I know this is
@anthony 's diary, so I will speak to it only once and having no skin in the game. I thought Trump would win, though I would not vote for him. In Canada virtually all Canadians who will speak to an opinion do not support Trump, most saying he is narcissistic-like as they quote his sexist and misogynistic remarks, as well as his attacks on immigrants and those who disagree; and his many disrespectful and violence-invoking comments (and it seems in both of our countries rage and violence are a hair's breadth away). Some comments too are head scratching: at one point he said water comes from Canada when we turn on a big faucet up here, and in another rural community that immigrants were eating peoples' pets- cats and dogs. Here the news began to say, "Fact checked: that is simply not true", to virtually every other statement he said. They called it here his greatest con. He unfortunately threatened that if he did not win there would be an attack on Capitol Hill with 10x the carnage of the 1st time (4 died). 80 bomb threats at polling stations were deemed foreign, specifically Russian interference. I can only think, shouldn't people wonder why foreign interference has a stake in the result?
He has scapegoated in the same manner as Hitler did, and it has been successful. He heavily canvassed Palestinian radicals and young men in their 20's who feel particularly disenfranchised after attaining a college degree but neither a high paying job nor a home yet (their words parroted frequently, not mine). His connection is with the Radical Right which are very extreme in their 'Christian' (read not-Christian views). His one daughter, I believe she is a psychiatrist, said he has obvious dementia. His ex wife died 'accidentally' a short time ago, and it became suspect simply because people see him as having the capacity to do so. But I think the most dangerous part (aside of deportation and as I understand 40 million Americans losing Obama Care benefits) is his association with Elon Musk (who he has said he will make a member of his government) and more specifically aligning with Russia. He has said past he will not support Ukraine.
Many view him as a great business man: unfortunately he blew through a 100 million dollar inheritance -twice- not including when he declared bankruptcy.
That being said, a person unstable (and many have concluded he acts in that way) may be harder to predict for adversaries. (Just as Hitler and Stalin made a pact pre the end of WWII, wherein both planned to betray each other and Hitler did first to -shockingly- Stalin's surprise).
I think he capitalized on telling everyone he would fix 'everything' and 'make America great again'. But America, as with every country, can't return to what it was, and many wouldn't want it to in many ways. But people did vote- with Elon Musk's million $/ day lottery allowed to proceed as well. And like any country, people have only the options they have to choose from and hope someone is going to fight in their favour. And when people feel unrepresented they are desperate for change.
As a Canadian who is aware of defense issues, it doesn't feel great having Trump on one side and Russia as our neighbour tbh.
