It was economic issues that determined Trump's victory. “The Americans believed he would do better”

“Today we wrote history” – these are one of the first words spoken by Donald Trump, the great winner of the American elections.

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Although the polls were very even, ultimately at the ballot box Americans clearly showed that they wanted change. Republicans take almost full power in the United States.

– We have a situation again where Trump was underestimated in the polls – says Aaron Korewa from the Atlantic Council. – American elites, but the same is also true in Europe, do not appreciate how ordinary people think and what is most important to them – points out Dr. Małgorzata Bonikowska, president of the THINKTANK center and the Center for International Relations, member of TEAM EUROPE.

When voting, Americans focused on five issues: the state of democracy, the economy, abortion rights, immigration and foreign policy. – We are small business owners. We have been running a restaurant for 30 years. Of course, inflation and food prices affect our business, says one of the Americans. – It's always about having the most efficient and sensible leader – adds another voter.

And the leader who best read the public mood is Donald Trump. – Trump won because he is a businessman. Americans believed that he would handle the economy better and end the wars better, says Katarzyna Sławińska, journalist of “Fakty” TVN.

Voters for whom democracy and the right to abortion are most important overwhelmingly supported Kamala Harris. However, for Trump voters, the most important were the economy and immigration. – Trump proposes a strong economic policy, and the economic situation is what worries me the most, which is why I voted for him – admits one of Trump's voters.

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His supporters hope that their economic situation will improve. – Trump presents himself as a representative of all those who are overlooked by the elites, who are overlooked by Mrs. Harris, by the media, political and artistic group she represents. And it worked. He succeeded in this, says Marcin Wojciechowski, an Americanist from Liberte.

Almost half of voters say their lives are worse than four years ago. Their financial situation deteriorated. – America, from the point of view of an ordinary, ordinary person, does not function well. It is impossible to close the household budget. You can't support a family on one salary. You cannot repay a loan in one generation if you take out a loan for a house – points out Dr. Małgorzata Bonikowska.

According to a poll conducted during the vote, almost 70 percent of Americans believe that the economy is in poor or not very good shape. For only a third of voters, the economy is working well.

– Macroeconomics is one thing when we talk about economic growth and low unemployment, and something else is e.g. inflation. Americans feel that it is more expensive, and as we know, voters vote with their wallets – notes Dr. Marcin Fatalski, an Americanist from the Jagiellonian University.

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The mood among Americans is rather pessimistic. For most of them, the direction America is heading is wrong. Over 40 percent are dissatisfied with the situation, almost 30 percent feel angry, and only 20 percent feel satisfied.

– America is still quite a country where, to put it mildly, race still matters a lot. So this is definitely one of those elements. Perhaps in this very troubled world, most Americans have decided to choose a tough man for difficult times, rather than an optimistic, strong woman, says Michał Baranowski, director of the Warsaw Office of the German Marshall Fund.

Polls show that three-quarters of Americans believe the country's democracy is in danger. Only 25 percent of respondents believe that her condition is good.