Donald Trump’s recent claims of election interference and his economic policies have put him back on the political stage, almost as if he never left. After losing the 2020 election, Trump didn’t just take it lying down. Instead, he flung himself headfirst back onto the court system and airwaves, peddling various conspiracy theories about voter fraud. Most of these claims were dismissed by the courts, and many viewed his efforts, especially around January 6, 2021, as desperate attempts to cling to power. Now, as he gears up for the 2024 election, he’s relying on grandiose claims of election interference, leaving behind the need for concrete evidence.
One of Trump’s most prominent assertions revolves around his impeachment following the January 6 siege. He argues this was not just political maneuvering but also aimed at preventing him from running again. There’s some merit to this claim; it’s true the intent was to apply political pressure to curb his ambitions. Yet, drawing attention to this argument doesn’t absolve him of the actions he was accused of, leading to his impeachment.
Then there was the establishment of the House Select Committee investigating the January 6 insurrection. Trump, of course, branded this as yet another tactic to stymie his political career, accustomed as he is to framing any criticism as unfair treatment. “The Unselect Committee’s sole goal is to try to prevent President Trump, who is leading by large margins in every poll, from running again for president,” he declared at the time. Despite his protests, the committee pressed forward with its inquiry, leading to criminal referrals to the Justice Department.
These days, Trump views every legal challenge and accusation against him as evidence of what he terms “lawfare” — which refers to strategizing legal action to undermine or intimidate opponents. This term has quickly become familiar because it plays well to his base, allowing them to dismiss serious legal troubles as mere political sabotage. After announcing his presidential bid for the upcoming election, Trump faced civil and criminal allegations ranging from hush-money payments to mishandling classified documents, and he pointed to these developments as signs of coordinated efforts by Democrats to derail his comeback.
Interestingly, Trump has not shied away from blaming big tech companies for his woes as well. He and his supporters maintain these platforms played a significant role in swaying the election outcome by censoring information detrimental to Biden. Recently, he claimed on social media, without providing any evidence, “Google is engaged in blatant interference of elections,” claiming it was promoting negative stories about him. Such statements have fueled perceptions among his followers of an expansive conspiracy against him.
Meanwhile, he has also implied dark dealings surrounding the Biden administration, referring to Joe Biden’s endorsement of Kamala Harris as “an unconstitutional coup,” depicting it as yet another scheme to lock him out of power. It’s worth noting, though, such claims have been dismissed by many as mere hyperbole intended to energize his base.
Trump’s rhetoric doesn’t stop there. He’s also revived the old trope about non-citizens voting and tied it back to his overarching narrative about election integrity. He insists Democrats are recruiting undocumented immigrants to sway election results. While very little evidence supports this assertion, it’s become part of his larger agenda to paint the political world as rigged against him.
And as if to add to his list of grievances, Trump bristled at the “inadequate” protection from his Secret Service detail during his campaign events, asserting this was yet another form of election interference aimed at stifling his public presence. It appears anything he perceives as unfriendly is swiftly categorized as systematic interference.
On another front, Trump's economic policies from his last term continue to haunt him as he faces off against Vice President Kamala Harris. Many conservatives agree the Biden administration has struggled with economic management, but they also acknowledge Trump’s policies didn’t yield the promised prosperity either. Trump’s notable preference for tariffs—taxes implemented on imported goods—recalls the economic strategies of his first term, where he claimed they would bring jobs back to America. Though favorable to his voter base, many economists argue tariffs are harmful long-term due to price inflation for consumers.
A recent survey indicated around 95% of economists believe tariffs burden American consumers rather than the targeted foreign nations. They argue these tax increases ripple through the supply chain, eleving the prices of goods. Historical actions, such as tariffs on China, led to significant cost hikes for American households, indicating these strategies might not serve the intended economic recovery.
While Trump’s approach may resonate with some, critics point out he’s not addressing structural issues facing the American economy and simply recycling the same failures he previously championed. Harris seized on this opportunity, naming his proposed tariffs akin to “a sales tax on the American people.” Many believe he should revert to old GOP free trade policies for genuine improvement rather than rely on tariffs laden with detrimental consequences for consumers.
With economic woes at the forefront of voters’ minds, the election of 2024 is shaping up to be about who can best revive the American economy. Inflation loomed large under Biden's administration, yet the legacy of Trump’s economic performance also casts doubt on his capability to mitigate present issues. The reality is, food prices have surged by 26% from 2020 until early 2024 and gas prices persist at higher levels than what was seen during Trump’s presidency.
When polled, voters complain about inflation, pointing fingers at the government, which worked to build the case for Trump’s return to the economic helm. Historically, Trump had the upper hand on economic issues, often touted as the president who delivered solid job growth pre-pandemic. Yet recent polling indicates his standing on the economy has weakened against Harris, as voters increasingly express doubts about his economic strategies.
Without addressing the holes prevalent in his economic blueprint, Trump finds himself at risk of losing ground with voters gambling on significant leadership changes for economic recovery. If he truly wants to revitalize his claim as the economic savior, there has to be more than mere allegations of election interference; he will need practical policies offering credible paths forward without the pitfalls of the past.
