The US Presidential Elections 2020 will go down in the history of the country for many reasons. It is reckoned as costliest election thus far, with estimated campaign spending of $14 billion.. Notably, Joe Biden alone has raised a whopping $952.2 million with President Trump pooling $612.7 million¹. Interestingly even the proportion of smaller donations (amounts less than $200) which has increased to 22% in 2020 from 15% in 2016 exemplified the people's participation ².  

These donations accounted for 38% of Biden’s funds and 45% of Trump’s total. Significantly, Biden’s campaign received large amounts from 98% of tech companies ³. People’s enthusiastic participation eventually manifested in the form of record voter turnout, selective censoring of messages on social media continued to linger around as pervasive election intervention. These two aspects inadvertently pointed at people’s faith in the overarching democratic process and even exposed efforts to effectively tinker the system. Inadvertently, these features became an integral part of the US Presidential election season.

Together the bitter campaigning and partisan political discourse has turned the 2020 the most polarized elections thus far. The overt and covert role played by the media has heightened the divide between competing narratives turned the present round of elections into a bitter contest. The opposing narratives which once exemplified a healthy diversity is turning rogue due to burgeoning media interference that is feeding a partisan narrative.

With its inability to gauge the churn within the societies and their rejection of the old normal, labelling the growing resentment as ‘populism’, media accentuated the existing divide. Ascent of Donald Trump to White House in 2016 essentially reflected this change. His astonishing victory was mooted as an aberration and welcomed with “Not My President” protests across the country. Since that day, each and every action of the President has been critiqued. His policies, a break from the precedent, caused disruption. America’s equations with the World witnessed a sea change. His style of functioning, devoid of nuance led and infused with nationalistic approach led to an anachronistic order. This caused consternation and accentuated the rifts. American ecosystem, refused to adjust to this ideological shift.

While prevalence of alternate voices is sign of a healthy democracy, reluctance to accept the change has seeded confusion, built acrimony. Pitched ideological battles bred polarisation. The Presidential Elections 2020, a perfect platform to voice out their choices is now witnessing intense contest. Instructively so, it has been close to two days since the election day, elections weren’t called, which is unprecedented in American history. At the time of writing, Joe Biden is almost inching close to the magical number of 270. Trump is expected to do some kind of “Mission Impossible” to re-return to White House.

Media predicted a landslide for Joe Biden, but contrary to all predictions which has gone woefully wrong. Unlike in India, where media continue to virtue signal, progressive media in America have made no secret of their loyalties. Majority of them called elections in favour of Biden. With razor thin margins separating, both the candidates, media predictions had to bite dust. Hailed as barometer of democratic societies, capable of resonating societal changes, contemporary media failed to assess the ground swell. Despite scathing indictment of Trump over various charges, electoral trends indicate that he has retained his traditional vote bank. Contrary to the prediction of his unpopularity would help Democrats to regain control, Republicans have retained their control over the Senate.

Even as the number crunching game continues, apprehensions about the smooth transfer of power sour with Trump already filing legal suits. The flood of unverifiable discrepancies in counting are raising doubts about claims of free and fair elections, which is shining glory of the oldest democracy. As the wait for the real victor of the Presidential elections continues, the sore loser of the elections is media. Media has eroded its credibility for peddling a partisan narrative and viciously targeting Trump.

Meanwhile, reports of small and large business boarding up, instances of stabbing in Washington, an uptick in gun sales and plausible threat of violent protests to undermine the legitimacy of elections are only alluding to qualms of American democracy is in danger. Existence of contrarian views is the intrinsic strength of democracy. But the present electoral system is unable to accommodate all the voices, bringing in reforms in American electoral system should be a way forward.

Above all, the Presidential elections has a larger message to the world and the leftist-liberal/ progressive media in particular. Societies across the World are going through a deep churn. People are no longer enamoured by the concept of global village or globalisation, which is considered to have powered spectacular economic development post World War II. They are disenchanted with globalisation, mercantilism, which is threatening their livelihoods and jobs. They averse to migration and cultural assimilation which is denting their identities. Political nationalism is the new reality. Elites can’t wish away, the rising tide of economic protectionism and cultural insularity. By dismissing the emerging traits as populism, elites are deepening the rifts within the society. While return of Trump to power might be a miracle, but a reluctance to accept growing nationalistic approach might eventually make America ungovernable.

Whosoever be the next President of America, it is important to appreciate the binary, Trump kind of politics is here to stay. Instead of alleviating the rifts by the new President must respect the aspirations and concerns of all the Americans.

1. https://www.npr.org/2020/05/20/858347477/money-tracker-how-much-trump-and-biden-have-raised-in-the-2020-election
2. https://www.opensecrets.org/news/2020/10/small-donors-give-big-2020-thanks-to-technology/
3. https://www.cnbc.com/2020/11/02/tech-billionaire-2020-election-donations-final-tally.html?fbclid=IwAR1y-i1Cz8_pjSLaLSTHpS4lYv0UUkruWvicFV

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