President-elect Donald Trump will become one of two presidents in America’s history to serve two nonconsecutive terms, second to Grover Cleveland. He also makes history as the first convicted felon to take office. Trump was elected back into office after beating Harris on Wednesday, Nov. 5. Trump took the 270 electoral votes and more to win, gaining many of these votes from battleground states.
The election results resulted in feelings ranging from happiness to terror. Recognizing this, in her concession speech at Howard University on Nov. 6, Vice President Kamala Harris said, “Now, I know folks are feeling and experiencing a range of emotions right now. I get it, but we must accept the results of this election. While I concede this election, I do not concede the fight that fueled this campaign—the fight: the fight for freedom, for opportunity, for fairness, and the dignity of all people.”
Trump won the popular vote with 76.5 million votes compared to Harris’ 73.8 million. Citizens across America who voted for Trump are overjoyed by the results of the election. “The most specific way I expect life to improve under Trump’s administration is the morale of the entire country, especially the working class, which has improved. We are no longer ignored,” David Rose, a 43-year-old steelworker from Indian Head, Pennsylvania, said to USA Today.
One of Trump’s and his supporters’ most important stances during this election and his previous presidency was immigration. “I think we have to secure the country, and the only way we can secure the country is securing the borders. It’s like everybody that is coming from all over the world, and they are coming inside this country illegally. They are draining the country. The country is bleeding because of them,” Juan Felipe Paredes, 52, who immigrated to the United States three decades ago, said to USA Today.
Trump has also spoken on the education department and what he plans to do with it when he returns to office. He wants to close the department, claiming it pushes “woke” culture onto students. Editor-in-chief Claire Lenkin takes a deep dive into this and the negative consequences in her article linked here.
One of the most critical policies in this election surrounded abortion rights. According to Pew Research Center, 57% of registered Republicans and independents support the illegalization of abortion in all/most cases. This percentage shows the Republican Party’s support of Trump and his stance on abortion rights.
However, Trump has gone back and forth on the topic, and Americans have no set answer from the president-elect. “During the final stages of his campaign, Trump said he thought states should determine their own abortion policies. But his position on the issue has varied widely — in a March interview, he signaled support for a nationwide ban on abortions after 15 weeks gestation, and as president, he supported a House bill that would have banned abortion nationwide after 20 weeks,” according to an NBC News article.
Trump’s plans for immigration will be the number one priority, but they will not be as beneficial as his supporters believe. “Make no mistake: Mass deportations will harm the millions targeted by Donald Trump, the families and communities they are part of — and every person in our country. They will rip parents from their children, destroy businesses and livelihoods, and devastate the fabric of our nation and our economy,” Juan Proaño, CEO of LULAC (League of United Latin American Citizens), said to CNN.
Trump supporters and voters should not be happy about the outcome of this election; they should be scared. Donald Trump is a known liar and everything he says panders to an audience who will believe him. Trump’s plans in office are simple: take away the rights of women, LGBTQIA+ people and other minorities and make the country a better place for the already wealthy men.
In a few short years, America could look completely different. With the House of Representatives and Senate leaning Republican, it won’t be hard for Trump to put words into action. But as Harris said, we should not concede to this fight. If you are feeling scared or anxious about the results, find comfort in the people around you. Surround yourself with people you love and who love you, and if you are ever feeling alone and afraid, the mental health hotline is 866-903-3787 and the suicide hotline is 988.
