US Ambassador discusses 2024 presidential election in RTL Today interview

In an interview with RTL Today at the US Embassy in Luxembourg City two weeks ahead of the presidential election, Ambassador Thomas M Barrett discussed the embassy's support for overseas voters and the strong interest in the election among both Americans and Luxembourgers. He further reflected on the unique structure of the US electoral system, the importance of transparency in democracy, and the major domestic and global challenges awaiting the next president.

Voting from afar and Luxembourg's 'keen' interest in US elections

Ambassador Barrett explained the role of the US Embassy in Luxembourg in supporting American citizens who wish to vote in the upcoming presidential election. Although no voting occurs at the embassy, Barrett highlighted that the embassy assists by using a "diplomatic pouch" to securely send ballots back to respective US jurisdictions.

However, with only two weeks left until the election and a potential 20-day transit time, Barrett cautioned that those who have not yet voted may want to "consider some type of private courier service just to ensure that their ballot is returned on time". He also noted that requirements vary by state, with some needing ballots by election day and others accepting ballots postmarked on 5 November.

In response to how the US electorate in Luxembourg compares to that in the United States, Barrett highlighted that he was "pleasantly surprised" by the high level of interest shown by both American and Luxembourg citizens in US elections, especially the presidential race. He observed that there is "a keen interest on leadership in the United States and what's going to happen after this election", reflecting an engagement with both domestic and international issues.

Looking ahead to the gripping vote, Barrett shared that he himself will also ensure not to miss a single beat of what happens in his home country: "I'm pretty much glued to the screen by the time we get to election day. I've followed politics for a long time and to me it's the ultimate participatory sport, that it works only as well as we, the people, make it work. So, I think it's important for people to be involved in our electoral process, because democracies are strongest when more people are involved."

Ambassador Thomas M Barrett at the US Residence in Limpertsberg. / © Elamine Oumara

Transparency as strength

Ambassador Barrett provided insights into the unique structure of the US electoral system, emphasising the Electoral College, which consists of "51 different elections" across the states and Washington DC. This setup shifts candidates' focus to the seven "purple" or "swing states" where election outcomes are less predictable, making them critical battlegrounds.

Barrett noted that intense efforts, including substantial spending on advertising and organising, are concentrated in these states, with candidates, running mates, their spouses, and even former presidents rallying to mobilise voters. He underscored the system's dependency on citizen engagement, once again stressing that "a democracy works only as well as people make it work".

Describing the electoral process with great admiration, Barrett shared how much joy it gives him to see democracy at play: "I get very excited this time of year, because so much is at stake. And it's exciting. And it can be harrowing, it can be scary, it can be depressing. Or it can be exhilarating."

The Ambassador further underlined the great degree of transparency that he sees in the US electoral system, asserting it to be one of its greatest strengths: "One of the things that I always say about American politics is, unlike some other countries, particularly totalitarian countries, we air out our dirty laundry. That this is a democracy. And you can see the warts of the candidates, you can see the strengths of the candidates. And I've always felt that sunlight is the best disinfectant. The more you have transparency, the more the American people can see what's going on, the more likely you are in the long run to have good results for our country."

When asked if recent political attacks had affected his confidence in US election security, the Ambassador drew on his extensive experience in election administration, referencing his nearly 18-year tenure as Mayor of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, a "city roughly the size of Luxembourg".

Barrett emphasised that he has "tremendous confidence in the integrity" of American elections, pointing out that those who administer them are "true patriots" committed to democracy and transparency. His extensive political career, which further includes five consecutive terms in the US House of Representatives, has reinforced his view that the US election system remains robust despite challenges in recent years.

Appealing to the undecided

Discussing the appeal of the Democratic and Republican tickets, Ambassador Barrett highlighted the contrasting approaches and visions of former President Trump and Vice President Harris. He noted that Trump "has a strong following among people who feel oftentimes that government does not serve them", with a focus on issues like immigration. Harris, in contrast, "is a strong believer in equality and making sure that people's voices can be heard".

Given the importance of the upcoming vote, both candidates now have to reach out to areas traditionally aligned with their opponent in a bid to secure the presidency: "It's really a gritty, gritty battle, because you'll see President Trump trying to make appeals to groups that have historically not been supportive of Republicans. And you'll see Vice President Harris going into areas that have been traditionally Republican and making a case that her candidacy really transcends parties and is looking for support that way."

Barrett acknowledged that this year's race for the Oval Office will likely be as close as it can get: "Nobody knows exactly what's going to happen. Nobody knows what the outcome's going to be. And if someone tells you that they know, they're bluffing or they're making it up, because nobody knows."

The diplomat further observed that both candidates are now focusing all of their efforts on reaching the infamous group of undecided voters: "If you look right now, I'm going to estimate that 95% of the people have made up their mind as to who they're going to support. So, all of this money, all of these appearances, all this effort is focused on 5% of the voters."

He jokingly added that in swing states in particular, undecided voters hold substantial influence: "You couldn't get more popular than that. If you're an undecided voter in a swing state and you let people know that, you might have the candidates coming personally over for dinner to your house. That's how close it is in some of these areas."

When asked about the next commander-in-chief's daunting task of leading the US through the next four years, Ambassador Barrett outlined a duality of challenges, distinguishing between domestic and foreign policy issues. He asserted that Americans prioritise issues differently based on their unique experiences, with domestic topics like immigration, women's rights, guns, and food prices tentatively dominating the focus for many in the US.

Barrett opposed this to the interests of those watching the presidential race from abroad, for whom international concerns usually take precedence: "You certainly have issues like Ukraine and what's going to happen with our support for [them]. Is that going to change? How is that going to change? Clearly what's happening in the Middle East continues to be just a topic that is incredibly important for the planet. I think, quite honestly, what's going on in Sudan right now is very important for the future of Africa, and for the future of the world as well."

Despite these global concerns, the diplomat underlined that the essence of American democracy lies in individuals’ autonomy to determine their priorities, stating "they're not going to allow someone else to dictate to them what the most important issue is", which means that in the end it often comes down to the issues that people encounter in their everyday lives: "At the end of the day, you really want the candidate that you feel identifies most with you, your family, your challenges, and your life. And that's human nature. I don't care where you are on the planet, you want to make sure that the person you're supporting understands you and your family."