Image from The Financial Times
Caption: The Financial Times highlights the two candidates at the center of the 2024 election.
Election day has officially come to a close, marking the end of months of anticipation. On November 6, 2024, the Republicans claimed victory once again, as Donald Trump secured a second term as the 47th President of the United States, alongside J.D. Vance as the 50th Vice President. Yet, as with any election, the results have left a significant part of America dissatisfied and uneasy.
Among those expressing their concerns are the youth who are already feeling the effects of this historic election. For some, the new administration may represent hope and progress– a chance for positive change for both the country and its citizens. For others, the election marks the beginning of a troubling chapter for America, one that could result in the fall of our country as we see it today.
Suhaansai Thatikonda, a junior at Washington High School, is among those expressing significant concern. When asked about the outcome of the election, he said, “Trump’s radical policies could severely impact high school students by cutting the amount of resources they have access to.” Similarly, another junior, Aysha Farooq, says, “My main concern is that Trump’s going to initiate Project 2025, which takes away a lot of our rights and can be very unconstitutional.” Many citizens fear that Trump’s policies could strip away their fundamental rights and protections.
However, there is still a great majority of Americans who believe Trump will benefit America by improving the economy and providing more opportunities for the working class. “One positive impact Trump will have is a positive economic outcome, not only for the working class but for Americans across all financial tiers,” says junior Aditya Joshi, who believes that Trump’s policies will in fact help improve America and “will earn global respect for the United States of America again.” Joshi also believes that the results of this election “reflect the voice of the silent majority present within America.” We can see that even within such a blue state like California, there is still a large majority of individuals that believe that Trump will bring massive improvements.
As this new chapter in American politics unfolds, there is an obvious divide, with starkly different visions for the future. While some see Trump’s second term as a chance to restore America’s greatness, others fear it marks the beginning of a dangerous era for individual rights and freedoms. Regardless, one thing is clear: the next four years will shape the future of the nation in lasting ways, and the voices of both supporters and critics will continue to resonate across the country.
Hailia Morshidi is a junior at Washington High School. She was born and raised in Fremont, California. This is her first year being apart of The Hatchet and she is very interested in writing on many important topics. These include global issues, local news, and student life here at Washington. She enjoys reading, writing, hanging out with friends, and listening to multiple different genres of music. In the future, she would like to study economics with a focus on pre-law in the hopes of becoming a lawyer.