Don’t want Trump to be US president? Here’s what you can do

You are an EU citizen and rightly, fear the ascendance of the maniacal demagogue Donald Trump waging war on the slightest of premises if the Republican candidate wins the 2016 US presidential elections. So what can you – a Maltese national – do to make it all the more harder for Trump not to become US president (N.B. we do not subscribe to the Clinton camp, but if Brexit was a tough pill to swallow, Trump inside the White House would be a daily colonic…).

The answer has been compiled from Jennifer Miller, field staffer Vice Presidential Selection researcher, on Quora.

1. You cannot contribute any cash to either Clinton or Trump

The Federal Election Commission’s useful guide Foreign Nationals states that you are prohibited from making financial contributions to a candidate, a political committee, or even an independent expenditure, “either directly or indirectly. It is also unlawful to help foreign nationals violate that ban or to solicit, receive or accept contributions or donations from them. Persons who knowingly and willfully engage in these activities may be subject to fines and/or imprisonment.”

2. You can, however, volunteer your time on behalf of a candidate…

If you are going to the USA, or the campaign is looking for online volunteers, you can volunteer personal services to a candidate or political committee without making a contribution.  This volunteer “exemption” is allowed as long as you don’t get compensated – simple. Read here to see why a foreign student can provide unpaid volunteer services, and by contrast read here why you cannot use your artistic work, for example, to raise funds for a candidate.

3. Both parties have networks of volunteers abroad

Democrats Abroad’s country committees in the Americas, Europe, Middle East, Africa, and Asia Pacific always need local volunteers. Unfortunately Malta is not listed so you should get in touch to see how they can fit you into an active chapter [[email protected]].

4. Is there someone who has already done this?

Brendan Zerafa made you feel the Bern...

In March, MaltaToday interviewed Brendan Zerafa, a volunteer for ImagineBernie. He included in a Facebook page connecting grassroots supporters of British Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn and Bernie Sanders, and responded to a call for applications for online volunteers issued by the US Senator’s campaign team. Although not affiliated with the official campaign, ImagineBernie volunteers designed memes and posted them on Bernie Sanders fan pages and Facebook groups with Democrats and Independents.