This week the world woke up to the reality of a Trump presidency in the United States — something many did not think was a real possibility. Since my arrival in France, many of my classmates have approached me about the disaster that has been the 2016 election and asked me how I felt about it. It didn't take long for me to dread these interactions as it gets tiring constantly trying to explain to everyone that no, I am not supporting the loud man with bad ideas. But at least I was able to assure them that I had no faith in that man winning the Presidency. Last night I woke up at 2:00 am to watch the live results alongside my fellow Americans, and it did not take long for my country to show me how very wrong I had been. I sat in front of my computer and watched in horror as Trump gained more and more electoral votes, while Hillary remained relatively stagnant. When it became clear to me that Trump had a real chance at winning I began to panic. I sat on my bed watching, shaking, crying, panicking, worrying for the future that I had hoped would never become a reality. I knew it was over when they filled the outlines of Ohio and Florida with red. I sat and I watched, and I wondered how I am supposed to face my friends -- many of whom come from communities which have been targeted by Trump -- in the morning, knowing my country just made it very clear that many of them are not welcome, wanted or loved.
In the hours following the results of an election it is common to see many posts about moving to Canada if a certain candidate wins -- a threat which seems all too real this year as Canada's immigration website crashed early on in the night -- and those who support the victorious candidate responding by saying such people are unamerican and no one wants them here anyway. But this year people went further, explaining exactly how a Trump presidency will negatively impact their lives, many receiving responses telling them that they are being overdramatic and that one man cannot possibly cause so much damage to our country. I beg to differ.
So what does a Trump presidency mean for America?
A Trump Administration means that my friends in the LGBTQ+ community risk losing their rights and equality, that we are returning to a time where they fear to be open about who they are. It means that maybe they won't be able to get married after all, or own a home together, or adopt a child.
A Trump Administration means that women have little hope in the next four years for gaining the equality we have been fighting so hard to achieve. It means that we will continue to fear for our safety, and lose faith in the justice system. It means that we will likely lose the right to choose what we do with our body or the rights to proper reproductive health.
A Trump Administration means that immigrants will live in fear that they will be deported back to their countries where they cannot afford a decent living, particularly in Mexico where the value of the peso has plummeted since last night's results.
A Trump Administration means that Muslims will continue to live in fear of persecution, potentially radicalizing many who would never have been a threat otherwise; as well as expanding unnecessary fear.
A Trump Administration means weakening foreign policy. Countries have already begun to pull their diplomats out of the United States, and I don't see it stopping there.
A Trump Administration means isolation, a practice which many think is beneficial but has been proven throughout history to fail. We are only great because the rest of the world has faith in our capabilities, but that faith is quickly dissipating.
A Trump Administration means the potential for another great depression. Many people voted for Trump because he's "a business man who understands how to get things done." Apparently, the rest of the world disagrees, as evidenced by the fact that the US Stock futures dropped 500 points immediately when Trump gained the lead in the polls last night.
A Trump Administration means, more than anything, uncertainty, judgment, fear. That is not what a country's people should be feeling the morning after an election.
In sum: a country under the leadership of the man who was elected last night means four years of continued misplaced fear and judgment, and a return to a damaging level of isolationism.
I am sure that many people will read this and dismiss it like they have the social media posts in saying that Trump will do good, or that he cannot do as much harm as everyone thinks. I wish I could agree, but I have dedicated myself to the study of politics and international relations, I know how things tend to play out. Sure, POTUS doesn't have the power to do many of the things Trump has promised, and maybe if the power in Congress hadn't shifted the way it did those people would be right. But we are facing more than President Trump. We are facing both chambers of Congress controlled by the people who made every effort to ensure he won that spot, whether because they agree with him or for the sake of party unity. We are facing a Supreme Court that will soon have Trump-appointed Justices. We are facing an entire federal administration appointed by Donald Trump. These people have already forsaken so much of their morality and humanity in the name of party unity -- who is to say they won't continue to do so?
But all of this darkness aside, we must remember one thing: hate only wins if we allow it. We sit today with heavy hearts and fear for the future of our beloved country. But fear and hatred will get us nowhere. Those are the very sentiments that have brought us to where we are today. No, we will continue to stand up and fight back against the racism, the sexism, the systemic oppression. We will continue to fight against the idea that some are less human than others. We will continue to stand as brothers and sisters united under the same goals of love, peace, and equality. Because no one, not even the President of the United States, gets to strip us of our humanity.
