Like most Americans, I can recall the day President Trump was elected. I was in 8th grade at the time but for me the 2016 election was a catalyst for an early interest in politics. On Nov. 3 2016, I walked into Mrs. Divita’s social studies class and the election preoccupied conversations making the lesson plan irrelevant. Unsurprisingly, but most of my classmates that day were notably anxious about the chance of Donald Trump becoming the next President of the United States. To their dismay, throughout the day as the numbers piled in, their fears were gradually becoming their new reality. 

Fast forward 24 hours. Nov. 4 2016. I roamed into Mrs. Divita’s social studies class to a barrage of thoughts and emotions from my classmates. The most common emotions exerted that day were fear and uncertainty due to questionable ideology promoted throughout by Trump’s campaign. Today, as the 2020 presidential election approaches, I have a greater understanding of those emotions and like my classmates four-years ago. This election has brought me an ample amount of anxiety after taking a look and analyzing the events leading up to 2020.

In the first two years after the inauguration, the Mueller investigation monopolized the media attention of the presidency. The investigation surrounded suspicion of Russian interference in the election led by Robert Mueller. In true American fashion, suspicions of collusion varied. But for the most part, the vote was split down party lines in the House and Senate with Democrats primarily aiding support for the investigation. The Mueller Report was later released in Apr. 2019. Its findings concluded no sufficient evidence that the campaign “coordinated or conspired with the Russian government in its election-interference activities.” The release of the report gained national attention with countless American’s questioning the accuracy of the investigation. Further inquisitions were made due to President Trump’s involvement in the investigation and apparent obstruction within his administration. 

However, farther looking back in President Trump’s first days, his first step taken in his presidency incited anything but peace when he pulled out of the Paris Climate Agreement signed by President Obama and later in 2018, the Iran Nuclear Deal. In the first-term, President Trump definitely kept his promise to Americans surrounding his plans to build a wall stretching across the southern border. According to the New York Times, 371 miles of border barrier has been built. However, where is the money coming from? It’s coming from taxpayers, not Mexico. A decision that aided less controversy was President Trump’s decision to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. Soon after, President Trump announced moving the US Embassy previously located in Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. President Trump claimed this to be peaceful recognition solidified a promise kept to ensure peace with Israel and the Middle East. 

In the fall of 2019, anger, frustration, and suspicion from the House Democrats finally boiled over, and impeachment inquiries were in full force. On Dec. 19 2019 the House of Representatives voted to impeach President Trump. However, he was acquitted by the Senate a little over a month later. For the American people, 2020 has arguably been one of the most stress-inducing and controversial years in the past few decades. President Trump started the year off with an extremely controversial war powers decision. On Jan. 3 President Trump announced that he ordered an airstrike that killed the Dictator General Solemani of Iran. Media outrage flooded news networks as many saw this attack as another “abuse of war power.” The controversy surrounded whether Iran posed an imminent threat to American as justification for the assassination of General Solemani.

Today, we are still in the midst of a pandemic that according to the Center for Disease Control, claimed the lives of over 200,000 Americans. In Sept. of this year, the media frenzy attacked the administration after President Trump admitted to downplaying the severity of the coronavirus in an interview with journalist Bob Woodward. The administration has stated multiple times that they are working towards a vaccine with companies like Johnson & Johnson that should be in its final stages by the end of the year. However, as it stands a day no updates have been made about the vaccine timeline or reassurance about the efficacy of the vaccine. During the widespread panic, high infection peaks, and school shutdowns, I especially believe that this administration should have been more transparent with the American people regarding safety regulations in the early months and establishing a mask mandate.

Right now civic education is vital to function in our society. Today, there are several ways to cast your vote and participate in elections. Don’t let it pass you by. We are a nation divided and Donald Trump has been a catalyst for hyperpolarization within the government and within the nation as a whole. The violence, hate, and fear within our country must stop and the first step towards composure is getting Trump out of office. 

Analyzing these last for years I ask myself: Did President Trump deliver on his promises? Debatable. Did President Trump only succeed in dividing our country to the highest degree imaginable? Absolutely. Is Trump’s America worthy of another four years? In my opinion, no, I rue the day Donald Trump was elected. Get educated, form your opinion, be willing to change your mind, and most importantly go vote.