How To Fight the Brutality of Trump's Regime: One Step At a Time

By Liam Greco

Against the hope of many Americans, myself included, Donald Trump will officially be inaugurated into the presidential office on January 20th. For some, this may be an exciting time, representing a new change with a new regime, but for others, this new leadership may invoke a sense of fear and worry for the future of our country. Regardless of your political affiliation, this is a time when information is more powerful than ever. Students like ourselves, representing the next generation of voters and leaders, should understand how a second Trump presidency will affect our lives.

After losing the 2020 election against Joe Biden, Trump pushed the narrative that the election was ‘rigged,’ seemingly in disbelief that the Americans did not vote in his favor. Earlier this year, Mr. Trump was found guilty of all 34 counts by a jury, making this election even more important for him to win. 

Throughout the Trump campaign, he has delivered incredibly long speeches, which were hard to dissect the meaning of when reading the numerous headlines written by the press. One of the biggest promises that Mr. Trump told his supporters was that he would execute the largest deportation in US History. Recent remarks by Trump, Elon Musk, and Vivek Ramaswamy, have caused uproar within the conservative party. These comments have caused previous ambassadors of the Trump campaign to retaliate, realizing that this deportation movement will be incredibly selective, and not fulfill what had been promised throughout his campaign.

Trump told the New York Post: "I've always liked the visas, I have always been in favor of the visas. That's why we have them." "I have many H-1B visas on my properties. I've been a believer in H-1B. I have used it many times. It's a great program," he said. Trump moved to restrict access to the H-1B program during his first term. Trump is a contradictory man who utilizes systems to his advantage and his advantage solely. He employed these skilled workers and used them to be successful in his campaign, yet later restricting the rights of others to do so. 

Though Trump’s proclaimed MAGA campaign centered around the deportation of undocumented immigrants, various other policies he proposed provoked reactions from left-leaning constituents. He plans to cut funding for “any school pushing critical race theory, transgender insanity, and other inappropriate racial, sexual or political content” and any school with vaccine and mask mandates. He also plans to institute tariffs and cut climate regulations, both of which have been opposed by experts in financial and environmental fields. Tariffs, a financial concept where goods imported internationally are taxed, have failed Americans in the past and led to increased costs, as a study conducted by Georgia State University professor Sina Golara proves. The 2018 tariffs (instituted in Trump’s first term as president,) “increased costs by $51 billion per year, a burden carried primarily by U.S. companies and consumers.” Trump’s policies on the environment were unsuccessful in his first term, as proved by an analysis by the Lancet Commission on Public Policy and Health. They claim that “in the Trump Era, the Trump administration's environmental policies resulted in more than 22,000 extra deaths in 2019 alone, largely from worsened local air pollution.” 

When talking with Lab students, they expressed similar fear for the second Trump presidency. A 12th grader I spoke to, who requested that their quote would be shared anonymously, expressed concern for the future of women’s rights, “My worries are for the future of women and women’s rights. The lack of rights for minority groups being discounted is scary and threatening, especially with everything in Project 2025.” Project 2025, a document reflecting the ideals that influent

Raya Kottakis, a 9th grader, shared that “Trump wants to make a lot of homophobic laws. If passed, locally or federally, it could harm lots of people in the LBGTQ+ community.”

So, how can we stop Trump? The 2026 Midterms hold substantial consequences, as one-third of the Congress seats will be contested. The results of these elections, Democrats hope, will overturn the current 53-47 Senate Republican majority, the even more slim Republican House majority, and limit Trump’s ability to pass legislation through Congress. By volunteering to assist the Democratic and Independent candidates running against the Republicans, this goal can be achieved. Letter-writing, protesting, calling, and/or going door-to-door through reputable non-profit organizations are great ways to get involved. Additionally, volunteering to help your community, especially with organizations that support groups that could be harmed by the policies of the Trump administration, is always beneficial. These next few years may seem dark, but instead of moping around saddened by the outcome of the 2024 Presidential Election, the most productive option is to channel that disappointment into making a difference. Not standing up and fighting the good fight to help Democratic candidates allows powerful Republican figures to manipulate the minds of voters, against what countless studies and statistics prove, to maintain their control of Washington, DC. Do not put your future in the hands of those who can vote and idlily watch from the sidelines, stand up or be sorry later once other voices overpower your silent stature. 

2024-2025 Edition 2