Donald Trump recently won the 2024 Presidential Election. Many rumors have been cycling surrounding new policies to follow the former president back into office, but what will this look like for our country? How will this impact our community? To preface this, no matter what your opinion is on the recent election, it is vital to uplift and support others through this newly developing age of our country. This election is one of the most remarkable in history for many reasons: Kamala Harris, a woman, was one of the two primary party candidates, and Donald Trump, the primary republican candidate, will now become the second president to run two non-consecutive terms. Early voting surged specifically among women, and many swing states played a vital role.
So what does this all mean? Well, let’s break it down to its core parts. Trump’s agenda focuses on the economy. He promises lower energy and grocery costs, tax cuts for the middle class, and tariffs. Trump makes claims to the American people that “[Their] energy cost and grocery prices will come tumbling down and [he and his cabinet] will bring back the American dream.” Along with this, he says he will impose tariffs on American goods to make the US economy more competitive, although taxes on imported goods have long since been proven to be passed on to consumers. He has promised tax-cuts for the middle class in America, including increasing deductions to lower their “tax burdens.” This is driven by the argument that these policies will boost consumer spending and economic activity. The ultimate goal of his plan is to increase job creation and the competitiveness of the marketplace.
In regards to the legal cases imposed against Donald Trump, here’s what we could see in the next few months. On the federal level, Donald Trump is facing two separate cases; one involving classified documents and one involving conspiracies to defraud the United States, according to NBC news. The Department of Justice has a policy that claims sitting presidents can’t be prosecuted. The court case, Trump vs. United States, in July of 2024, claims “The President is not above the law. But under our system of separated powers, the President may not be prosecuted for exercising his core constitutional powers, and he is entitled to at least presumptive immunity from prosecution for his official acts.” The two active state cases, in Georgia and New York, against Donald Trump, might be put on hold until he leaves office. Donald Trump has previously denied any wrongdoing in these cases.
Claims by USA Today state that Project 2025 is not a plan specifically by Donald Trump himself, but rather by the Heritage Foundation. Even though during his last term 64% of his policies aligned with those of the Project 2025 blueprint, Trump posted on social media that he doesn’t know who is behind the plan, and he goes so far as to call some of the policies abysmal. The nearly 900 page policy book includes everything from finishing the wall at the US-Mexico border to immigration and federal agencies. Project 2025 recommends the Department of Health and Human services reverse the approval of the pill Mifepristone, a widely used abortion pill. Ever since the Supreme Court’s overturning of Roe v. Wade, the project claims that the Justice Department should enforce federal laws against the providers and distributors of pills or medical treatment related to abortions. This is important to pay attention to because it could lead to significant legal and political battles regarding access to abortion services, and could potentially alter how healthcare is provided in the US.
Donald Trump will not be sworn into office until January 20, 2025, and his agenda has the possibility of changing between now and Inauguration Day. Until then, it is important to support and uplift others in our community during this time. Donald Trump has made pledges to shut down the Board of Education, meaning the structure of our school community could shortly fall back into the hands of the state. This era of American politics is significant for so many reasons and it’s important to not let politics divide families or friendships. It’s vital to focus on common-ground, to encourage discussions rather than debates. Fostering inclusivity and encouraging open discussions from various viewpoints allows multiple perspectives to feel heard during this ever-changing era in American politics. As in all aspects of life, promote kindness and education surrounding topics that are difficult to outwardly discuss. Change is possible and is constantly happening around us, so consider the effect your voice might have on others.
