US Elections: Presidential Uncertainty

By: Deanza J. Andriansyah

Edited by: Nadhifah Zahran Laili

The United States presidential elections will be held on November 5, 2024. With former President Donald J. Trump and President Joe Biden being the only candidates running – similar to the 2020 USA elections, the public has expressed their reluctance on who to vote for.

Donald Trump is a member of the Republican Party and served as the 45th President of the United States from 2017 to 2021. He is a controversial political figure and had been since the 2016 elections, where he ran against Hillary Clinton. His political positions at the time were describing as nationalist, isolationist, protectionist and populist. Many of the remarks of Trump have also characterized as racist and misogynistic.For instance, his comments on Muslims and Mexicans sparked outrage in the public. He called Mexican immigrants to the US "rapists" and proposed a total moratorium on Muslim entry to the United States. Although Trump has denied some of the accusations of his mistreatment of women, he has been accused repeatedly kissing Temple Taggart, a former Miss Utah, against her will. Carrie Prejean, a former Miss California, recalled Trump ordering contestants to line up in revealing outfits so he could "divide the room between girls he found attractive and were those did not. [...] Some girls were sobbing backstage after he left." Along with several other accusations, the alleged mistreatment of women caused him to become a highly polarizing figure.

As President, Trump ordered a travel ban on citizens from several Muslim-majority countries, diverted military funding toward building a wall on the U.S.–Mexico border, and implemented a policy of family separations for migrants detained at the U.S. border. He also had a slow response to the COVID-19 pandemic by ignoring or contradicting many recommendations from health officials. Despite meeting North Korean leader Kim Jong Un three times, Trump made no progress on denuclearization.

On the other hand, Joe Biden is a member of the Democratic Party and is running for re-election in this presidential elections year. Biden served as the 46th President of the United States and previously has served as the 47th vice president from 2009 to 2017 under President Barack Obama.

One of the most significant controversies during the presidency of Biden was the withdrawal of American troops from Afghanistan. The withdrawal led to chaotic scenes at the Kabul airport as Afghans attempted to flee the Taliban takeover. Critics, including some within Biden's party, accused his administration of mishandling the withdrawal, leading to a humanitarian crisis and leaving behind Americans and Afghan allies. Moreover, the Biden administration faced criticism for its handle of immigration and the situation at the southern border. There were concerns about overcrowded migrant facilities and a surge in migrant arrivals, particularly unaccompanied minors. Critics accused the administration of being too lenient on immigration policies, while others argued that they were not doing enough to address the root causes of migration.

Notably, controversy has also surrounded his son, Hunter Biden as questions were raised about his foreign business dealings, particularly in Ukraine and China, and whether they posed conflicts of interest for the Biden administration. Republicans alleged corruption and influence peddling, while Democrats dismissed these claims as politically motivated.

The multitudes of videos have also been spreading on social media of Biden struggling to speak and "spacing out" while presenting his campaign speeches, during interviews and more. It could be attributed to his age, of 81 years old, and his stutter. However, many Americans have argued that this negatively affects the image of their country as the President often misspeaks or simply forgets his speeches on stage which leads to confusion among audiences. Lastly, Biden has been heavily criticized for continuing to send assistance to Israel amidst the Palestinian-Israel conflict.

Overall, these political figures have their own controversies, and this has caused many Americans to be reluctant to vote. However, we must keep in mind that voting is very important. It allows citizens to express their citizenship, influence policies, hold elected officials accountable, and safeguard democracy, ensuring representation and protection of rights in society.