Post-Election Will America's Militias Emerge From The Shadows?

Has the Trump presidency brought his most alienated and angry supporters back into the political fold, or will they be so distraught at his defeat that they will reject the outcome and take up arms? The political team of Gulf Today takes a closer look at the issue

- Robert Moore

There are two questions that are important on Tuesday night. As the counting begins, the first question is whether Americans will re-elect the man who has taken them on a dizzying, erratic and emotionally exhausting ride for the last four years.

We can expect that verdict to come relatively quickly, once Florida, North Carolina and Georgia declare their results, three states that are expected to publish vote tallies early. We will then have a clear indication whether the improbable, maverick Trump coalition that brought him to power has collapsed.

But it is the second question that is in many ways more interesting and altogether less easy to assess. Indeed, it may be weeks before we get a clear answer.

That question is best framed this way: has the Trump presidency brought his most alienated and angry supporters back into the political fold, or will they be so distraught at his defeat that they will reject the outcome and seek to sow chaos?

I saw the dangers for myself a few weeks ago in a startling encounter I had on the streets of Louisville, Kentucky. I was expecting to meet a few militiamen on the outskirts of the city. There were ongoing BLM demonstrations over the police killing of Breonna Taylor and some far-right groups were aiming to counter-protest.