What do Americans in Berlin think about the US elections? Rowdy Kram ‘25 interviewed by rbb Inforadio

The 2024 United States presidential election will take place on Tuesday, November 5. As part of the interview series “USA vor der Wahl: Amerikaner in Berlin und Brandenburg” (“USA Before the Election: Americans in Berlin and Brandenburg”), rbb Inforadio asked BCB student Rowdy Kram his thoughts as an American student in Berlin.

Being able to vote is a privilege, Rowdy states in the interview. He explains that he ordered his election documents early, but hadn't decided who to vote for yet. "I'm not going to vote for Trump, but I'm not so sure about Kamala yet," which he explains is largely due to her foreign policies in the Middle East. He is considering writing in his own candidate on the ballot rather than choosing Trump or Harris—he explains that since he’s from Illinois, a solidly Democratic state, he is not worried that such a “protest vote” would help Trump: “A Republican will never win Illinois.”

Ultimately, Rowdy expressed criticism of the electoral system in the USA, a sentiment shared by many Americans: "I think we need more parties, we need a system like Germany. There are only two options and it's always the case that you have to choose the lesser evil."

Listen to Rowdy’s full 3-minute interview in German here. Read the interview highlights from him and four other Berlin-based Americans here.

Post Date: 11-01-2024