Left
As President Donald J. Trump begins his second term, Americans are divided on the outlook of the next four years. While we all have similar goals, such as public wellbeing and a strong economy, the country is divided on how to achieve these goals. Trump’s proposed, and already started, policies on the economy and climate change are two major reasons for concern.
Economists’ predictions on the results of Trump’s 10% tariff on China and 25% tariffs on Canada and Mexico have ranged from mildly wary to highly concerned. A Century Foundation article highlights the concerns of economists, with Joseph Stiglitz, winner of the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences, citing retaliation from other countries and a potential rise in interest rates as primary concerns. Meanwhile, in an article by Reuters, some individuals, such as Harvard economics professor Jason Furman, expect only a small increase in inflation due to Trump’s tariff policy. However, he notes that even a slight increase in inflation could increase interest rates, highlighting the same worry as Stiglitz. According to Consumer News and Business Channel (CNBC), shortly after Trump imposed his tariffs on Canada, Mexico, and China, the Federal Reserve put a pause on their plan to lower interest rates, a decision that initially sparked criticism from Trump, but he eventually agreed with, albeit hesitantly. This lack of consensus between Trump and the Federal Reserve is a concern that Christina Romer, an economics professor at the University of California Berkeley, describes in the Reuters article. Romer worries that an attack on the Federal Reserve’s power to work independently would potentially bring disaster to global financial markets. In spite of tensions, Romer still finds this outcome unlikely due to the extreme harm it would bring to the economy, although, according to Furman, a slow removal of the Federal Reserve’s authority is not out of the question.
Trump is very open about his policies on climate change, with the topic even being a primary talking point in his inaugural address. Trump believes that environmental protections are a primary cause of the last few years’ high inflation rates. As a result, he has already begun dismantling protections that former President Joe Biden put in place over his last four years in office. For example, the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) cites that Trump pulled the US out of the Paris Agreement, revoked Biden’s goals on electric vehicles, and declared a national energy emergency to expand oil and gas production. From 1970 to today, the Environmental Protections Agency (EPA) estimates that the global average temperature has gone up 1.7°F. Increases in temperature have led to increased natural disasters and extreme weather events, rising sea levels that threaten coastal ecosystems, and changes in rainfall patterns. Changes in rainfall patterns are not only another contributor of extreme weather events, but also lead to issues in water supply and quality. Ani Dasgupta, CEO of the peer reviewed World Resources Institute, a nonprofit organization that promotes environmental protection, claims that leaving the Paris Agreement will give China and the European Union (EU) an edge in the clean energy market. Experts also express concern at Trump’s removal of policies geared toward climate protection, especially with 2024 being the hottest year on record. While there are potential economic benefits to increased oil protection, under the Biden administration the US was still the highest global producer of oil, and experts like Dasgupta agree that the US should take advantage of the clean energy market’s potential.
Trump’s economic and climate control policies are both major reasons for concern, with many experts doubting the ability of his proposed strategies to improve America, both on an individual and wide scale level. While concerns are rampant, it is important for us to keep in mind the importance of a united forefront over the next four years.
Neutral
Under President Donald J. Trump’s second term, this country will suffer for the next four years, but the same would be said if Kamala Harris had been elected. Neither of the two major parties work for the people. We need new parties if we are to succeed as a nation.
What were the accomplishments of the Biden Administration? You can point to specific things he did: lowered the price of insulin, fixed the economic mess after COVID-19 and the first Trump presidency, and re-entered the Paris Agreement. However, the average Americans’ life hasn’t improved. In fact, it’s gotten worse. According to the Federal Reserve’s Report on the Economic Well-Being of U.S. Households in 2023-May 2024, 36% of American families live on less than $25,000. Additionally, the Federal Reserve’s Distributional Financial Accounts (DFA) reports that in quarter three of 2024, the top 0.1% of Americans controlled $22.13 trillion, while the bottom 50% controlled $3.89 trillion. In his first term, Trump did even less than Biden for the average person. While he did lower taxes, this only truly helped the rich. According to an article by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, Trump’s tax cuts gave wealthy families an extra $60,000 a year on average, where the bottom 60% saved less than $500. These trends did not start with either Trump or Biden, but neither could fix these issues.
If you look at Trump’s main campaign promises, the main theme was change. Change on the border, change on inflation, change in society. And that message worked only because Americans were, and still are, desperate for change. But Trump does not represent change, he represents the very essence of the status quo. Now Trump wants to put tariffs on our two largest trading partners, Mexico and Canada. According to a working paper released by the International Monetary Fund, “We find that tariff increases lead…to economically and statistically significant declines in domestic output and productivity.” If you look at Harris’ campaign promises and party platform, had she been elected, it wouldn’t have changed much. Her plan laid out had no real way of rebuilding American industry and it would have done just as well as Biden. Neither candidate proposed a concrete plan for progress. It doesn’t matter who sits in the White House. As Huey Long, a 1930’s politician famous for clashing with both parties, said in his “High Popalorum” Speech, “the only difference that I have found between the Democratic leadership and the Republican leadership was that one of ’em was skinning you from the ankle up and the other from the ear down.” Both now and then, it has been shown both parties act in the interests of business rather than their electorate.
Looking at the first few actions of Trump’s presidency, it’s clear that they won’t benefit the average person. On immigration, he’s already given the green light for ICE agents to raid people’s houses without a warrant. Additionally, Guantanamo Bay is being used as a holding ground for migrants, a place where these people can be tortured because of a constitutional loophole. According to Harvard University, Federal courts cannot hear cases on incidents of torture in the naval base. While still illegal, according to Amnesty International, a global human rights organization, torture can, and has happened with impunity. He’s put tariffs on our three largest trade partners, which even though they haven’t been put into effect, prices of everyday items are already skyrocketing.
To conclude, neither the Democrats or the Republicans can save this country. We don’t need new candidates, new parties, and new ideals. The status quo has failed the average American, and neither party is dedicated to systemic change. Bourgeois democracy has been shown unwilling to change and create a system truly responsible and reactive to the will of the people. We need a new system.
Right
The next four years of President Donald J. Trump’s administration is going to fix the United States of America. We are entering the Golden Age because of how everything is working out currently. With Trump winning every swing state, it just proves how the American people were not satisfied with the Biden-Harris Administration.
Trump is going to secure our borders and protect the communities of the United States
of America. In order to do this, Trump is reinstating the wall and ending asylum for illegal border crossers. According to the White House, Trump’s deportation system will address the record of border crossings and criminals that crossed the border during the Biden administration. Trump is sending the National Guard to engage with the U.S-Mexican borders and there will be enforcing existing laws to enforcement personnel. According to Reuters, he is starting the process of recognizing some cartels, such as the Tren de Aragua, as foreign terrorist organizations. Tren de Aragua is harmful and commits crimes, according to the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The reason why this is serious is because of the story of Laken Riley, a twenty two year-old nursing student at the University of Georgia who was killed by an illegal immigrant February 22, 2024. When the Republicans became the new administration, they passed a bill called the Laken Riley Act. According to AP news, the Laken Riley Act is a law that the U.S Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) can detain any illegal immigrant who commits crimes. Senator Katie Britt said, “If you come into this country illegally and you commit a crime, you should not be free to roam the streets of this nation.” According to an interview with mayor of Paterson Andre Sayegh on News12, ICE has already started targeting cities like Paterson, New Jersey, which according to the Department of Justice has a high number of drug-trafficking gangs.
Additionally, Trump will reduce the cost of living for Americans. According to The Mortgage Reports, “Trump’s executive orders [call] for the government to provide emergency price relief to Americans via several actions, including lowering housing costs and boosting housing inventory.” According to real estate expert Rick Sharga, “Housing affordability is at its lowest level in 40 years today, so it was important that the President included finding ways to lower housing costs in this executive order.” According to the White House, “After averaging just $2.77 per gallon under President Trump, and a price of $2.33 upon leaving office, the price of gasoline skyrocketed under President Biden, reaching $3.33 a year later. It went on to reach a peak at $5.00 per gallon and remains elevated today.” The U.S. Energy Information Administration predicts that the cost of gas will be lowered.
Overall, the next 4 years of Trump’s presidency will be beneficial. It will secure our borders by increasing border patrol, improve economic conditions by reducing the cost of living, and will protect Americans’ constitutional rights by continuing to fight for free speech for all. Americans should be excited about the future that President Trump is promising them.