The Perception of Donald Trump in the U.S. and Australia: A Comparative Analysis
In Australia, there is a common perception that Donald Trump is a joke and a clown. However, is this perception the same in the United States?
Perception in the U.S.
Interestingly, in the U.S., a significant majority of citizens recognize Donald Trump as a joke and a clown. This recognition is not based on an impression but is well-established and rooted in reality.
According to the report from FiveThirtyEight, as of day 1048 of his term, approximately 41.6% of U.S. citizens have an approval rating for Donald Trump's performance. This is based on a minority of around 40 to 42% who have approved of his actions. The impeachment hearings are now moving into their second phase, showcasing the ongoing dissatisfaction with the current leader.
ldquo;How Popular Is Donald Trump?rdquo; FiveThirtyEight, 4 Dec. 2019, accessed 4 Dec. 2019, [URL]
Voter Demographics in the U.S.
The U.S. political landscape is diverse, with a significant number of citizens identifying as politically independent. There are notable differences in the demographics who lean toward the Republican and Democratic parties.
According to a Pew Research Center study, nearly 38% of U.S. adults identify as politically independent, but most lean toward one of the two major parties. More specifically, 13% lean toward the Republican Party, and 17% lean toward the Democratic Party. Only 7% express no partisan leaning overall.
ldquo;Nearly four-in-ten U.S. adults identify as politically independent, but most lean toward one of the two major parties. Pew Research Center, 15 May 2019, accessed 4 Dec. 2019, [URL]
Key Voter Groups for the 2020 Election
The 2020 election for the soul of America is a battleground between the Democratic candidate and Donald Trump. It involves persuasion among 48% of Americans who identify as Democrat or Democrat-leaning and 39% who identify as Republican or Republican-leaning. This leaves 7% who are truly independent and express no partisan identity.
The electoral victory in 2020 depends on the Democratic candidate persuading a sufficient number of the 20 truly independent and Republican-leaning voters. Interestingly, the Democrats only need to persuade a portion of this group to secure a win in the Electoral College.
As of 2018, 48% of Americans self-identified as Democrats or Democrat-leaning, while 39% identified as Republicans or Republican-leaning. The remaining 7% are truly independent.
ldquo;How Many Americans Are Registered Democrats and Republicans?rdquo; Pew Research Center, 11 Aug. 2010, accessed 4 Dec. 2019, [URL]
The 2020 Battle for Independence
The central question in this election is how many of the 20 truly independent and Republican-leaning voters can the Democratic candidate persuade to view Donald Trump as a joke and a clown. This is not the only factor; many voters will also base their decisions on policy issues.
From the perspective of the author, who leans far to the left of the 31% Democrat demographic, not only is Donald Trump a joke and a clown, but his policies are also deeply flawed. The challenge for the Democratic candidate is to frame Donald Trump as a joke and a clown and also to address the underlying policy issues.
In conclusion, the perception of Donald Trump varies significantly between Australia and the United States. While the Australian perception might be more comedic, the U.S. perception is grounded in widespread dissatisfaction. The 2020 election hinges on persuading independent and Republican-leaning voters to see Trump in a new light.