The Economist endorses Harris amid Trump reelection concerns
The British magazine The Economist has announced its support for Democratic Party candidate Kamala Harris in the upcoming U.S. presidential elections. The editorial board of this influential weekly also expressed concerns about Donald Trump's unpredictability.
31 October 2024 14:19
In an article published on Thursday, the editorial staff of The Economist explains that the election of Donald Trump as President of the United States poses a serious threat to the world due to his unpredictability. The British weekly emphasizes that the responsibility placed on the leader of the free world is too great to risk entrusting it to such an erratic politician.
Journalists note that although many readers may appreciate certain achievements of Trump, they would not want to do business with him nor see him as a role model for their children. According to the editorial board, the belief in the strength of American institutions to temper Trump's temperament is misguided.
Trump and the Republican Party have changed significantly
The editorial acknowledges that some predictions about Trump's first term (2016-2021) did not come true, and some of his decisions, such as financing the COVID-19 vaccination campaign or signing the Abraham Accords in the Middle East, were positively evaluated. Despite this, The Economist emphasizes that Trump and the Republican Party have changed significantly compared to 2016.
Currently, Trump wants to impose tariffs of 200% or even 500% on cars from Mexico and intends to pursue a monetary policy that could lead to conflict with the Federal Reserve, posing a threat of global economic catastrophe. The weekly also notes that half of the members of his previous cabinet do not support him in this year's elections.
Although The Economist recognizes that Kamala Harris is not an ideal candidate — she sometimes struggles to present her plans clearly and is perceived as indecisive — it appreciates her efforts to consolidate support by moving away from previously presented extreme leftist views. The weekly concludes that the risk associated with Trump's re-election is too great.
"Presidents do not have to be saints and we hope that a second Trump presidency would avoid disaster. But Mr Trump poses an unacceptable risk to America and the world. If The Economist had a vote, we would cast it for Ms Harris" - the British weekly concludes.
