Donald Trump’s recent victory has sent shockwaves across the political landscape, prompting a critical reevaluation of American values. As Abraham Lincoln famously cautioned during the Civil War, “America will never be destroyed from the outside. If we falter and lose our freedoms, it will be because we destroyed ourselves.” This prophetic statement resonates deeply today, as there is growing concern that the country could indeed be on a path of self-destruction.

Trump’s latest win is far from an accident. His upset against Hillary Clinton in 2016 may have seemed like a fluke at the time, but Tuesday's decisive victory over Kamala Harris highlights a deliberate choice made by the American public. Voters, especially ethnic minorities who once leaned Democratic, turned toward Trump, signaling a significant shift. Notably, Latino and Black male support for the former president grew, demonstrating that his appeal extends beyond his core base of disaffected white voters.

A significant factor behind Trump’s resurgence is the Democratic Party's inability to fulfill the promises it made four years ago to heal the nation's wounds and address the deepening divisions. With Tuesday's results now in, the pressing question remains: will Democrats finally heed the warning signs?

Despite criticism of Trump as an unfit leader, the Democrats have faltered in presenting a compelling alternative. While Kamala Harris has made impressive fundraising strides—raising over $1 billion in just a few weeks—this financial might did not translate into electoral success. The barrage of campaign advertisements and A-list celebrity endorsements failed to sway voters, suggesting a fundamental disconnect between Democratic messaging and the priorities of the electorate.

Many Americans are increasingly frustrated with the Democrats' focus on a progressive agenda that often seems out of touch with pressing day-to-day concerns. Citizens are more worried about tangible issues like the economy, grocery costs, and home ownership opportunities than the intricate debates surrounding identity politics and social justice initiatives that the left champions.

Democrats have repeatedly underestimated how crucial it is to address the personal struggles of voters. Former House Speaker Tip O’Neill’s adage that “all politics is local” rings true, as Trump has successfully tapped into feelings of resentment and fear while Democrats have struggled to present a hopeful and constructive alternative.

Compounding the Democrats' challenges, their relentless pursuit of Trump in the courts and Congress after his early exit from the presidency has inadvertently transformed him into a martyr among his base. Instead of allowing him to fade into obscurity, the Democrats’ attacks have only bolstered his support among loyal followers.

Given the mounting pressure, it raises the question of whether Harris, if granted sufficient time, could have crafted a more effective platform to attract the moderates and independents who feel abandoned. However, with Biden's long tenure creating a complex legacy, balancing the need to distance herself from his record while not discrediting it proved difficult. Her strategy of ambiguity left many voters unsure of her stance on key issues.

The harsh reality from Tuesday’s results is that Democrats need to rethink their approach. While Harris was not a terrible candidate, the results indicate that the excessive focus on social issues has further alienated a significant portion of the electorate. The divisiveness stemming from certain identity politics narratives has increasingly turned moderate voters away from the party.

It’s bewildering to consider that an America once vibrant with the hope of electing its first Black president has now turned to someone like Trump under the banner of change. As we watch this political drama unfold, both Canadians and Americans are left hoping that the fervor of the MAGA movement will eventually wane, allowing for a return to the unifying ideals that Lincoln once urged—a call for the “better angels of our nature.”

The Democratic Party stands at a crossroads, and if they fail to course-correct soon, the consequences could further entrench the very division they claim to oppose. The message is clear: it's time to cut the toxic wokeness and reconnect with the everyday concerns that truly matter to American voters.