THE great American experiment is over.

While many will retreat to their bubble and believe it is okay, the deeper ones will realise it is the beginning of times of unprecedented chaos and uncertainty, which has been the trademark of Trump’s presidency. However, this time, there will be no guardrails.

His increasingly unhinged mind will oversee the annulment of the US constitution and the end of democracy. America will now take its place among Russia and China as autocratic superpowers.

The impact will be global. Ukraine will be forced to surrender to Russia, and Poland and the Baltic states will be on high alert for a future invasion. Congress and the courts failed to hold the now-president- elect accountable for an attempted coup, and the people have given him a fresh mandate to do as he wishes.

America chose a twice-impeached, white convicted felon over a black woman with unimpeachable integrity and a plan to move the country forward, while his plan was to stoke racial animus and resurrect old and baseless grievances.

No country that has gone down the road of autocracy has been able to return to democracy without bloodshed. Ask Germany and Italy. That will be the end of free and fair elections. Just ask Hungary, Russia and Venezuela. Articles are already pouring in, praising the president-elect’s statesmanship and political savvy, neglecting his vitriol and misogyny.

Thirty thousand documented lies while president and failure to manage the Covid pandemic are just some of his achievements.

There will be a realignment of the world political order, with America taking its place among the axis of Russia, China and North Korea.

This will not have a happy ending-so, buckle up, Trinidad and Tobago, as we will be impacted as we see our citizens deported en masse.

Keith Gonzales