Since the US presidential election that shook the nation with Donald Trump’s sweeping victory across all demographics and races, experts have addressed various issues that influenced the election results, including immigration, inflation, foreign policy, misinformation, and cultural issues. An overlooked but most fascinating, puzzling aspect of U.S. politics is the willingness of voters to look beyond Donald Trump’s legal and ethical controversies. Why were these voters less swayed by allegations or ongoing investigations, choosing instead to prioritize issues they felt were more directly relevant to their lives, communities, and values?

Unlike JFK, Ronald Reagan, Bill Clinton, or Barack Obama, Donald Trump is not a great orator, but, in his inimitable ways, he has been an effective communicator.

American democracy, like other democratic systems around the world, is indeed a transactional political system. This social contract emphasizes the give-and-take nature of political processes, where various constituencies negotiate, compromise, and exchange support to achieve their goals.