Winning graciously and losing gracefully are important life lessons to pass on to kids, especially in governing in a polarizing climate. Donald Trump has rarely followed these rules, even in victory, because of his focus on revenge and accumulation of power for himself or his movement. His picks for the cabinet and other positions seem to be driven more by revenge than reform, with controversial and divisive choices. This strategy may lead to instability and could alienate voters in the long term.
Trump and the GOP need to avoid misreading their mandate and imposing their own culture on the public, as this could lead to rejection of the administration. Voters elected Trump not because they liked him, but because of who he was not. If Trump doesn’t focus on delivering on promises and maintaining stability, similar to how Biden lost support post-Afghanistan withdrawal, he could risk a rapid decline in approval ratings and loss of political capital.
Perceived overreach is the downfall of every political party, and it remains to be seen whether Trump and the GOP understand why they won and if they will avoid overreach. If Trump’s administration starts with controversial and unstable actions, it may not have a honeymoon period and could face internal turmoil within the GOP-controlled Congress. Ultimately, understanding the reasons for victory and governing with stability and a focus on the needs of the electorate will determine the success or failure of Trump’s presidency.
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