Student poll shows mixed opinions on new U.S. administration
Donald Trump might be the most polarizing president that the United States has ever seen. Many Americans are divided on what they think the next four years will look like with Trump returning to the White House. Although the majority of high school students couldn’t vote in the most recent presidential election, many still have opinions on Trump and his policies.
“I think that Trump being reelected as president is crazy,” a junior who asked to remain anonymous said. “I didn’t actually think that people would vote for him. A lot of people that support MAGA have a lot of extremist views. Lots of them don’t support equality. I am afraid for women’s, gay people’s, trans people’s, and literally everyone’s rights. I hope that America will become a place where everyone can openly be who they are. I hope that schools will become a safer place. I hope overall that everyone can experience true equality and have better opportunities.”
Many others feel grateful that Trump was re-elected and believe Trump knows best for what America needs.
“I believe that these next four years will be the best that the nation has seen due to his new policies and the pipeline and oil industry being back up and running and improving the economy,” Will Redden, junior, said. “I am a strong supporter of President Trump’s new policies of securing the border with the deportation operation and withdrawing from the Paris Climate Accord; I think it will improve our nation for the better and with Trump’s policy of male and female being the only recognized gender because that is what was written in the Bible and is the true Christian way. I think it will improve the nation’s success rate.”
Some students feel disappointed and fearful about Trump being in office again due to policies like his deportation plan.
“It feels like a betrayal to anyone that is not a White American,” a senior who asked to remain anonymous said. “Makes me feel like I have to live in fear until he’s out of office…With Trump in office, there isn’t much hope but I’m hoping he calms down and realizes that everyone is created the same. We are all God’s creation and deserve to be treated as such, not like animals.”
Students like Haigen McAnally, sophomore, have faith in Trump’s imminent policies. “I think that Donald Trump being reelected as president is a good thing; during the time of his previous presidency he fixed a lot in our country and that he can do it again,” McAnally said. “I believe that it is right to deport people who illegally enter the United States because many of the countries that the immigrants are coming from will also deport those who enter those countries illegally. I hope that we will stay out of the Paris Agreement and that we don’t enter any new wars. I hope that our country makes sure schools are safe and that eventually prices of everything will go down.
Many other students have raised concerns for the economy and the environment due to Trump’s plan to drill for oil and withdraw the United States from the Paris Climate Accord.
“I believe that the current inflation will only continue to rise, and more and more issues will come up,” Jojo Acuna, junior, said. “There is a huge divide between economic classes and the gap will only continue to grow during Trump’s term…I think Trump is an ignorant person for leaving the Paris Climate Accord. Global warming has been a rising issue that was brought up during his first term and he chose to ignore it then. Now, this issue has grown even more critical as humanity produces more and more greenhouse gases.”
Other high schoolers are indifferent towards the president and focus more on general improvements for our nation and local communities. “I’m not really bothered because he’s been president before so we kind of know how he is,” Sawyer Edgington, junior, said. “I hope some conflicts in the world can be stopped but that the U.S. can also make sure the U.S. is our top priority. My hopes are that inflation and taxes will go down and we can reverse the trend of things getting seemingly crazier recently across the country.” Catherine Bond, junior, along with other students, worry that Trump may revoke citizen’s rights and prioritize the elite rather than common Americans.
“I fear that Trump will become a dictator of sorts and place rules to veto the balance of the democracy that we have put in place,” Bond said. “If his presidency does last a full term, I see America’s economy declining and the people of the country being in extreme distress. I see the rich only getting richer and the poor only getting poorer… America can’t and won’t be seen as the greatest country until we have a leader that will actually serve the people they’re meant to. A leader is supposed to benefit the majority, not themselves.” Another student, Karter Bowers, junior, is hopeful for the upcoming years.
“Hopefully gas prices go down, the border becomes more secure, and we will stay war free for the next four years,” Bowers said. “I hope Trump establishes our border security and makes it more secure. I hope we stay war free and the economy becomes stable. My biggest fear is that the good hardworking illegals will be thrown back out into Mexico even though they’ve been here for years and have established a family here. Hopefully we can become the greatest country in the world, and whether you’re a Democrat or a Republican you can support and love the country we live in.”