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US midterm elections 2018
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Visiting US President Donald Trump with President Xi Jinping at the Forbidden City in Beijing on November 8, 2017. Photo: AFP

Letters | As Donald Trump faces the first test of his presidency, remember that democracy is a beautiful thing

    Today’s midterm elections in the US are the litmus test for Donald Trump’s presidency. Some may say it is judgment Day for him. Two years ago, Trump entered the White House triumphantly with resounding slogans, such as “Make America Great Again”, and with pledges to dump Obamacare and fix the American trade imbalance.
    On the whole, Trump actually made changes his predecessors had not for over half a century, for instance, on the North Korea issue. He has not been shy to boast about his achievements, for example, the low unemployment rate and thriving stock market. We have to admit that Trump is a shrewd politician who has agreed to meet, draft a trade agreement with, and resolve trade issues with China. His conversation with President Xi Jinping over the phone was timely. The chat between the two leaders sent positive signals to stock markets, and indexes soared on Friday. The Hang Seng Index gained several points. But we still have to wait and see what happens at the end of this month in Argentina. Will the G20 meeting narrow the divergence between the two countries?

    After all, democracy is a beautiful thing: if Trump is unable to perform well, he will be dumped by voters. Trump may only serve America for four years. Trump is a by-product of his times: his rise to become the president of the United States is a reflection of the changes in American society and the public hatred of elites. The white, working-class voter is a major component of his base. However, Trump himself is from the upper echelons of society. It remains to be seen if the American public will ever ask: “How many trump cards do you still hold, Mr President?”

    Lo Wai Kong, Yau Ma Tei

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