Nov. 5, 2024 marks the 47th presidential election. President Joe Biden will step down and American voters around the United States will cast their vote for his replacement. But who should they vote for? Who should freshly-18 high school voters choose? Americans should go and vote—but not for former President Donald J. Trump.
Trump is the Republican party’s nominee for the 2024 presidential election, and J. D. Vance is his campaign choice for Vice President. Now, you may or may not agree with the party platforms of the Democratic or Republican parties, but have you taken a look at Trump? There are a plethora of reasons why having him in power again for another four years is a terrible idea. He is the first president to be impeached twice and the first president to be charged with and convicted of a felony. Do we really believe that someone with this background—criminal background—should be the symbol of the United States? Should be Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces? Should enforce laws? I think not. If you’re still not convinced, let’s take an in-depth look at how the Trump presidential journey started.
In 1971, Trump took over his father’s real estate company and established himself in New York City as a business mogul. He was able to publish a book, “The Art of the Deal,” in 1987, and released his reality TV show “The Apprentice” seven years later. He married Melania Knauss in 2005. In 2016, Trump won the Republican primary and became the Republican party’s nominee for the 2016 presidential election. He lost the popular vote to Hillary Clinton, but obtained the presidency by receiving 270 votes in the Electoral College. During his presidency, Trump got rid of numerous federal regulations and signed a major tax bill into law which reduced taxes for corporations and estates. He also increased the military budget, introduced more aggressive immigration and border control (“building the wall”), and focused on making the federal courts more reactionary. Trump also moved the U.S. Embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem during his presidency. He became the first sitting president to meet with a North Korean leader when he met with Kim Jong Un. The House of Representatives impeached and charged Trump with obstruction of Congress and abuse of power in 2019, but the Senate acquitted him in 2020. During the tail end of his presidency, Trump initiated “Operation Warp Speed” to combat COVID-19, which devoted federal government resources towards private pharmaceutical companies developing a vaccine. When Trump ran for reelection in 2020, and lost to current President Joe Biden, he falsely claimed that voter fraud had cost him the election. This claim accumulated into the infamous “Save America” rally on Jan. 6, 2021, when Trump supporters stormed the Capitol, causing the death of five people and millions of dollars in damage. The House of Representatives impeached him again, and the Senate acquitted him once more.
To say the least, Trump was an unprecedented president. He was and is still “testing the waters” to see how much he can get away with, including when he refused to release his tax returns and didn’t place his assets into a blind trust, which all presidents since Jimmy Carter have done. Not to mention the extremely racist and xenophobic comments (i.e. “in Springfield, they are eating the dogs. The people that came in, they are eating the cats. They’re eating – they are eating the pets of the people that live there.”), Trump is the last person I’d want to see in the presidential position, and you should feel the same. He is dangerous and he will stop at nothing to get what he wants. We can see this all too well in his response to the 2020 presidential election: a riot on the Capitol, which marked the first non-peaceful transfer of power between presidents in the history of the United States. The Republican party has become the Trump party. It comes down to this: support another four years of Trump mania, or vote Kamala Harris for president 2024?
Jace • Nov 7, 2024 at 7:54 am
Put the fries in the bag
Kendall • Nov 6, 2024 at 9:05 am
well well wellllllll
Grace Stadtmiller • Oct 31, 2024 at 2:12 pm
What has Kamala done for the past 4 years other than a horrific job with handling border security, and if you think price gauging will genuinely lower inflation, don’t even vote. MAGA
julian • Oct 30, 2024 at 2:05 pm
what a bunch of larpers on blue and red vote brent peterson
bradon • Oct 29, 2024 at 10:07 am
trump 2024 your brainwashed L take MAGA take America back trump on top L ratio
John pork • Oct 28, 2024 at 10:19 am
don’t let bro cook again, TRUMP 2024
Fabian • Oct 28, 2024 at 10:13 am
Lol cut this out
Cider • Oct 23, 2024 at 9:26 am
Taking a guess that half of the comments only read the lead in. You did fantastic as always Melissa. Great writing with great points!
Nyah • Oct 23, 2024 at 9:04 am
I’m so sorry, Melissa. These people clearly have no idea what an opinion is, or why it is under the OPINION section. You like Trump? Okay. You don’t? Okay. Nobody cares, unless you’re a die-hard underage voter, who obviously can’t vote.
brynn • Oct 23, 2024 at 7:54 am
someone should call a wambulance for the immature teenagers in this comment section.
Baddie • Oct 22, 2024 at 4:30 pm
W opinion
Ryker • Oct 22, 2024 at 11:46 am
Lovely writing. Glad to see your opinion on the topic.
My apologies for immature comments on this. I respect your view point, just as others should.
Good job Melissa.
Chance Myers • Oct 22, 2024 at 10:56 am
This should be genuinely against the rules to try push people away from their own opinions that’s blatantly stupid
Loagen • Oct 21, 2024 at 1:54 pm
TRUMP 2024
Bailey Hostetler • Oct 21, 2024 at 10:05 am
Great article, it puts up great points. And the comments don’t understand that you are entitled to your own opinion.
McKenna Koeck • Oct 21, 2024 at 8:18 am
People in this comments section when someone has their own opinion:
Seriously y’all be mature, others are allowed to have their own opinions…..
Kendall • Oct 18, 2024 at 1:49 pm
Read if u want brainwashed
brynn • Oct 23, 2024 at 7:56 am
you realize youre just as brainwashed, right? politics are brainwashing all of us, the government lies. EVERYONE lies. no one cares about our rights and we need to stand up and stop supporting these greedy idiots who herd us like sheep.
Kendall • Oct 25, 2024 at 8:04 am
name kamala harris’s greatest achievement. i’ll wait…………
TRUMP 2024;)
Grace Stadtmiller • Oct 31, 2024 at 2:07 pm
W take
Kendall • Oct 18, 2024 at 1:46 pm
TRUMP 2024 ur being brainwashed
Sean • Oct 18, 2024 at 12:20 pm
Trump 2024
julian easter • Oct 18, 2024 at 10:12 am
dude why is politics everywhere I go or if I wanna watch a video
lukas condron • Oct 18, 2024 at 10:00 am
L opinion not old enough to vote either shouldnt have a say Trump Vance 2024!
clarence • Oct 18, 2024 at 9:59 am
i disagree trump is better
collin • Oct 18, 2024 at 9:48 am
Not even old enough to vote and your posting a bias article on a school website.
Wanda Vanish • Oct 18, 2024 at 2:39 pm
The Mountain Echo supports opinion writing of their reporters, clearly labeled in the opinion sections and welcomes letters to the editor with all viewpoints.
collin • Oct 21, 2024 at 9:43 am
Okay understood
Colin • Oct 18, 2024 at 7:54 am
Trump 2024