2024: Trump’s Déjà vu from 2016
If you think it’s déjà vu with Donald Trump’s chances of becoming president, you’re not alone.
There are striking similarities between his 2016 campaign and the current shaping of the 2024 presidential race.
But before we dive into those parallels, it’s worth noting that major media outlets are taking Trump’s potential victory seriously. He’s been polling ahead of President Joe Biden in key swing states, according to Western Journal.
Here are some recent headlines that reflect the growing concern: The New York Times warns of a more radical second Trump presidency, The Atlantic ponders the consequences of a Trump win, and The Washington Post declares a Trump dictatorship is inevitable.
Even former Wyoming Representative Liz Cheney, a favorite of Nancy Pelosi, has joined the chorus of alarmists. She claims a second Trump term would be the “end of the republic” and that he would try to stay on as president “forever.”
But let’s be real. Did Trump refuse to leave the White House when Biden took office? No, he left willingly, despite questioning the election results. This kind of post-election dispute is not uncommon in U.S. history. Hillary Clinton still insists the 2016 election was “stolen” from her and took legal action in Wisconsin. So, the idea of Trump trying to stay in power indefinitely is far-fetched.
Tonight, Joe Biden said, “This is a nation that respects free and fair elections. We honor the will of the people. We do not deny it.”
Here’s 10 minutes of Democrats denying election results:pic.twitter.com/I0oUumk68d
— Steve Guest (@SteveGuest) September 2, 2022
So let’s put an end to the fear-mongering. Cheney is likely just trying to gain attention for a possible independent presidential bid.
But the media frenzy surrounding Trump’s potential return to the White House is reminiscent of 2016. Byron York, chief political correspondent for the Washington Examiner, points out the similarities and the escalating warnings.
The alarm has gone off. Around this time in 2015, some in political/commentary class realized Trump could win GOP nomination. Freakout ensued, although many remained confident Trump could not win general. Now, warning machine has kicked into higher gear. pic.twitter.com/ZRtnloWAw2
— Byron York (@ByronYork) December 4, 2023
But what about the parallels between 2016 and now? Here are five noteworthy ones:
1. Unpopular and Scandal-Plagued Democratic Candidate
Just like in 2016, Biden is facing low popularity and scandals. Trump and Republicans questioned Clinton’s integrity due to the Clinton Foundation’s alleged pay-for-play and her deletion of thousands of emails. Similarly, Biden has faced scrutiny over his son’s business dealings and allegations of corruption.
Stay tuned for more intriguing parallels as the 2024 presidential race unfolds.
Engaging Paraphrase:
Remember how Hillary Clinton initially claimed that the deleted emails on her unsecured home server were just personal stuff like yoga routines? Then she changed her story to say that there were no classified materials in those emails. And finally, she insisted that none of them were marked classified. Well, it turns out that all of those statements were false, as confirmed by the FBI.
Let’s not forget that Clinton was also the Secretary of State when the U.S. consulate in Benghazi was attacked, resulting in the deaths of four Americans. It’s a stain on her record that she can’t erase.
Clinton’s favorability rating just months before the 2016 election was a dismal 38 percent, according to Gallup. And now, in 2024, Biden is also facing low approval ratings, with only 37 percent of Americans approving of his job performance.
Speaking of Biden, his integrity is in question due to his false claims of having no knowledge or involvement in his son Hunter’s questionable business dealings. It’s hard to trust a president who can’t be honest about his own family.
And let’s not forget Biden’s disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021, which resulted in the deaths of 13 Americans and 170 Afghans. It was a complete failure of leadership.
Swing States Are Trending Toward Trump
The next parallel to the 2016 election is the key swing states that Trump needs to win. And it seems like they are leaning in his favor.
In 2016, Trump managed to win the traditionally Democratic states of Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Wisconsin, breaking the “blue wall” that had been in place since the 1980s.
A recent poll by The New York Times/Sienna showed that in a hypothetical rematch against Biden, Trump had significant leads in Pennsylvania and Michigan. He was also ahead in other swing states that Biden won in 2020, such as Nevada, Georgia, and Arizona.
Other polls have shown similar findings. If everything played out as it did in 2020 but with Trump winning just Arizona, Georgia, and Michigan, he would still secure enough electoral votes to become president.
Liberal Independent and Third-Party Candidates
In 2016, Jill Stein, the liberal Green Party candidate, received more votes than Trump’s margin of victory over Clinton in Michigan, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania.
Although Stein did not run in 2020, she recently announced that she will be a candidate again in 2024. Additionally, independent candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is likely to draw more votes from Biden than Trump, assuming they become their parties’ nominees. Former Harvard professor Cornel West, also running as an independent, is expected to pull votes from Biden as well.
While there may be a few alternative candidates like Cheney who could take a small percentage of the vote, the overall mix of third-party and independent candidates seems to be favoring Trump.
The Obama/Biden Agenda
Trump has consistently argued that the Obama/Biden agenda was a failure. And it’s hard to argue with that when you look at the state of the country.
Five Reasons 2024 Is Shaping Up Like 2016 for Trump
Barack Obama and his administration’s leftist agenda paved the way for Donald Trump’s unexpected rise to the presidency. Trump himself acknowledged this, stating, “The reason I’m here is because of President Obama and Joe Biden, because if they did a good job, I wouldn’t be here.” He further emphasized that if Obama and Biden had done a good job, he probably wouldn’t have even run for president.
During Obama’s tenure, the economy experienced the slowest recovery since World War II, with massive deficits exceeding $1 trillion. Federal spending also skyrocketed, reaching $3.9 trillion in Obama’s last year as president. Additionally, Obama set a record for the number of pages of regulations, burdening industries with costly requirements.
In contrast, Trump focused on cutting regulations and promoting economic growth. The CATO Institute reported that he took 243 deregulatory actions in his first 24 months, while Obama implemented 176 major regulations during the same period.
Obama advocated for equity and higher taxes on the wealthy, perpetuating class warfare. However, even after the Trump tax cuts, the top 50 percent of wage earners still paid nearly 90 percent of all federal income taxes. Biden, following in Obama’s footsteps, continues to push for equity and a “fair share” while increasing government spending and fueling the highest inflation rate in 50 years.
Trump’s 2024 campaign mirrors his 2016 race as he positions himself as an outsider challenging the D.C. establishment. In contrast, Biden, as the incumbent in 2020, had to defend the government’s actions during the pandemic. Now, Trump can promise change while highlighting his achievements in low unemployment, low inflation, global stability, and border security.
As 2024 approaches, it seems that history may repeat itself, with Trump once again defying expectations and shaping the political landscape.
Source: The Western Journal
What similarities can be drawn between the populist appeal and anti-establishment sentiment in 2016 and in the current political climate of 2024
Y in 2016. Now, with Biden as president, there is a sense of nostalgia for the Obama/Biden era and a recognition of the failures of their policies.
Biden’s presidency has been marked by a struggling economy, rising inflation, and a crisis at the southern border. These issues, coupled with the perception of weak leadership and a lack of decisive action, have led many Americans to question Biden’s ability to effectively govern.
Trump, on the other hand, is seen by many as a strong leader who is unafraid to take bold and decisive action. His “America First” agenda resonated with voters in 2016, and there are signs that it is resonating again in 2024. Trump has criticized Biden’s handling of the economy, immigration, and foreign policy, and many Americans are beginning to agree with him.
Media Bias and Election Disputes
One of the most striking similarities between 2016 and 2024 is the media bias against Trump. Throughout his presidency, Trump faced constant criticism and negative coverage from mainstream media outlets. This bias has continued into the current presidential race, with media outlets spinning narratives to discredit Trump and promote Biden.
Furthermore, the issue of election disputes and claims of voter fraud are once again in the spotlight. In 2016, Trump’s victory was met with allegations of Russian interference and calls for recounts in key swing states. Similarly, in 2020, Trump and his supporters raised concerns about mail-in voting and the integrity of the election process. These disputes and controversies have created a sense of déjà vu for many Americans.
Populist Appeal and Anti-Establishment Sentiment
Another parallel between 2016 and 2024 is the populist appeal of Trump and the anti-establishment sentiment in the country. Trump’s outsider status and willingness to challenge the political establishment resonated with many Americans in 2016, and there are signs that it is resonating again in 2024.
The rise of social media and alternative news sources has given Trump a platform to connect directly with his base and bypass traditional media gatekeepers. This has allowed him to build a loyal following and maintain a strong presence in the public discourse.
Meanwhile, Biden’s presidency has been characterized by a return to politics as usual and a reliance on Washington insiders. This has led to frustration and disillusionment among some voters who were hoping for change.
The Power of Incumbency
Finally, the power of incumbency cannot be underestimated. While Biden may be facing low approval ratings and a challenging political environment, he still holds the advantages that come with being the sitting president.
Incumbent presidents have greater name recognition, access to resources, and the ability to shape the national narrative. This gives Biden an advantage in terms of fundraising, media coverage, and mobilizing support.
However, as we witnessed in 2016, being an incumbent does not guarantee victory. Trump was able to successfully tap into the frustrations and aspirations of many Americans and build a winning coalition.
In Conclusion
The parallels between Trump’s chances in 2016 and his potential prospects in 2024 are hard to ignore. From media bias and election disputes to the appeal of populism and anti-establishment sentiment, there are clear similarities between the two campaigns.
While it is still early in the presidential race, it is clear that Trump’s chances are being taken seriously by both his supporters and his detractors. The media frenzy and growing concern about the possibility of a Trump victory indicate that history may be repeating itself.
However, it is important to remember that no two elections are exactly the same. The political landscape and the issues facing the country are constantly evolving. Only time will tell whether Trump’s chances of becoming president again are simply déjà vu or a legitimate threat to the status quo.
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