Philippe Gélie’s editorial focuses on a central question ahead of the U.S. midterm elections: would Donald Trump respect the result if it went against him?
The article notes that the president is not responsible for judging the ballot count, but argues that Trump has created conditions that could allow him to discredit a close vote. According to the editorial, Trump’s political framing leaves little room for an alternative outcome: if he wins, the result is legitimate; if the opposing camp wins, fraud is alleged. Evidence, the text says, is not required for the allegation to cast doubt.
Gélie also argues that losing a majority would not fundamentally alter the style of the United States’ 47th president. Trump would continue to govern through executive orders and tweets, using increasingly uninhibited language.
The editorial places these concerns against the historical difficulty faced by presidents during midterm elections, noting that the party of the sitting president has benefited only four times in forty elections since 1862.
Sources: Le Figaro.