On the 20th of January this year, the United States of America will have a new President. It is no secret that Donald Trump, the soon-to-be ex-President of the US has not been very pro-immigration. His policies, whether immigration related or not, has caused a decline in the US' appeal as an expat destination. How will this change under Joe Biden's presidency?
After thousands of lies (someone has counted them), aggressive nationalism, science denial, insubstantial rhetoric, conspiracy theories, habituation of cancel culture, conditioning of sexism, and murderous racism, President Trump is now affiliated with what has been described as “one of the darkest days in recent American history,” and “an insult to America's democracy.” But even last week's insurrection in the Capitol was not enough to lead to Trump's removal before the 20th of January when Democrat Joe Biden will be sworn in. A trial due to his second impeachment will happen after his term ends, and it may lead to Trump's deprivation of his benefits and political affairs.. Reflecting on Trump's four-year presidency, what did he do to America? And what it takes for America to reclaim its position in the world as an overachiever? Expat.com also spoke with an expat in America about the long-term implications of Trump's presidency.
What we expect from Biden
President-elect Joe Biden will restore relationships with previously insulted and alienated allies, and rejoin international institutions and treaties such as the World Health Organization and the Paris Climate Agreement. Climate change will become a priority under Joe Biden, who is planning a two-trillion-dollar emissions reduction scheme. Also, Mr Biden wants to bring up the waiver that kept emission standards for vehicles within a reasonable limit and which Trump revoked. Mr Biden also aspires to prohibit new oil and gas permits on federal lands and water, and the control of methane pollution. By addressing climate change, Joe Biden addresses the underlit issue of environmental racism with black and indigenous communities being at greater risk of exposure to toxic air and water. Regarding his foreign policies, Mr Biden will end US's support to the Saudi-led civil war in Yemen which has been denounced as the world's worst humanitarian crisis. Like his predecessor, he will continue to support Israel and fight terrorism in war-torn Afghanistan and Iraq with the presence of a small troop.
The value of the Georgia Senate runoff
The president may have the power of executive action (see Trump), but the win of Democrats Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff at the Georgia Senate runoff on 5 January have handed Democrats a much desired Senate control. For two years, Republicans repressed any legislation coming out of the Democratic-controlled House of Representatives. Now, Mr Biden has one less thing to worry about when pursuing policy change concerning healthcare and climate change. Besides, the Republican party's defeat in both chambers of Congress allows Democrats to revoke regulations recently enacted by the Trump administration. Note that it has been 20 years since a Democrat won a Senate seat in Georgia.
Covid-19 response
Being against the World Health Organisation, scientific facts, masks, and China, the Trump administration failed to keep people safe during the Covid-19 pandemic. Joe Biden, along with a team of 13 health and government officials and doctors, is planning a unified strategy to take control of a chaotic situation that has claimed the lives of 376,000 people. The president cannot impose a national face-covering order; however, Joe Biden has announced that he will require masks on all federal property and interstate transportation. Mr Biden is left to fight a disease about which Trump had said after recovering that “it wasn't such a bad disease after all.” Once Joe Biden's presidency kicks in, we should see more testing centres, efficient contact tracing, increased production of personal protective equipment, clear guidance, and distribution of vaccines.
Education
Trump's determination to restrict student visas and stiffen work permits, his Executive Order 13769 (a travel ban on people from seven Muslim countries), and the pandemic have been all responsible for decreasing international students in America. Students didn't dare to leave the US to attend career-defining conferences and workshops over the fear that they will not be allowed entry in the country again. Trump's administration wanted student visas to be merely for studying and not acting as a bridge between graduation and search for employment. However, the proposed rulemaking didn't go into effect due to the many questions it raised. Hence, international students in the US with F visas are allowed 60 days of stay after the termination of their program. In his campaign, Biden has promised to look into more flexible regulations towards PhD STEM graduates.
According to Forbes, in 2020, the US's overall student loan debt was one-and-a-half trillion dollars split among 45 million borrowers. Student loan debt is the second-highest debt after mortgage debt, followed by credit cards and car loans. The average student loan debt is USD 32,731, and the average student loan payment USD 393. President-elect Joe Biden has committed to deduct USD 10,000 for all borrowers, as well as the residue for graduates of public or historically black colleges who earn less than USD 125,000 a year.
Work
The majority of employment in the US is in the service sector. Joe Biden does not hold the authority to impose a nationwide minimum wage. However, he can raise the minimum wage for federal contractors from the current USD 10.80. Another one of Trump's firsts has been the 25% increase in the federal workforce, which is now composed of about 11 million employees. Other presidents also hire federal workers, but usually during a crisis (e.g. war), which was not the case in Trump's administration. The National Labor Relations Board, a federal agency responsible for interpreting and enforcing labour law, has strayed from its function and mission since it's run by a conservative, Trump-appointed board. But the shortcomings of the NLRB aren't novel; inclusivity and workplace organising have never been its forte.
Mr Biden emphasises on the socioeconomic benefits of a thriving and inclusive middle class. However, he has a long way to go. The US has a proportionally smaller middle class among advanced economies with a high-income disparity within it. In fact, according to Pew Research, the annual middle class's income ranges between USD 48,000 and USD 145,000 for a family of three.
Global affairs
Of course, Mr Biden is not coming to office with arms open to embrace China. He will nurture healthier economic relations with the world's second-largest economy, without, however, giving in to China's highly competitive tech ecosystem. Tightening of diplomatic ties with Taiwan, which is under the threat of a Chinese military invasion, might be a priority for Joe Biden and his administration. But will the US commit to intervening against a Chinese invasion? Not as yet since there are no US troops in Taiwan as they are in South Korea and Japan. The denuclearisation of North Korea will probably be the most challenging matter.
Healthcare
America's healthcare system is problematic and costly. Obama's Affordable Care Act was one of his presidency's biggest success stories, even though the constitutionality of the Act has been examined before the Supreme Court seven times already. So far, Mr Biden hasn't shown any intention of eliminating the Act or changing it. Concerning healthcare, he wants to ban hospitals' and insurances' surprise billings that reach patients after they have been discharged. Also, Mr Biden wants to legalise international purchases of prescription drugs and impose price limits for new medicines. Mr Biden is not pro Medicare for all, but he is willing to give Americans the option of a public plan that will not cost more than 8.5% of their income. Other reforms include the right to abortion and recognition of mental health treatments as equal to physical therapies.
The US is the only developed country that does not have federal legal requirements for paid sick leave. Mr Biden may put a policy in place to give 12 weeks of paid family or medical leave. This is not to be confused with the FAMILY Act though, which proposes the coverage of workers in all companies, regardless of size.
The voice of an expat in America
Jonathan from Malta works as a senior manager for an NGO and has been living in Virginia, US with his wife and three children for almost three years. He doesn't believe in The American Dream since he is aware that every country offers opportunities for those who are open to new cultures and norms, and sustains risks. Besides, Jonathan didn't come to America because it is an exceptional country (“there's no such thing,” he says) but because he followed his American wife. Even though Trump's presidency didn't impact his life significantly in a practical sense, he would like to experience a more cohesive society and increased national unity under Joe Biden. “I look forward to seeing actual reforms that address the major issues the US faces, such as inequality and the decline of rural and industrial areas. If the Government isn't proactive on economic development and inequality, then the divisions will grow. America needs more true partnering with all nations in a win-win manner.” he says.
Was Trump any good?
Now that Trump's presidency is coming to an end, it is a good time to ask the lessons learned for Americans and the world. Trump may be the scapegoat for America's wrongdoings, but we should admit that many of them he didn't create himself — he exposed. For a long time, America has been taking democracy for granted and turning a blind eye to what does not match the profile of “American exceptionalism.” Today, more than ever, America is aware of the struggles of many people within the country, and the fact that the idea of being superior is not enough to guard the values of democracy.
