentivize companies to bring production back to American soil, as well as his promise to cut taxes. In contrast, Harris proposed several measures to make homeownership easier, including the construction of three million new houses and apartments.

Foreign policy

One of the most pressing questions for the new president will be responding to conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine. Israel’s war against Hamas in Gaza has devastated the Palestinian territory, killing more than 42,000 people, mostly women and children. Violence has also spread to Lebanon, where Israeli forces have launched an invasion in the south as they battle Iran-backed Hezbollah.

The Biden administration has tried, so far unsuccessfully, to negotiate a prisoner exchange deal between Hamas and Israel to help end the war. The conflict has significantly influenced U.S. domestic politics, with the Arab American community and progressive groups criticizing the White House’s unconditional support for Israel. They are calling for an end to the conflict or, at the very least, urging Washington to veto arms supplies to Israel as a condition for supporting Harris. Trump, meanwhile, has proclaimed himself “Israel’s best friend” and, although he believes the war should end “as soon as possible,” he maintains that it should end in an Israeli victory. .

In Ukraine, the next US president will have to determine whether he will continue to support the government of President Volodymyr Zelenskiy in its fight against Russian aggression. Harris has consistently emphasized her commitment to maintaining economic and military support for the Biden administration, arguing that a Russian victory would encourage President Vladimir Putin to repeat such actions elsewhere in Europe and signal to other autocrats that they can act with confidence. impunity against the established world order.

Trump, for his part, criticized U.S. aid to kyiv, praised the Russian leader and claimed he could end the war that began in February 2022 in a single day, likely by forcing Zelenskiy to accept the Russian conditions.

In addition, the future head of state will have to navigate the main axis of American foreign policy: its rivalry with China and the future of Taiwan, the autonomous island allied with Washington, which Beijing considers part of its territory.

Reproductive rights

Domestically, the new Democratic or Republican president will face crucial decisions on one of the key issues that polls show was either the first or second priority for a majority of voters: abortion. . Harris has made reproductive freedoms a cornerstone of her campaign, passionately defending abortion rights. Trump, while declaring during the campaign that he would not sign a national abortion ban, welcomed the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn the federal right to abortion in 2022. Indeed, he named three of its nine judges. Trump also said he would “protect” women. whether they like it or not.

Immigration

Another major issue awaiting the new occupant of the Oval Office is immigration. This has historically been a top priority for voters, especially among Republican supporters, who have cited it as their primary or secondary concern. In response to growing public pressure, the Biden administration has taken action stricter measuresincluding limiting most asylum applications and halting the processing of asylum applications when the number of irregular border entries exceeds 2,500 per day for a week.

Harris pledged to pass the bipartisan immigration reform bill that failed in Congress earlier this year, which included tougher border enforcement provisions and increased funding for recruiting judges and officials to reduce the backlog of immigration cases. Trump, on the other hand, threatened to launch “the largest deportation operation in the history” of the United States.

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