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India Legal|November 23, 2020
US President-elect Joe Biden’s nearly 50 years in public life and a well-formed philosophy on democracy suggest that the two largest democracies in the world are likely to find a comfortable relationship, but not without some disagreements
Kenneth Tiven
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BY turning the transition period into an opposition zone American President Donald Trump has created a message for two distinct groups:

l Contempt for 74 million voters who rejected him

l Support for the 70 million voters he hopes will join him in harassing the Bi den-Harris Administration.

Useful agitprop regardless of the Republican presidential pick in the 2024 election.

American political tradition has been that the presidential transition is cooperative no matter the animosity demonstrated in the campaign. However, Trump promised to be a disrupter and in that he has shown unwavering consistency. His “distaste for American governmental traditions” has been evident since Twitter started. As the world adopted social networking via the internet, it has proved a fertile garden of semi-truths that can range from half-truths to outright falsifications.

In contrast, the Biden team continues to offer measured statements as they began to sketch out their transition plan and prepare to lead. The president-elect unveiled a 13-person coronavirus task force while continuing to urge Americans to wear masks and seeking to temper expectations about a coronavirus vaccine that has shown positive early results. Various statements suggest that on issues such as international trade, immigration and HIB visas for foreign workers, the Trump approach will be rejected. Some negative policies under former President Barack Obama will be modified, if not eliminated. Regarding India, Biden is likely to raise the issues of human rights, Kashmir and the environment in a way that does not jeopardise the ever-closer ties as the US and India confront a more aggressive China.

This story is from the November 23, 2020 edition of India Legal.

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This story is from the November 23, 2020 edition of India Legal.

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