3 Reasons for Trump's Landslide Victory: "Shy Trump, Swing Voters, and Women Supporting Harris" [Interview]

Interview with Kim Dong-seok, President of the Korean American Voters Coalition
① Shy Trump Surpassed Expectations
② Targeting Swing Voters with Economic and Immigration Policies
③ Harris's Failure to Attract Male Voters Brings Reflexive Benefits

"Trump expanded his support base among swing voters, and once again, there were many shy Trump supporters. Harris being a woman also seems to have provided a reflective benefit to Trump."

Kim Dong-seok, head of the Korean American Voters Coalition (KAGC), diagnosed the background of former President Donald Trump, the Republican candidate, winning the 47th U.S. presidential election in an interview with Asia Economy on the 6th (local time). He had already predicted Trump's high chances of winning in an interview with this publication last month.

Regarding the reason why former President Trump won by a landslide against expectations, Kim said, "There were still many hidden supporters of Trump, the shy Trump voters, who do not appear in polls but vote for Trump at the ballot box," adding, "Over the last three presidential elections, Trump's vote share has steadily increased, and it can only be concluded that the proportion of shy Trump supporters has also grown."

He analyzed that the reason mainstream media polls, which showed a neck-and-neck race between former President Trump and Democratic candidate Vice President Kamala Harris, were so off the mark is also due to the presence of shy Trump supporters. He explained that voters who were shy Trump supporters in the 2016 and 2020 elections have been 'coming out,' but as Trump expanded his support base, new shy Trump supporters continue to emerge.

Highlighting the Biden administration's failures, especially in economic and immigration policies, and capturing the swing voters' sentiments were also cited as reasons behind Trump's landslide victory. Kim noted, "In the past, Trump's support base was characterized by strong cohesion but limited expansion," adding, "However, this time, by emphasizing economic and immigration issues, he appealed to swing voters in battleground states and was able to greatly expand his support base." In particular, he pointed out, "With inflation soaring due to COVID-19 and the Ukraine war, the Biden-Harris administration received harsh evaluations on economic policies, and Trump exploited this by blaming the Democrats' incompetence, which resonated precisely with the swing voters."

He also analyzed that the glass ceiling of being a woman was a hindrance to Vice President Harris. Kim said, "In battleground states that decide the U.S. presidential election results, there is an uncomfortable sentiment among white male workers with an absolute macho temperament toward Harris, who is a minority and a woman," adding, "Between white male Trump and black female Harris, male voters' votes ultimately went to Trump."

He pointed out that Harris's failure to present presidential qualities and vision was also a limitation. She did not propose policy plans unique to the Harris administration that differentiated it from the Biden administration. Especially, frequently changing her stance on issues such as illegal immigration and the environment to court votes caused the loss of progressive supporters.

Kim predicted that the 'America First' policy stance promoted by former President Trump would become even stronger. Particularly, with the possibility that the Republican Party might secure majorities in both the Senate and the House of Representatives in the elections held alongside the presidential election, there is speculation that Trump's second term could drive policy with unchecked nationalist priorities.

He emphasized, "Trump has already been a presidential candidate three times and succeeded in re-entering the White House with high approval ratings," adding, "Under a stronger America First stance, Trump can leverage his influence in various sectors to pressure us, so we must establish short- and long-term strategies toward the U.S. based on the changed America and respond accordingly."

Meanwhile, Kim has participated in Washington politics for over 30 years through voter movements that consolidate Korean American political power to influence the U.S. Congress. In 2007, he helped pass the Comfort Women resolution in Congress and led efforts to introduce the visa waiver program between Korea and the U.S. by influencing the U.S. government.