By Dr. Isaac Newton
News Americas, NEW YORK, NY, Weds. November 6, 2024: A friend recently expressed shock at the results of the 2024 US election – a landslide victory for Donald Trump over Kamala Harris. To explain my point of view, I used an analogy: “If you plant a mango tree in Alaska, it will not survive. But plant it in the Caribbean and it thrives.” Trump thrives in America because he is not a foreigner; it embodies the values, identity, and spirit that take root in American soil. His victory is not just about who he is; it’s about what many Americans see in themselves.
This election result is not primarily about Trump as an individual, but about what he represents. His speeches, personality and defiance — even his dramatic rejection of the 2020 election results — resonate with millions. In Trump, many see a reflection of their bold, unapologetic and fiercely individualistic identity. It is not simply tolerated; it is embraced because it conforms to an American essence. Trump embodies the values of independence, justice and a strong stance on the world stage.
For the Caribbean, Trump’s victory carries mixed implications. Caribbean leaders still highly value their relationship with the United States and seek a strong partnership. However, they may now have to rethink their dependence on the US as a key economic and strategic ally. This change may prompt the region to explore new partnerships, building alliances with other global powers such as those in the BRICS that show a commitment to sustainable and long-term cooperation.
Globally, these elections signal a more inward-looking United States, less inclined to lead and more focused on reshaping its domestic priorities. Trump’s America retreats from multilateral alliances and often defies international norms, pursuing policies that prioritize US interests over its traditional role on the world stage.
Domestically, Trump’s victory underscores the paradoxes of American democracy. Democracy is often messy and imperfect, but this election was a true expression of the people’s choice. Americans did not vote for an idealized, unified vision; they voted for a version of themselves that is crude, proud and often resistant to change. This election reflects deeply held values—freedom, independence, and a mixture of pride and tension—all intertwined with historic divisions along race, region, gender, and party lines. America’s democracy remains what it knows best: imperfect, diverse, sometimes divided, but inextricably bound by its evolving identity.
America didn’t just vote for Trump; voted for a true reflection of himself. Trump embodies a complex and dynamic nation, confident in its ideals — even when they don’t match the image it projects to the world.
EDITOR’S NOTE: Dr. Isaac Newton is a global thought leader, Harvard, Princeton, and Columbia-trained political analyst and strategist with over 30 years of experience in international relations, political dominance, and cultural analysis. Known for his clear and provocative insights, Dr. Newton explores the intersections of identity, democracy, and governance with a unique perspective on America’s influence around the world.
