Donald John Trump was sworn in as 47th US president January 20. With a series of continuous controversial orders, the new president quickly began steering the country in a new direction.
Between felony convictions, Trump is the first felon to serve as U.S. president, after his conviction last year on 34 criminal charges that didn’t face any legal penalties.
A criminal conviction might sound like a downfall for a presidential run, but Trump’s political career has already endured allegations of sexual abuse, two impeachments, investigations, and potential ties to Russia. This simply proves Donald Trump is not the right choice for the United States.
Many Americans are being affected for the worse. The effects of the president’s executive actions since his return to office three weeks ago on federal aid, immigration and diversity were reviewed by students.
President Donald Trump had signed an executive order that enforced stricter immigration policies across the country, beginning the process of expelling one million people. Trump said he would close the southwestern U.S. border with Mexico in order to stop the arrival of thousands of migrants trying to enter the U.S.
The first thing affected is mental health, there is fear and anxiety around not knowing if you’re going home to a family member that’s been taken.
“We may never know when we leave for school and come back home and nobody’s there,” said a student who wishes to remain anonymous “It’s 5, 8:00 and nobody arrives home. There are other things like death but the biggest fear is the one Trump has impaled in our lives at present time.”.
“There is already news of ICE ‘detaining’ Immigrants and targeting people,” said Jessica, a Pace student who is being identified by first name only for privacy concerns. “This isn’t surprising, President Trump was incredibly clear about removing immigrants.”
But the most disruptive move so far to students was Mr. Trump’s order on January 27 that temporarily froze up to $3 trillion federal grants and loans to decide whether they meet his standards, even if it wast passed by Congress.
Gen Z and Millenials who depend on important tools like the Free Application of Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to be eligible for financial aid for college, were frustrated by the federal freeze on the funding.
“As a Gen Z, it’s a terrifying thought that you can no longer rely on FAFSA. Student loans, grants, and scholarships are big deciding factors on whether most of us will attend college or not. Not everyone can afford college and taking this away will increase the percent of college students in debt,” said another student, who requested anonymity.
Trump’s whole campaign is bizarre between all of his extreme views and pure immaturity when discussing his plans for the country. A convicted felon should never step foot into the office of the president, with the power to deport families, appoint radical judges and turn the military against the people of the United States.
Already, the United States is a different place than it was before his second presidential term.