Tuesday was a hard day. Donald Trump is the President-Elect of the United States of America. Over the last few days, I have heard a cry of collective terror from liberal America thanks to warnings of impending dictatorship, premonitions of resurgent racism, misogyny and discrimination. I share much of this sentiment. I am genuinely afraid of what President Trump will do, of the lives he could damage or end. The next four years will likely be hard, many will suffer, and many will grieve. But an acknowledgement of hardship is not the same as an embrace of defeat.
I remain confident that the overwhelming majority of Americans believe in our country and our values, in helping each other and in building a society of hope, equality and prosperity. Many such individuals voted for Donald Trump, and I firmly believe they will one day play a role in the repudiation of his vile ideology. In every walk of life and in every party these Americans can be found. We will work together, and struggle together, for the next four years and beyond.
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As the scope of the Trumpian disaster becomes apparent, many will despair. But in this dark moment it is vital to remember a lesson from history: that no matter what setbacks we suffer, no matter what battles we lose, we will endure, we will fight back, and in the end, we will always win.
We will win not because we are smarter than our opponents, but because we are better and because we are stronger. For all the bluster and anger of Trumpism, his campaign, his ideology, and his presidency are based upon weakness and fear.
Trumpism is afraid backward terrorists can destroy this country, Trumpism is afraid of helpless immigrants, Trumpism is afraid to face our nation’s real challenges.
And so it is no accident that the many of the men around President Trump will be deeply flawed, personally and morally compromised or simply incompetent. While Trump’s voters are patriotic and honest, the instigators of his reign are small men, prone to pettiness and anger.
It is equally no accident that, even in a moment of unbearable sorrow, Hillary Clinton and the Obama administration stood tall and accepted the will of the American people. When Trump loses in four years, can anyone imagine him responding with such grace and honor? The policies Trump has ridden to the White House, the policies he will enact, aren’t just wrong, they are self-defeating.
But we must help him along. Over the next four years, we face the slow evisceration of the Obama legacy, the erosion of progress and the looming specter of potential authoritarianism. We must take strength from every setback; and we must work to seize the levers of power from those who have stolen them away. We must remember, that to many, voting for Trump signifies nothing more than a desire for change. To win back these Americans we must convince, cajole and co-opt; we must use every tool at our disposal. But as we engage in this great democratic struggle, we must also remain confident in our ultimate victory.
The tide of human progress stands firmly against Donald Trump, and even if he can hold it back for four years (or even eight), he can never stop it. And one day, that tide will sweep Donald Trump into the dustbin of history – and all of us, no matter who we supported in 2016, no matter what ideology we espouse today, will be there to watch and to rebuild.
