Today, Donald J. Trump delivered a victory speech after he secured the 267 electoral votes mark during the vote count, as he is set for a second term as US President.
The Republicans’ victory can be considered a landslide, to the surprise of many who were expecting a fiercer competition from democrat candidate and US vice president, Kamala Harris.
The ongoing situation in the Middle East, symbolized through Israel’s ongoing aggressions on Gaza, Lebanon, the West Bank and the region, and other regions such as Ukraine, were not enough to translate popular discontent vis-à-vis the performance of both parties into the nascence of a third party or movement.
While many expected Green Party candidate Jill State to make a breakthrough, the candidate did not even reach the one million vote mark.
The Campaign
Trump received the support of a wide range of prominent actors, including the world’s richest man, Elon Musk, with a particular note that Trump promised tax cuts to the wealthiest.
Trump also received the support of famous mixed martial artist, comedian and podcaster Joe Rogan, UFC CEO Dana White, and many others.
In contrast, Kamala Harris’ campaign was endorsed by a myriad of American celebrities, such as Beyoncé, Taylor Swift, and others.
Trump asserted his position on a number of different issues, including threats he considered coming from immigration and foreign powers such as China and his stance on matters such as abortion, announcing plans to ban it again and overturn Roe v. Wade.
The Israeli War on Gaza, Lebanon and the Region
While affirming his support to Israel and previously stating that “no one is more pro-Israel” than him, Trump also mentioned that he will put an end to the ongoing war and bloodshed taking place in the region, stating that there will be no wars during his term.
While Israel’s ongoing genocidal campaign on Gaza came under Joe Biden’s (Democrat) rule and under the military and financial support of the current administration, many assume that Trump might take an even more extreme position pro-Israel.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu congraluated Trump after his election, after rumours circulated that Netanyahu was delaying a ceasefire deal with Lebanon until after the US elections. Netanyahu’s rumoured candidate of choice was Trump, signalling optimisim that Trump may be more “sympathetic” to Netanyahu than Biden.
However, despite the Biden administration’s occassional comments on the need for a ceasefire in the region, the Biden administration continued to actively reassert Israel’s “right to self-defense”, while continuously providing it with weapons and funding.
To many in the Middle East a Trump administration signals little change from a Biden administration that failed to impose an arms embargo or stop Israel’s genocide in Gaza and war on Lebanon.
On the other hand, other viewpoints suggest that Trump’s “business-making” attitude might bring forward a swift end to the fighting through a deal of the sorts.
In any case, analysis suggests that it is not until the president’s actual inauguration on January 20, 2025, that Trump will be able to take any steps regarding the conflict. This, of course, unless back-channel talks yield/enforce a different scenario.
Today, Israeli forces have begun a series of new strikes on Lebanese territories, with the Israeli army publishing yet a new number of forced displacement orders on areas across the country.
In his speech, Hezbollah Secretary General Naim Kassem stated that the US elections hold no value regardless of the winner. Hezbollah has repeatedly emphasized that a ceasefire is a number one priority, but that if Israel continues to conduct operations, Hezbollah will continue on its part.
During his previous mandate as president, Trump had moved the US Embassy to Jerusalem and officially recognized it as Israel’s capital in 2017, in a dangerous move that many considered an encouragement for Israel to resume building settlements across the West Bank.
Today, while the populations of Gaza, Lebanon, the West Bank and the entire region await what will come out of the new presidency, Israeli strikes and aggressions continue to cause mass harm and destruction.