This piece was originally published prior to the Nov. 5 election
When I was looking at who to vote for this election cycle, I wanted to try my best to be as unbiased as possible. I am not someone who likes to hide their opinions, and my thoughts on former president Donald J. Trump are not ones I'm scared to share. I believe that Trump is unfit to serve as the next President of the United States.
Trump has 34 felony accounts, including falsified business records to conceal a $130,000 hush money payment to a pornstar he had an affair with. Recently, Trump stated that whether women such as myself like it or not, he is going to protect us. Trump baselessly claimed that immigrants are eating pets in Springfield, Ohio. He allowed blatantly racist comments to be made about Puerto Ricans at his rally at Madison Square Garden, and feigned ignorance when confronted about the comments made by comedian Tony Hinchcliffe. Even if I give Trump the benefit of the doubt, and accept he didn’t know those comments were going to be made, why would I want to have a president that isn’t aware of what was going to be said at his own rally?
This brings up another issue I have with Trump. I want a president who is able to make statements that are factual, rather than complete fabrications of reality. Trump has told countless lies both in and out of office. Why would I want a president who can’t even tell the truth?
A common claim by Trump supporters is that he is going to help boost the economy. Mass deportation, one the biggest policies that Trump promises to deliver on if he is elected, will not have the economic effect that many supporters are hoping for. In 2022, undocumented immigrants paid $96.7 billion in federal, state, and local taxes. Some people argue that immigrants are taking jobs from American citizens, however, when looking at the current unemployment rate of 4.2%, this is still lower than the long-term average unemployment rate of 5.69%. In early 2023, according to the Department of Commerce, the unemployment rate actually hit its lowest in 54 years, at 3.4%. Additionally, when looking at Trump’s tax policies from back in 2017, his plan was skewed towards the rich and barely benefited the lower and middle class, which is the majority of America. Households who made less than $114,000 saw almost no change in earnings after the corporate tax rate cut, compared to those who made greater.
Finally, I should not have to worry that if a candidate isn’t elected president they will not accept the results. Multiple times, Trump has been quoted saying that if he does not win this year, the election was rigged. I want a president that, no matter the election results, will accept them, like every other president has for the past 250 years.
Many of Trump’s previous advisors and supporters – even Mike Pence, his former vice president – have stated they will not be endorsing or voting for Trump this election cycle, and will be choosing their country over their party. I hope the rest of America will do the same, so we can move past the hateful and deceitful rhetoric Trump has spread for the past 8 years.