The outgoing governor of New Hampshire, Chris Sununu, a frequent Republican critic of Donald Trump, recently asserted that the Republican Party will not allow the president-elect to act with impunity. Sununu pointed to the failed nomination of Matt Gaetz for Attorney General as evidence of this constraint. Gaetz, a staunch Trump loyalist, was ultimately blocked not for his propagation of election lies or his intent to weaponize the Justice Department against political opponents, but due to credible allegations of sex trafficking involving a minor. Sununu further contended that the perceived calm following the election was not a testament to Trump’s actions or his party’s response, but rather to the losing side’s acceptance of the results.
While a sense of normalcy has indeed returned, it masks a deeply unsettling reality. This calm stems from the unprecedented actions of the losing candidate, Kamala Harris, who conceded defeat and facilitated a peaceful transition of power. For the first time in years, the legitimacy of the election results has not been challenged. This starkly contrasts with the tumultuous aftermath of the 2020 election, which culminated in the January 6th Capitol insurrection. It is this contrast, the adherence to democratic norms by the losing party, that creates the illusion of stability, not any restraint imposed on Trump by his own party.
The apparent tranquility belies the serious threat posed to American democracy during the 2020 election cycle. The January 6th attack, incited by Trump himself, stands as a stark reminder of the fragility of democratic institutions. The mob’s attempt to prevent the certification of election results, the violence, and the blatant disregard for the rule of law left an indelible mark. However, the insurrection was merely the culmination of a concerted two-month effort to overturn the election outcome. This effort began with baseless accusations of widespread voter fraud and escalated to pressure campaigns targeting election officials in key swing states like Georgia, Michigan, and Arizona.
Trump’s attempts to subvert the 2020 election were not limited to the violent spectacle of the Capitol riot. His strategy also involved maneuvering within the legal and constitutional framework, seeking to exploit perceived loopholes and ambiguities. This included filing numerous lawsuits challenging election procedures and results, pressuring state legislatures to appoint alternate electors, and ultimately attempting to leverage the Supreme Court to legitimize his claims. This calculated approach, operating under the guise of legality, arguably posed an even greater threat to democracy than the overt violence of January 6th, as it sought to undermine the very foundations of the electoral process.
The groundwork for a similar challenge to the democratic process was laid in the lead-up to the recent election. Preemptive claims of impending voter fraud were widely disseminated, and Trump allies sought to gain control of key positions within election administration in swing states. The current atmosphere of calm is therefore deceptive, a consequence of only one candidate adhering to democratic norms while the other, now the president-elect, operates outside of established rules and traditions. The danger lies in the normalization of this behavior, the acceptance of a president who has repeatedly demonstrated a willingness to undermine democratic processes for personal gain.
The contrast between the peaceful transition of power following the recent election and the chaos of 2020 underscores a critical point: the current stability is not due to any newfound restraint on the part of Trump or the Republican Party. Rather, it is a result of the losing candidate’s adherence to democratic principles. This underscores the fragility of democratic institutions and the importance of upholding the rule of law, even in the face of political pressure. The peaceful transition of power should not be mistaken for a sign of stability, but rather a stark reminder of the precariousness of American democracy and the constant vigilance required to protect it.
