Daily Times

As the date of the US election comes close, speculations are rife about the capability of nominee candidates for the presidency. Between the two choices, Donald Trump is being seen as the most dangerously unfit nominee in the history of the US. Ambiguity, lack of clarity and biased views are some of the qualities that can be attributed to Trump, the Republican Party nominee for president of the United States in the 2016 election. Trump has no clear answers for any question about his viewpoint on different issues. He is someone who is becoming more and more unpopular among the US citizens as the electoral campaign moves forward. Many of his statements in interviews, on Twitter and at campaign rallies have been controversial or false. He has criticised the US military approach in Iraq on how to tackle the IS threat. He is being taken to task for his favourable views towards Russia as Hillary Clinton called him a horse that Putin likes to ride. In response to his views about the validity of the next month’s elections, Trump alleged that the election could be rigged and merely said he would “look at it” after the election. He refused to say whether he would accept the election results if he loses. Rather, he said that he would accept the results of next month’s election if he wins, a caveat that threatens to cast unprecedented doubt on the legitimacy of the electoral process. In fact, he desperately needed an excuse for his impending loss.

On one hand, Trump apologises for his nasty comments against women, and on the other hand, terms it a sleazy campaign launched by his opponents. He also has biased views on religion and other communities living in the US. His religious bigotry prompted him to call for a ban on the entry of the Muslims to the US. The US citizens have become sick of the bickering of the two candidates, and will take a sigh of relief as the election concludes on November 8. Clinton is also not a perfect choice but her shortcomings are less likely to threaten national security or lead to a crisis at national or international level than that of Trump.

It should be a matter of concern for the US what kinds of candidates it has on the political landscape. Given the history of the US elections, both Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump can easily be declared two of the most unpopular candidates. Trump has even earned the wrath of his own party members as a number of Republican Party leaders withdrew support to Trump due to his erratic personality and biased views. It is a scary situation not only for the US but the whole world that a person with inconsistent views can become the president of the most powerful country in the world. *