Reactions to the 2020 U.S. Election
The current U.S. election race is making history in many ways. Not only will people in the United States be impacted by the outcome, this is also an election that is affecting people across the world. The Open wants to know what individuals across the globe are thinking! Throughout the next few days we will be sharing videos people around the world have submitted to us describing their reaction to the U.S. 2020 election. Subtitles in English, Arabic and Spanish will be available on our YouTube page, and the videos below.
Zamira Chevrestt - Spain & U.S.
Zamira Chevrestt is from Madrid, Spain and Philadelphia, U.S., she studies anthropology at Temple University.
“Hello, my name is Zamira Chevrestt, I am twenty-one years old and I go to Temple University. For me, this election is the most important election of my life, and I think of all of our lives. As a woman, for me, this affects me a lot because my rights are threatened and it’s important that we elect a president who is going to, well who will protect my rights and who will represent me. Also, I know that I am in a position of privilege and that there are millions of people in the United States who have been gravely affected by Trump and who have lost their lives and the lives of their loved ones. So we need this election so we can change presidents urgently. ”
Eder Camargo - Brazil
We spoke with Eder, an international relations student in São Paulo Brazil, about his thoughts on the election, and its potential effects on politics in his home country.
“So I think it is very interesting to note this type of thing because for the extreme right in the world, they can react in a certain way in other places like here in Brazil, we have a Trump-loving president and two years from now he will also try to be reelected and has a great chance of losing, and that already delegitimizes the electoral process that we have here.”
Danny Alejandro - Cuba
Danny, a sociology student at the University of Havana in Cuba, reflects on what current American politics means for him and for Cuba.
“I am a student at the University of Havana, Cuba. I would like to tell you that the electoral campaign in the United States has been felt intensely here in our country. I do not remember it being so intense in 2016, and followed this closely through social networks by Cuban youth. All this is due to how controversial of a figure Donald Trump is and how hostile his policy towards Cuba has been. There have been very intense days, there has been a lot of anticipation, and well, we hope that the outcome will be in favor of Joe Biden, of the Democratic Party and we will see if in this way the foreign policy of the United States in regards to Cuba and the world can be reformed in any way.”
Álvaro - Spain
Álvaro, a student from Spain, talks about the climate crisis and how it will be impacted by the U.S. election.
“I think that climate change is a problem that can only be solved if all the countries are together, and especially the United States, which is the second most polluting country. And it is also a problem to which we have to reach a solution immediately, and we cannot wait another 4 years, in my opinion, to be able to act, because perhaps it is already too late.”
Simon - Germany
Simon, a history student from Germany, reflects on the reaction to the U.S. election in Germany.
“Most people are very very anxious and hoping that Biden will win this, Trump has a very bad reputation over here and has had since his election, or even from before that. His erratic style, his lack of reliability, his self obsession, are usually and widely mocked. He has been very present in the media, so personally I am just tired of talking about him all the time and I hope that we can just stop doing that very very soon. Of course we are not directly affected by the results of this election but, concerning US foreign policy, international policy, there are many areas where we’re just hoping, or I’m just personally hoping for a more reliable style and maybe more US participation. Be it in combating climate change, be it concerning Iran and the Iran Nuclear Deal or even in the cooperation with NATO, these are all areas where I think most people are hoping for a change and for a more reliable Biden presidency. ”
Alexis Greenblatt
Alexis, a student from Georgia, talks about her experience registering other students to vote over the past three years.
“There was so much on the line. And it really just showed me the power of how much every single person really makes a difference and how much every single vote counts. For the past three years I have helped to register hundreds of Emory students to vote in Georgia. And to be completely honest, I never really thought it would have this big of an impact until it came down to the wire and we’re seeing the results out of Georgia. It is such a close race here. Every single person who voted made such a big impact and it’s really just so rewarding to see all of that work that I’ve been helping out with over the past few years pay off. And the work has just begun!”
Hanna Pahls, Switzerland, University of Zurich
Hanna, a student from Switzerland, talks about how she’s seen people react to the the U.S. election in Europe.
Recorded Saturday Nov. 7, before the announcement that Biden won the presidency.
“I feel like a lot of people are quite interested in the elections that are going on in America, especially the people I know which are students and people that are more from an academic background. Yeah but because we don’t have any vote to give or anything to do it’s more like sitting back and grabbing a bag of popcorn and looking at what’s going on. But yeah, I think people are aware that the elections have an impact on us in Europe and also on the whole world, I guess. So people are following it quite closely. The thing that, for me personally is most important, or which, I guess unsettles me the most, is that some people are trying to undermine the democratic foundation of the United States. And yeah that could have a very negative impact on the whole country in the long term. So I think that is quite troubling and we’ll see where it goes. ”
Kendrick Huynh, Vietnam
Kendrick, a freshman at the University of Massachusetts Amherst from Vietnam, talks about his perspective on the U.S. election as an international student.
“Hi, my name is Kendrick, I am now a freshman at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Currently, as everyone knows the situation of racing into the White House between Donald Trump and Joe Biden is a very hot topic. From the perspective of an international student studying at university in the U.S., I will support Joe Biden. The reason is I do not agree with Trump’s withdrawal from environment protection agreements which makes our living environment become worse. However, every president has their own style with their policies. So I am really eager to look forward to the election. It does not matter who will become President, but I hope the best for everyone. ”