From the Call Her Daddy podcast to watching the presidential debate on TikTok, social media users bore witness to the US presidential race last November, right from the comfort of their beds. Kamala Harris and Donald Trump made quite a show of the battle between Democrats and Republicans and frankly, at times, it was hilarious. November was a month of not only presidential debate, but debate amongst peers, colleagues, and scholars all over the globe. Young South Africans had a vested interest and prior to its recent ban in the US TikTok became a platform for controversy, discussion and opinion forming. So, if we are all so clued up then…what exactly is our understanding of the ramifications that have occurred for South Africa since the Republicans have won the election?

Let’s go back to the voting process which the US makes use of, namely the Electoral College voting system. There are 538 members of the Electoral College, and a candidate must get at least 270 to win. When a citizen votes, they are voting for the relative candidate’s electors in their state. Most states have pledged that the electors will choose the relevant candidate based on the popular vote i.e “winner-take-all”, but some states are not legally required to do so. Hence the emergence of the faithless vote, where electors do not choose the candidate by majority vote but vote at their own discretion. Historically, this has not altered the outcomes of the polls, but the fact that this ‘loophole’ exists says enough about the democratic undemocraticness. Democracy itself is in contest globally and even South Africa can reflect on its own definition and processes.

As you must know by now, the election was won by none other than the conservative Twitter enthusiast Donald Trump, not only by the Electoral College vote but by popular vote as well. South Africa looks to this win with trepidation as the earlier Biden administration cooperated well with the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA). However, it is yet to be seen if Trump will allow for the same easy and affordable access to US markets. Which seems unlikely given his aggressive foreign policy and intentions with two of The US’ biggest trading partners in Mexico and Canada. Already we have begun to see the ramifications of the withdrawal of USAID.

However, over and above that, according to Professor Kedibone Phago and Dr Sysman Motloung, the political ramifications will be minimal as US foreign policy does not affect South Africa or anyone else to a great extent. The political burden is a domestic one and bilateral relations should remain intact. The question on everyone’s mind is, what about the Rand-Dollar exchange? Since the election, the Rand has decreased in value but as an indirect result of tariffs placed on China. Policies to be implemented that would ensue tax cuts and labour restrictions, if done so slowly, will not be a punch in the face to the South African economy but rather cause a gradual devaluation which can be counteracted. In layman’s terms, it is not the end of the world (yet).

Social media and the social environment played a crucial role in these elections and the discussions thereafter. It is no secret that the USA is a leading pop culture and social media hub and our favourite movies and celebrities, Top 10 scandals, and fashion influences hail from this red, white, and blue powerhouse. One must consider though if we should be consuming advice, opinions, or media from a country whose leader says that women are simply “a young and beautiful piece of ass” and you should “treat ‘em like shit.” On the other hand, we have a candidate whose insistence on being ‘woke’ took over her entire campaign, so much so that she was the fan favourite on TikTok. I am not here to take a stance on left versus right, liberal versus conservative or Democrat versus Republican. I am here to expose that these leaders who are supposed to be role models of one of the richest nations in the world, are acting like two teenagers trying to ‘cancel’ one another. 

For South African citizens and policymakers, it might be beneficial to sort carefully through which cues to to take and which not to take from America. After all, there is much to learn from other nations mistakes. For me, it comes back to the fact that young South Africans need to be finding ourselves in political debates about African rather than international politics. Kwame Nkrumah, a Ghanaian politician and leader, said this: “It is clear that we must find an African solution to our problems, and that this can only be found in African unity. Divided we are weak; united, Africa could become one of the greatest forces in the world.” That sense of pride is not something we can find on TikTok.