The final ballots for what is arguably one of the most anticipated elections in American history are trickling in. Current result trends indicate that a Joe Biden presidency is on the horizon although no winner had been declared by the time the Post went to press. But the grand American electoral tamasha, it seems, has only just begun.

As anticipated, a handover is not going to be quite as straightforward as the world expects from a global superpower that presents itself as a flag-bearer of democracy. President Donald Trump, upon realising that he is on the way out, has sued several states where he performed poorly. Trump has accused his rival of rigging the election and has called for the counting process to be halted. Things are expected to get even murkier as Trump shows no sign of conceding defeat. The world will have to wait anxiously for another few days or even weeks for a return to normalcy depending on what Trump's move will be.

The fear among a section of Americans that Trump might not vacate the White House easily in case of a defeat seems to be translating into reality. No matter how things proceed in the next few days, Trump is, in a way, sending a parting reminder to the people of the world the tactics of intimidation, false victimhood, emotional blackmailing and brute irrationality that he has used throughout his presidency. It is also a reminder of how he changed America and the world while in office.

During his tenure, America lost its leadership position as well as public legitimacy on several fronts, including in the fight against the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic and climate change. Trump announced defunding the World Health Organisation at a time when its role had become more important than ever because he thought the pandemic was a hoax. The United States formally withdrew from the Paris Climate Agreement on Wednesday amid the election rush because he thought climate change was a hoax.

It is, therefore, not unusual for the world to keep its eyes fixed on America, as who gets elected to the White House makes an impact through almost every corner of the world. At this point in global politics, the most that is expected of the next American president is a return to 'normalcy'. The fact that Joe Biden, who served as vice-president during President Barack Obama's presidency, is a possible next president has given the world that hope. Biden's leadership will mean that the US will probably come back on track after four long years of its going haywire.

A Biden presidency is not necessarily going to bring great positive strides for the world. After all, he might be just another iteration of the democratic presidents America has had for a long time. But what is fundamentally different about a probable Biden presidency is the expectation that the world will not see the world's oldest democracy and immigrant country putting immigrants in jail and separating immigrant toddlers from their parents. Meanwhile, all eyes are watching America, hoping that the drama gets over as soon as possible. 

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