1 week Ago
While the prospect of a Donald Trump presidency understandably raises concerns in Europe, it’s worth considering whether this anxiety underestimates both Ukraine’s resilience and Europe’s capacity to navigate shifting alliances. European leaders, though rightly cautious, should acknowledge that the continent’s security and stability cannot hinge solely on the fluctuations of American politics. Trump’s claims of ending the Ukraine-Russia conflict quickly may invite scepticism, especially as his promise to resolve it “in a day” lacks the subtlety required for a conflict of such depth.
His approach could, indeed, bring uncomfortable shifts, yet European leaders would be better served by focusing on strengthening intra-European defence and economic policies rather than framing a potential Trump administration as an existential crisis for Europe. Uncertain times call for European unity and a renewed commitment to self-reliance – not as a reaction to any one administration, but as a lasting principle of resilience. Europe’s strength lies not in reacting to external forces, but in its ability to act with independence and cohesion.
Turning a potential challenge into an opportunity, Europe has the chance to solidify its own resilience and autonomy, reinforcing the principle that its security and unity depend on internal strength, not external shifts. Enda Cullen, Co Armagh Biden can make history – retire and make Kamala first female US president Joe Biden should resign on his 82nd birthday on November 20, allowing Kamala Harris to become America’s first female and the 47th president, serving out the final two months of Biden’s term. What a fine legacy this would be.
Dominic Shelmerdine, London Media needs to reflect on its one-way reporting of Harris’s election hopes Eric Conway summarised the US election result very well when he wrote that “serious questions need to be asked of large sections of the Fourth Estate regarding their abandonment of traditional standards of balance and objectivity” (Letters, November 7). He went on to point out that “despite having a huge war chest, virtually all of the media on her side plus the mega-rich entertainment and Hollywood elite, Kamala Harris couldn’t manage to win the election”. It could be added that the Irish media were also complicit in the lack of factual and balanced reporting on the issue.
Hopefully, we will be spared further infantile essays from Washington Post so-called journalists and Foreign Dispatch contributor Colbert I King, whose recent article was headlined “In my book Harris has already defeated this ranting bully”. After the excitement of the US election, ours may appear dull, but we should carefully consider who we vote for, remembering that in doing so we are endorsing the programmes their party promotes. There is much criticism of politicians, but the time for constructive action is at election time, so let us use our vote responsibly.
Mary Stewart, Donegal town Democrats lost because they focused on identity over food-on-table policies Americans collectively want and deserve better than just either the usual establishment callous conservative or neo-liberal candidate for president. Far too many people have to choose between which necessities of life they can afford. Americans are a people increasingly overworked, worried and even rightfully angry about food and housing unaffordability.
You can see how this adds to the insecurity for themselves or their family; it is largely the result of inflation, corporate greed and insufficient income. Yet, besides her campaign promise to “protect democracy”, Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris (probably because of bad advice) seems to have relied too much on constitutionally enshrining or federally protecting abortion rights nationwide to motivate enough voters to get her elected. Apparently, a hard-pressed electorate struggling to make ends meet doesn’t have the luxury to make democracy and/or abortion its primary vote-determining concern(s).
Therefore, unless the cost of living significantly improves, it may no longer be sufficient for a campaigning candidate to focus on non-fiscal social issues, which, besides abortion, mostly consist of race, sexuality and gender. Missing this may have made her appear even more elitist than what is usually perceived by voters at election time. Frank Sterle Jr, White Rock, British Columbia Smugness has been wiped from a lot of faces – now Donald has work to do Donald Trump has once again been elected president of the United States.
I would like to take the opportunity to reflect on when Joe Biden took office, and the much rejoicing and, dare I say, smugness among the leftist media and certain individuals who took pleasure in not just seeing Trump leave, but were also certain they would never see him back in the White House. The smile has been very much wiped off their faces. They have now ramped up the hysterics on how Trump is once again a threat to stability and democracy, and how world peace is also in the balance, despite everything that has happened under Biden – the war in Ukraine and political violence in the form of two assassination attempts on Trump.
Biden failed to deliver everything Trump had achieved in his first term, such as economic prosperity and peace deals across the Middle East. It’s up to Trump now to clean up the mess he made. Good luck to him.
John Carey, Co Westmeath An election settled by own goals rather than winning personalities on display I do not like Donald Trump. I do not like his lies, his misogyny and his insults. In fact, he is a pretty horrible guy for someone in public office.
But you have to admire him for his victory. He kept his message simple – the economy and immigration. What did we know about Kamala? Besides her pro-choice views and her sanctimonious hatred for her opponent, we knew little else about her.
Trump may have won, but in reality it was an own goal by the Democrats. Tommy Roddy, Ballybane, Co Galway.
