Will post-election unrest hit US?
Photo: Capitol attack on January 6, 2021 (Getty Images)
The likelihood of unrest in the United States after the November 5 presidential election largely depends on the results. If Donald Trump loses, he could repeat 2020, stated Yehor Valiarenko, an analyst at the Foreign Policy Council Ukrainian Prism, in a commentary for RBC-Ukraine's YouTube channel.
"The only candidate with a track record of organizing such unrest and who has already promised to officially declare that the election is “stolen” again if he loses is Donald Trump," he said. The analyst recalled the experience of the 2020 election and Trump’s statements during this campaign.
"If the official results indicate a victory for Kamala Harris, he will most likely attempt to challenge them in some way," he added.
According to him, last time this led to violence and the Capitol attack.
"It’s difficult to predict exactly how things will unfold this time. However, the US National Guard, along with the police, remains on high alert, and reports have already surfaced of barricades being erected around the Capitol, the White House, and other government buildings to counter and contain potential unrest," he noted.
In the event of an official Trump victory, paradoxically, the likelihood of unrest might decrease, as his more aggressive supporters would likely be satisfied, suggests Valiarenko.
Capitol attack
On January 6, 2021, supporters of Donald Trump attacked the US Capitol. That day, a crowd of his supporters breached the Capitol building in Washington, attempting to obstruct the certification of the 2020 election results, in which Joe Biden won.
This incident led to significant damage to the building, five deaths, and numerous arrests and trials of those involved in the riot.
US election
The US election results depends on seven swing states. In each of them, the ratings of Harris and Trump are almost equal. The most critical state for the candidates is Pennsylvania, with 19 electoral votes, followed by Michigan and Georgia with 16 each, North Carolina with 15, Arizona with 11, Wisconsin with 10, and Nevada with 6.
Voting in the US election takes place on November 5. Just a few hours after polls close, it may become clear who the next President will be: Democrat Kamala Harris or Republican Donald Trump.
Earlier, Politico reported that Trump is preparing to seize power even if he loses the election. Observers agree on one main scenario: on election night, regardless of the results, the number of uncounted votes, or what his advisors may say, Donald Trump will declare himself the winner.
