The US presidential election on Nov 5 is now just around 24 hours away with a neck and neck race between Democrat presidential nominee Kamala Harris and Republican Donald Trump. It is one of the most unpredictable elections in the US history, as various polls are showing a narrow victory for Harris with a margin of nearly 1% in countrywide votes.

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At the same time, political historian Allan Lichtman, known for his impressive record of rightly predicting nine of the last ten US presidential elections since 1984, says Harris will be the winner. Millions of the registered American voters will chose the next president and decide the country’s future. Meanwhile, it is seven swing states – including Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin – which will determine who enters the White House for the next four year-term.

The US foreign policy equally influences the states both likeminded and competitors for better or the worse.

Given the high stakes, policymakers and political analysts around the globe, not just the Americans, are keenly following the election campaign. The critical role of the US in international politics is the reason behind this worldwide interest. No one can deny the fact that the US foreign policy equally influences the states both likeminded and competitors for better or the worse.

Pakistan is also closely following the US election 2024. But the PTI is employing all available means in the US to support Trump. Reason? The PTI is hoping that Trump as the US president will play his role as the most powerful chief executive in the world to get the party founder – Imran Khan – released. It is despite the fact that Imran Khan is facing serious charges related to corruption and misuse of power. These issues are self-created, as Imran Khan and his party are themselves responsible for resolving these issues rather than relying on the US election result.

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Meanwhile, the American voters on Tuesday will decide who is going to enter the White House. The occupant will not only run the United States, but his or her policies are going to affect the security, economic and political dynamics across the world. Therefore, the question is how Trump will affect the US domestic politics and international relations, if he wins over his rival? Trump is a stubborn populist leader as Harris has best described him while speaking to her supporters at a rally. “He is someone who is increasingly unstable, obsessed with revenge, consumed with grievance — and the man is out for unchecked power.”

The dawn of November 6 will show the winner – Trump or democracy and the US values.

The fact of the matter is Trump is not willing to accept his defeat as per the US norms and traditions. He may incite violence and instigate his supporters to target the Capitol Hill or other public assets in a repeat of January 6 attack.

While speaking to his supporters in Ohio early this year, the Republican nominee warned that there would be a ‘bloodbath’ if he is not re-elected in the November election. He is running the election campaign with slogans like “America first” and “Make America Great Again”, but fails to consider the values and ideas responsible for the United States’ leading role in post-World War II era. The US established ‘international liberal order’ based on institutions and multilateralism as well as values of democracy, human rights and individual freedoms. But Trump’s words and actions are negating these merits of the US.

Trump’s victory won’t just be a defeat of Harris as the Democrat nominee, it will also indicate the loss at domestic and external fronts for the US. Firstly, a victorious Trump will represent the defeat of inclusive culture and values in the US society. He will promote far right-wing and violence based on color, class and religion, thus causing further polarization among the Americans. In short, Trump’s presence in the White House will adversely affect democracy and democratic norms not just in the US but also at the global level.

Secondly, his passion for ‘America First’ will promote nationalism and encourage other states like China, Russia and North Korea. Certainly, a big blow to cooperation and engagement at international level. Thirdly, his authoritative mindset gives pretext to the autocratic regimes for suppressing human rights and denying basic freedoms.

Trump is using rhetoric to persuade the American voters that under his administration country will regain its great status. He has promised to fix the US domestic issues related to health, economy and illegal immigration. In external relations, he promised to end the Russia-Ukraine war within 24 hours. Similarly, he is talking about peace and stability in Middle East by resolving Israel-Palestine issue. But he has not addressed the main issue of ‘how’ – while making all these tall claims.

As the election day approaches, the unpredictable personality of Trump indicates that his victory will result in the US downfall along with its ’rules-based order’ at internal and external fronts. The dawn of November 6 will show the winner – Trump or democracy and the US values.