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On Oct. 27, former president Donald Trump entered the Madison Square Garden to an arena of chanting supporters and MAGA devotees. Unsurprisingly, Trump’s speech was riddled with offensive generalizations, racist jargon and extremist statements that exemplify just how detrimental a second Trump term would be to the United States.

Trump invited many speakers to prelude his speech, including comedian Tony Hinchcliffe, who ignorantly referred to Puerto Rico as a “floating island of garbage.” As 44th President Barack Obama stated at a rally for Democratic candidate and Vice President Kamala Harris, “these are Americans.” To make such an insensitive, belittling comment toward citizens, defacing them as if their circumstances are a point of entertainment, is not only deplorable, but reflects Trump’s own views on his own constituency.

Additionally, Grant Cardone, a Republican entrepreneur, called Harris a “fake, a fraud, a pretender,” stating that “her and her pimp-handlers will destroy our country.” Not only is there no foundation for such a claim, but it’s rather hypocritical as Cardone takes no issue with Trump’s charges of sexual abuse which date back decades. The same is true for David Rem, a “childhood friend” of Trump who referred to Harris as the “anti-Christ,” boasting that “Donald Trump knows Jesus is King.”

Trump’s campaign then issued a statement regarding the words of those who spoke at his rally as failing to reflect his values. J.D. Vance took the stance that the United States is too sensitive and needs to “stop getting so offended.” But the campaign Trump leads is saturated with immaturity, invalidation and complete disregard for the pursuit of equal opportunity that America is meant to offer.

Ilana Zahavy | Design Editor

Regardless of where you stand politically, recognizing the harm Trump’s re-election would mean for our democracy should be the leading factor in your vote. We are already seeing many registered Republicans advocating for Harris, under this exact ideology.

Some of Trump’s own affiliates, such as his former communications director, Anthony Scaramucci, and his Vice President’s Homeland Security Advisor, Olivia Troye, have both backed Harris in this election. In fact, Mitt Romney, John McCain and more than 200 other people who worked for former Republican presidents George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush signed a letter supporting Harris.

Even Trump’s former chief of staff, John Kelly, said Trump would dictate if he could and said Trump condoned the actions of Adolf Hitler, claiming he did “some good things.” Vance himself once referred to his now-running mate as “America’s Hitler” in a 2016 Facebook message.

Meanwhile, Harris has also gathered supporters at a series of rallies herself, telling them, “for as long as I can remember, I have always had an instinct to protect. There’s something about people being treated unfairly, or overlooked, that just gets to me.” She encouraged voters, connected with supporters and spoke professionally before thousands of people who are seeking the best leadership for the nation. As seen in the most recent presidential debate, Harris offers truth and integrity, whereas Trump chases extremism to appeal to supporters, often with false information.

Before Trump’s political rise, our nation’s debates and elections were primarily civil. Candidates accepted defeat, spoke maturely and sought the best interest of the country. Following the 2012 General Election, Romney congratulated Obama on his victory and the two shared laughs throughout their debates leading up to the election. Now, political conversation is corrupted by demeaning comments, extremism and division.

To vote for someone who has no respect for his competitor and sits idly by while his administration openly attacks minorities and proudly strips them of their rights is to destroy democracy.

Trump’s behavior and actions are often defended by claims of job growth and economic stability under his presidency. While often cited by Trump supporters, such data is backed only by the former president’s words and disproven by numerous sources. Reports by BBC and The Inquirer show that employment, GDP growth and hourly wage have actually been higher under President Joe Biden. Besides inflation, the competing administrations do not compare.

And if economic reasons are what drives your vote, consider the true cost. The hateful, controlling and threatening ideologies of Trump will plague the entire country and the people within. A stable economy alone does not signify a good president, but rather their ability to represent the needs of the public and protect their liberty. It’s instrumental to the success of a nation that the people can trust their president to prioritize their best interests and do so with morality.

Everyone has a different political stance composed of varying ideologies and objectives. If yours do not align completely with either leading candidate, consider the future of the nation entirely. The MSG rally disproves many Trump supporters who believe him to be a fit leader. He does not care for the American people whatsoever. To Trump, winning a second term is strictly a grasp for more power and an opportunity to further force his agenda.

As election results near, Trump and Harris remain incredibly close in the polls. Reproductive rights, the future of immigration and the safety of our schools all hang in the balance of this election. Your ballot is more than a decision between Trump and Harris, but a chance to help pave a new future and leave the past behind.

Savannah Grunmeier is a freshman triple major in policy studies, english and law, society and policy. Her column appears bi-weekly. She can be reached at sggrunme@syr.edu.

Published on November 5, 2024 at 12:46 am