Dhaka, Nov. 9 -- Against all odds, Donald Trump has been re-elected as President. The result surprised many, but even more so was the scale of his victory. Trump secured higher vote counts in nearly every county across almost every state, leaving Democratic strategists scrambling to understand what went wrong.

One factor is clear: the ruling Democrats couldn't escape the negative impact of the post-COVID economy on lower and middle-income Americans. Despite promises and repeated warnings about Trump, Democrats failed to reassure voters. Desperate for change, Americans turned to a leader they felt was firm in his commitments. This shift echoes a global trend, as we've seen "strongman" leaders rising in countries unsettled by post-COVID ec...