Mehdi Hasan has a simple message for progressives: wake up to what's actually happening. The journalist and political commentator argues that the 2024 election wasn't just about America — it's part of a global wave where every incumbent government in major democracies lost seats, votes, or power. From the UK to France, South Korea to India, incumbents are bleeding support. This isn't coincidence. It's a structural shift.
The Historic Victory Nobody Predicted
Most people didn't see this coming — including the Trump campaign itself. But Donald Trump didn't just win the Electoral College. He won the popular vote. That's something no Republican has done since George W. Bush in 2004. For the first time since 1988, a Republican presidential candidate pulled off a majority among everyday voters.
This matters because Republicans have historically been considered the minority party — their policies unpopular according to every poll. Yet here is Trump, a man who was twice impeached, criminally convicted, found liable for sexual abuse, and who campaigned on things like migrants eating dogs and cats. He won by a landslide.
The Economy Was Real, But So Was Misinformation
The economic pain of 2022 was real — inflation hit record levels globally. But the data tells a different story today. Real wages are higher than when Trump left office. Border crossings are lower. Inflation is down to 2%. Growth in the G7 is strong. Most voters don't know this.
Polls show people believe crime, inflation, and border crossings are all up — none of which are true. Those who believe the false narrative lean Republican. This isn't a policy failure by the Biden administration. It's an information crisis. People get their news from TikTok and social media, where misinformation thrives unchallenged.
Critics might note that blaming voter misinformation oversimplifies the problem. Many voters genuinely disagree with Democratic positions on Gaza, immigration, or cultural issues — not just economics. Reducing everything to "voters were lied to" risks dismissing legitimate policy disagreements.
The Global Anti-Incumbency Wave
Here's what's striking: every major democracy went to polls in 2024 and every incumbent lost ground. In the UK, Rishi Sunak was wiped out. Macron lost his parliamentary majority. Modi lost his majority in India. South Korea's president appears headed for defeat. This wasn't just an American problem.
Senate candidates who ran on raising the minimum wage and protecting abortion rights outperformed Harris significantly. Voters in red states like Missouri voted to raise the minimum wage, protect abortion rights, and still vote for Trump. These voters held completely contradictory views simultaneously — proof that economic issues and social issues don't always map onto each other neatly.
Foreign Policy Implications Already Unfolding
The first 72 hours after Trump's victory revealed something alarming: Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu appointed a far-right settler to be the new ambassador to Washington. This isn't standard diplomatic procedure. It's a signal. The appointment suggests Israel intends to annex the West Bank with Trump's permission or encouragement.
Trump has floated Marco Rubio and Mike Pompeo for Secretary of State — both long-standing Iran hawks. His administration is already appointing people who were instrumental in previous rounds of regime change and military intervention.
Bottom Line
This analysis matters because it reframes what happened from a US problem into a global structural shift. The economy was important, but so was the information environment, the global anti-incumbency wave, and the failure of Democrats to offer a convincing alternative. What comes next — especially on foreign policy — will define whether this analysis holds up. The appointment of a settler ambassador is already confirming Hasan's worst fears.