Trump's scorecard pivotal in his quest for return to office

On November 5th, the United States citizenry will choose between Joe Biden's incumbency and former President Donald Trump's possible return to power.

And the circumstances seem like a sequel of the 2020 elections in which the electorate chose to restore 'The soul of America' rather than continue 'Making it great' under the stewardship of business mogul and TV star turned politician Donald Trump.

Having beaten former first lady Hillary Clinton in a mysterious victory that was least anticipated, Trump is at it again, trying to find his way back to the Oval Office. Will he?

Unlike 2020, the environment is a bit intoxicated for Trump - a leading candidate for the Republican Party facing myriad charges in federal courts. Unpleasantly cited as the first former US president to face criminal charges, Trump is not new to controversy. To his reprieve however, earlier this week, the Supreme Court declined to bar him from participating in the ongoing GOP primaries. On whether the accusations hold is not ours to tell, we stay on the proceedings in the union's ring of jurisprudence. However, the world awaits what happens to the nation's bar of leadership and integrity. Will there be 'fire' in Trump's clouds of 'smoke'?

Democracy presupposes that the electorate know what they want. In 2020, largely disgusted by inability of Trump's administration to contain Covid-19 pandemic and the ensuing consequences on the economy and the surge on the country's healthcare, they voted him out in preference for Biden's recovery plan.

Three years later, Biden has recorded low approval ratings with many questioning his ability to lead. A recent survey by Siena College Poll published on The New York Times suggested lower enthusiasm for Biden.

Is Trump's re-election on the cards? His tenure was occasioned by a solid "America First" agenda, with him prioritising national interests and recalibrating international relationships. He achieved key breakthroughs in diplomacy, through the historic Abraham Accords, which fostered peace agreements between Israel and the Arab world.

His bold stance on China challenged Beijing's trade practices and safeguarded American industries and jobs. Trump's economic policies yielded noticeable results prior to the unforeseen misgivings of the Covid-19 pandemic. He drove unemployment rates to acknowledgeable lows.

His commitment to deregulation and tax cuts resulted in job creation and economic growth. He initiated landmark Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, which enabled investment, supported small businesses, and reinvigorated American industries. These fueled a window of robust GDP growth and stock market performance.

His administration appointed conservative judges to federal courts, secured constitutionally averred principles and upheld the rule of law. President Trump's efforts to misconfigure burdensome regulations opened up entrepreneurial dynamism, had businesses empowered and promptly promoted innovation.

Still, his administration faced setbacks in healthcare reform, as attempt to repeal and reconstitute Obamacare faltered.

Nonetheless, commitment to protect individual freedoms and cement conservative values resonated with millions of Americans, underscoring the enduring preference of his leadership.

The American dream may get another viable residence in Trump's quest to make the nation great.

The writer is a PhD candidate in Leadership and Governance