Lessons for Australian politics in this remarkable US election

Regardless of one’s feelings about the ascendancy of Donald Trump into a second term as president, there are several clear observations to come out of the recent US election that have relevance for Australian politics.

First, people are able to demarcate between the man and the movement. Second, in terms of campaigning, it seems there is a clear correlation between having high-profile celebrities badgering a populace to vote a certain way and a reduced inclination by citizens to then do so. And third, the red-blue or rural-city divide is now clearly between working people and the wealthy elites.

This is a remarkable generational turnaround. Those with wealth or who are highly educated, who are largely buffeted from cost-of-living pressures, can afford to indulge in identity politics and climate catastrophising.

Peter Waterhouse, Craigieburn, Vic

Beacon of freedom

The extraordinary electoral success of president-elect Donald Trump signals a revival of the Jeffersonian concept of democracy. In an age in which government control through bureaucracies threatens to deny the very principles of our nations, we seem to be witnessing a revival of the concept of “government of the people, by the people and for the people”. The US has been a beacon of freedom for the rest of the Western world but has dimmed in recent years. I think the light was just made a lot brighter.

Vicki Sanderson, Cremorne, NSW

Donald Trump’s presidential victory came on the back of his loud, simplistic MAGA promise of a revitalised nation and his emotional fear-laden messages, including about illegal immigrants, a subject that strongly resonated with his supporter base. While Trump 1.0 was nothing much to shout about, with Trump 2.0 it is best to heed the cautionary political adage: “Those who promise by the cartload generally pay by the spadeful.”

Steve Ngeow, Chatswood, NSW

Hollywood howlers

The recent US election and, in its own way, the Queensland election show that trusting the polling is a risky business. While poring over the entrails, the soothsayers overlook the voters who signal left and turn right.

Another risk is the celebrity endorsement: actors read from scripts but not from reality.

Brian McGregor, Claremont, WA

The US election results indicate that strong political leadership and not Hollywood celebrities will win elections. The Albanese government should note this for the upcoming federal election. America has backed a strong leader, notwithstanding his character flaws. In uncertain times people turn to strong leadership.

Donald Trump will control US government policy in a way that Kamala Harris could never do. The Harris campaign was more about Trump than Harris.

Attacking Peter Dutton will not win the next election for Anthony Albanese. Strong leadership and policy without the support of elites and celebrities is the challenge for Labor.

David Muir, Indooroopilly, Qld

Despite the efforts of Democrats and Hollywood celebrities, plus much of the media, the Trump train achieved an amazing victory. The failure of the Indigenous voice referendum had a similar background of elites demanding Australians listen to their opinions without interruption.

Peter Burke, Mosman, NSW

Donald Trump has proved that issues of substance will always defeat pious platitudes. Trump offered Americans policies that were designed to improve their lives at a time in history when almost everyone is doing it tough. Trump rolled out the occasional celebrity, but Harris made rolling out celebrities her modus operandi. As if these celebrities were going to make life better for the average citizen. None of them has ever had struggle with cost-of-living issues. Trump’s policies may not bear the anticipated results but they at least offered hope and aspiration.

There is a clear message here for Anthony Albanese and Peter Dutton. American-style politics will not win an Australian election. Just ask Steven Miles.

Peter D. Surkitt, Sandringham, Vic

In the US election, Kamala Harris had the celebrity endorsement of Taylor Swift, George Clooney, Beyonce, Bruce Springsteen, Oprah Winfrey, Cher and many others. In the voice referendum in Australia the Yes vote campaign had the celebrity endorsement of Ray Martin, Cathy Freeman, Cate Blanchett, Shaquille O’Neal, Shane Gould and many others.

What do they all have in common?

Both Middle America and Middle Australia gave them the proverbial poke in the eye. Why? Because none of them has any connection to those in the middle of a cost-of-living crisis.

Rod Sinclair, Sydney

Deal-maker Donald

US president-elect Donald Trump is a deal-maker and the threat of tariffs will simply be used in negotiation to get what he wants.

In Australia’s case, he will say: if you want three of our Virginia-class submarines as part of your AUKUS pact, then, to avoid having a 20 per cent tariff placed on Australian imports to the US, they must be out there on the frontline, facing China if war over Taiwan is threatened.

John Clark, Moss Vale, NSW

Campaign misstep

There are many issues that account for the failure of the Democratic Party to stay in office at the recent US election.

Take the issue of abortion rights. It needed to be more sensitively handled so as not to antagonise powerful religious voters. Choosing abortion is not usually done lightly so it was not helpful to see the sole emphasis being put on freedom of a woman to choose as if she were fighting for freedom to choose her own clothing.

Lorraine Chester, Burleigh Heads, Qld

First World problems

The message for Australia from the US election result is that, in this constantly challenging world with increasing geopolitical tensions, economic pragmatism and common sense must come before wokeism. Australia simply does not have the luxury to pursue extreme left-green causes that inhibit the full development of our natural resources, including uranium, gas, coal and the wide array of metals, and that risk leaving the nation in a weakened, vulnerable position.

Ron Hobba, Camberwell, Vic

Trump derangement

For all the fear, detestation and hysteria generated against Don­ald Trump by a sizeable part of the media, I don’t recall him starting unwinnable wars like a George W. Bush. Or presiding over a chaotic and shameful withdrawal from Afghanistan like President Joe Biden.

Or selling out to Iran like president Barack Obama, which gave strength and sinew to Hamas and Hezbollah. Or even a reckless decision like that of president Ronald Reagan in 1983 to house US marines at Beirut airport, resulting in the death of 240 of them. Compared with these decisions Donald Trump is a cleanskin. But what is it about Trump that gets his opponents so stirred up?

Paul Everingham, Hamilton, Qld

Valiant Kamala

Kamala Harris fought valiantly. To lose any election at any level is a devastating feeling, but on election night she should’ve addressed her supporters, her troops, who were wounded and equally stunned, and given them comfort.

A commander must always put her troops first and be among them. And like Australia, the US must face up to some social realities of today that she doesn’t want to face, but which president-elect Donald Trump understood. That includes recognising that a lot of people feel they have come off poorly.

Those not enjoying the nation’s affluence don’t like to see other people living high to excess in the affluent inner capital cities. Trump got this; I wonder if Australia’s major political parties will get it.

John Dobinson, Herston, Qld

Now that Donald Trump has won this election, I believe it would go some way to heal the divisions in the country if he acknowledged that he was wrong not to concede in 2020, as Kamala Harris has already done now.

Grant Vercoe, Maryland, NSW

Embracing Elon

There has been a lot of the focus on the harsh public utterances on Donald Trump by various Labor-aligned people, starting from Anthony Albanese and former prime minister Kevin Rudd.

Justifiably so, and the government will have its work cut out to repair the damage relations with the 47th president. But we should not forget a second source of self-inflicted damage. This is the history of attacks on Elon Musk, who is all set to play a powerful role in the second Trump administration. The Musk-Trump bromance has been only too obvious. A good start may be an overdue replacement of the overzealous eSafety Commissioner.

Ramesh Thakur, Ocean Shores, NSW

Donald Trump’s meteoric rise to a second term as president is destined to define the character of the US and the leadership of the free world for many years. At the root of Trump’s MAGA revolution is a belief in the inalienable greatness of America’s founding constitution. But the greatest challenge to Trump’s presidency will be twofold. First, he must resist stoking political division and, second, make America lead by example.

Vincent Zankin, Rivett, ACT