The 2020 United States presidential election is scheduled for Tuesday, November 3, 2020. It will be the 59th quadrennial presidential election. As US Election nears, let's take a look at Donald Trump's biggest scandals, accomplishments, policies and failures as President.
The 2020 United States presidential election is scheduled for Tuesday, November 3, 2020. It will be the 59th quadrennial presidential election. Voters will select presidential electors who in turn will vote on December 14, 2020, to either elect a new president and vice president or reelect the incumbents Donald Trump and Mike Pence.
Donald J Trump, the flamboyant US President, is an unconventional leader by all standards with his tenure in White House marked with impulsive foreign policy decisions, off the cuff remarks, fiery rhetoric, racial tension and economic slowdown in America and numerous alleged scandals.
Donald Trump is the 45th and current president of the United States. Trump announced his presidential campaign in 2015 with his slogan "Make America Great Again." He defeated Hillary Clinton to become president, without ever holding political office previously.
He assumed office on January 20, 2017, and filed to run for re-election on the same day. He crossed the delegate threshold necessary to win the Republican nomination--1,276 delegates--on March 17, 2020.
He was formally nominated at the Republican National Convention on August 24, 2020.
As US Election nears, let's take a look at Donald Trump's profile.
1. 45th president of United States
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Donald Trump is the 45th and current president of the United States. Trump announced his presidential campaign in 2015 with his slogan "Make America Great Again." He defeated Hillary Clinton to become president, without ever holding political office previously.
He assumed office on January 20, 2017, and filed to run for re-election on the same day. He crossed the delegate threshold necessary to win the Republican nomination--1,276 delegates--on March 17, 2020.
(Image: Reuters)
2. Trump's handling of coronavirus
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In his re-election bid, President Trump has been focusing on his stewardship of the economy, promising a rapid coronavirus vaccine, and employing tough rhetoric on immigration and social unrest.
As the President of the US, Trump is facing the most dangerous crisis of this century as coronavirus spreads and the country's economy is witnessing a slowdown. The US is the worst COVID-19 impacted country in the world with its death toll exceeding over 2.3 lakh.
Trump administration handling of the coronavirus pandemic has become the flashpoint in his race against Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden.
The former vice president has focused his campaign against Trump on the administration's failure to combat the crisis.
(Image: Reuters)
3. India-US relationship
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Trump administration has given special emphasis on US relations with India. It is visible by the fact that just days before the elections, US State Secretary Mike Pompeo and Defence Secretary Mark T Esper arrived in India for 2+2 talks.
Trump also came for a 2-day visit to India on February 24-25 this year, along with his wife, First Lady Melania Trump, son-in-law Jared Kushner, and daughter Ivanka Trump. Over one lakh people witnessed Trump and Modi address the nation.
4. US-China relationship
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China has emerged as an important issue of the 2020 US elections. Donald Trump's aggressive approach to China has helped create a trade war more virulent than any seen in decades. He has also blamed China for spreading the coronavirus around the world.
Trump's first major trade actions against China came in January 2018, when he slapped tariffs on washing machines and solar panels.
The US-China trade war entered its first reciprocal phase between April and December 2018, as Washington and Beijing began a series of tit-for-tat exchanges.
A detente came in December when both countries agreed to suspend new tariffs and begin talks. This respite was not to last.
In May 2019, after Xi backtracked on the newly negotiated agreement, Trump raised US tariffs to 25% on USD 200 billion of Chinese goods.
5. Russian meddling in US Elections
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In the run-up to the 2016 election, Russian hackers had spread misinformation on social media via fake profiles and released stolen emails and files from Hillary Clinton's campaign and the Democratic National Committee with the goal of harming her campaign and increasing Trump's chances of winning the presidency.
Russia still denies all accusations of meddling in the 2016 election, whether it be the hacking of Democratic party servers or armies of internet trolls stirring up trouble on Facebook and Twitter.
(Image: Reuters)
6. Third president to be impeached
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In December last year, Trump became the third US President in history to be impeached by the House of Representatives when it brought accusations that he abused the power of his office to boost his own chances of re-election.
He was acquitted at a subsequent trial in the Republican-controlled Senate.
(Image: Reuters)
7. Michael Cohen on Trump
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President Trump's longtime lawyer and personal fixer, Michael Cohen, has alleged in a new book that Trump made "overt and covert attempts to get Russia to interfere in the 2016 election" and that the future commander in chief was also well aware of Cohen's hush-money payoff to adult-film star Stormy Daniels during that campaign.
He described Trump as "a cheat, a liar, a fraud, a bully, a racist, a predator, a con man.
(Image: Reuters)
8. Trump vs Biden
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Americans will vote on November 4 to elect their next president, either giving Trump another four years or handing over the keys to the White House to Biden.
