The question that I was most commonly asked when I first moved to Northern Ireland was “Who do you think is going to win? Trump or Harris?”

I might have jokingly answered that it would be better to ask a Magic 8 ball, as it had the same chances of predicting the election as I did. 

 “Reply hazy, try again.”  

 “Ask again later.” 

 “Cannot predict now.” 

To be honest, I was very taken aback when I was first asked this question so bluntly.  Americans had been dancing around the topic of the election for months, and with countless other tragedies in the news, the race for the Presidency didn’t make its way into conversation very often.

Part of this was obviously because of how polarizing this election was.  It’s hard to think of a Presidential candidate (certainly not during my lifetime) that is more divisive than Donald Trump.  I’m sure most Americans share the experience of his inflammatory campaign and Presidency having ruined more than one family holiday.  People were tired of arguing over the same things over and over again, and it was easier not to talk about it.  So, I wasn’t expecting so many folks to have such passionately opinionated stances here, in Northern Ireland.

It quickly became evident that this was a topic of great importance to many people here and something they loved debating, especially with Americans.  I was asked by cab drivers, bartenders, students, staff, and professors alike, and they were fascinated by American perspectives, as was I by theirs.

As the election drew near, it was all anyone could talk about.  Everyone seemed to be holding their breath, waiting for the results to be announced.  And when Trump’s victory was declared, it felt like everyone was in shock for a week afterwards.  While it was always a possibility that he would be elected for a second term, it still felt completely unexpected.  I mean, who expects a 34-count convicted felon to become the Commander-in-Chief?  In many states, he would not have even have the right to vote because of his criminal background.

The reactions in Belfast, while overall displeased with the turnout of the election, were still varied.  Many of my friends here reached out with their condolences (much appreciated), some offered to marry me for Irish or UK citizenship (thank you for the laughs on such a grim day), and some said they were looking forward to the memes they would see on the internet (a bit too soon for jokes, in my opinion).  I was even surprised by the occasional person who was “charmed by Trump’s charisma” and thought he would do better the second time around.

Though I was personally distraught by the results of the election, as were many of the people I know in Belfast and back home, it must be recognized that the majority of Americans got the outcome they desired.  Trump won this election by both the majority of the public’s votes and the majority of the Electoral College votes.  Despite people wanting to stand on their moral high ground and cut ties with everyone they disagree with, it’s impossible to disavow half a nation.  Clearly, there are many factors as to why this presidential election turned out the way it did.  But the biggest factor is that Americans are unhappy with the state of the country and desperate for things to change.

As we approach January 20th, the day of the Presidential Inauguration when the 45th President of the United States will become the 47th, I am waiting in anticipation and asking myself the same questions that many other Americans are:

• How are the next four years going to go?  
• Will the transition be peaceful this time?  
• Will I find myself coming back home to the same rights I had when I left the country last September?  

“Reply hazy, try again.”  

“Ask again later.” 

“Cannot predict now.”

 

Siddhi Salunke

Siddhi Salunke is a postgraduate student on the MA Conflict Transformation and Social Justice degree programme at Queen’s University Belfast.  Her Master’s dissertation explores the ways in which global health organisations become political actors in conflict and engage in methods of conflict transformation and transitional justice.   Siddhi is the recipient of the Patrick Devine Bursary.

Siddhi is originally from California.  She has a Bachelors Degree in Political Science and Global Health and a Masters Degree in Global Health from the University of California, San Diego.  Her research interests include healthcare systems in conflict zones, medical neutrality, militarism, and digital protest/resistance. 

The featured image has been used courtesy of a Creative Commons license.