About 200 participants took part online when the first results of the US elections were analyzed in a live webinar at the HfP. 

Prof. Eugénia da Conceição-Heldt, HfP Reform Rector and Chair of European and Global Governance, HfP Chair Prof. Miranda Schreurs (Chair of Environmental and Climate Policy) and Prof. Tim Büthe (HfP Chair of International Relations) discussed the first numbers, trends and developments of the election night together with Jeff Rathke, President of the American Institute for Contemporary German Studies in Washington. Peter Schmalz, Honorary Chairman of the PresseClub, led through the discussion. 

All participants agreed that the United States faces the challenge of fulfilling its leadership role in foreign policy. Should this not happen, it would be of central importance that the European Union and Germany fill this power vacuum. Should Joe Biden win the presidential elections, one of his central tasks would be to reunite the divided nation. If the incumbent, Donald Trump, wins the election, we would see a continuation of his Make America Great Again strategy. It is expected that his announced withdrawal from numerous international organizations and international treaties will be completed. Regardless of the outcome of the election, the institutions of the United States of America must now fulfill their democratic mandate by fulfilling their function of checks and balances. Even if no clear result was available on Wednesday morning, one thing was clear, said Jeff Rathke: The Republicans are now clearly Donald Trump's party, which stands behind him.