“In 2016, I was not 18 years old, I felt powerless. » A few days before the results of the American presidential election, which once again sees Donald Trump in the race for the White House, Kelley Stewart, 25, dives back into the images of November 8, 2016. “I was on my cell phone all at night and I went to see my mother and I asked her how it was possible that he won,” summarizes the young woman, her voice trembling. Three months later, she demonstrated for the first time in her life for the cause of women in the streets of Washington.
More peaceful in France
Eight years have passed between these two elections, and as the verdict approaches, the Virginia native oscillates between fear and hope. This Tuesday evening, she will experience the vote for the first time from France and more precisely Verteuil-d'Agenais in Lot-et-Garonne. She joined her mother, Janelle, married to a Frenchman, and both work in the village grocery store. They have already sent their ballots by post across the Atlantic.
Janelle is not necessarily a fan of the Democratic Party. She also gave her vote for Republicans Bush and McCain in the past. But that was before the party was represented by Trump. “I vote for the candidate who best corresponds to my philosophy of life. Kamala Harris is a great candidate, but this time I'd rather be here to find out the results, admits Janelle, 53. I returned to the United States for two weeks and it was exhausting to see these posters everywhere for the presidential election and these advertisements on television every fifteen minutes. »
Will this also be the case on Tuesday evening? “No, we’ll have a glass of wine with my husband and go to bed. Well, not sure I sleep soundly. However, I believe that compared to 2016, many young people from Generation Z understand the issues more,” continues this former college professor. “They better understand the danger that the billionaire represents, but not necessarily all the campaign instruments that his clan uses,” says Laurie Chevallereau, her friend, originally from Oregon, who obtained dual nationality in 2017 and who voted electronically by mail.
“If it passes, we expect the world to collapse”
Consultant and specialist in collaborations between Europe and the USA, the fifty-year-old, based in Labretonie, is passionate about elections and especially the organization of voting. She also remembers that “hellish” night in November 2016. And for good reason, the one who spent fifteen years in Washington, commented on the results on the set of France 24 in English. If they still lived in Uncle Sam's country, almost 4,000 km would separate them, but in their country of heart, they are only a few kilometers apart. These expatriates have divergent points of view on certain issues that plague American society – apart from the right to abortion which is a consensus – (1), but they agree on a central subject.
“The consequences of this presidential election do not only weigh on the United States. For Trump, the USA has paid for too long for the security of Europe and it costs too much to help Ukraine, so all this will go by the wayside,” judges the latter. “I fear that his accession to power will further encourage the rise of extremes in the rest of the globe,” fears Kelley. “If it passes, the world is expected to collapse. The only solution would be for the Democrat to win with a unanimous score. Otherwise, we will see protests in the streets,” alarms Janelle, who has regained a little hope since Trump’s outing on Puerto Ricans.
“Trump's opponents are already preparing for this setup, going door to door and talking to people. It's very tight and we don't know the percentage of 'stay on the couch', that is to say abstention,” confirms Laurie. Whatever the outcome of the vote, waking up will be visibly difficult…
(1) Janelle and especially Kelley, were deeply affected by the annulment, in 2022, of the Roe vs Wade decision, which granted American women the right to abortion throughout the country, leaving states free to ban abortion. 'Abortion. The young woman helped a friend get an abortion in a state different from her own.
