Rather Than Leader of the Free World, Trump Leads a Backwards America

For roughly 411 days, Donald J. Trump has continued to prosper in the limelight, not as a television personality, but as the 45th president of the United States. His policies not only raise the interests of adults with careers, but the youth.

The prominent subject when dealing with students is in regards to the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival recipients. Since the beginning of his presidential election, Trump claimed he would build a wall, dividing the U.S. from Mexico. Last fall, Trump announced his plan of ending DACA. However, as CNN Politics reports, Trump will work to continue DACA only if “it comes with a long-promised border wall and changes to the immigration system.”  

While the new stance does seem beneficial, the exorbitant wall seems to fulfill nothing other than adding to Trump’s ego.

Following more recently with the Parkland, Florida high school shooting, gun control has been on the minds of many. Trump proposed the idea of bringing more guns to school and arming  teachers. Students are taking action by starting the #NeverAgain movement and the scheduled National School Walkout on March 14.

According to a CNN Transcript, when Trump called a student who was a victim of the shooting and was in the hospital, he stated, “I heard you’re a big fan of mine.” Also, when he sat in a listening session for grieving students and families, he was photographed by Associated Press photographer Carolyn Kaster holding talking points. One advice suggests he tells his audience,  “I hear you.”

Trump’s lack of empathy in addressing how substantial guns played a role in the shooting has only strengthened these students in taking action for stricter gun laws. Shooting survivors such as Emma Gonzales and Sarah Chadwick have rallied against the National Rifle Association and even confronted NRA’s national spokeswoman Dana Loesch.

Some stores, such as REI, Dicks’ Sporting Goods, Delta Airlines, United Airlines, and more have cut ties with the NRA.

He has also been in charge of repealing the safety of transgender citizens being able to use a bathroom with relation to their gender identity.

According to The Washington Post, the education department announced Feb. 26 that they would no longer probe into investigations dealing with transgender students choosing to use a bathroom in relation to their gender identity.

Not to mention, his blatant misogyny towards women has a worldwide affect. Calling women in respected titles, “fat,” “pig,” “dog,” “disgusting.” The list goes on.

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act was passed last December by Trump, and will have an effect on students pursuing higher education. As The Balance reports, ”Those in the lowest-earning fifth of the population would see their income increase by 0.4 percent. Those in the next-highest fifth would receive a 1.2 percent boost. The next two quintiles would see their income increase 1.6 percent and 1.9 percent, respectively. But the biggest increase, 2.9 percent, would go to those in the top-earning fifth.” Businesses will benefit, while individuals will be ignored.

Trump’s America is also affecting students outside of America. According to a report from Newsweek , “The Institute of International Education reported on Monday that the number of first-time international students enrolling in the U.S. fell by more than 3 percent between the 2015-2016 and 2016-2017 school years.”

Trump’s policies have had outstanding effects on DACA recipients, Muslims, students, the LGBTQ+ community, and more. Such a polarizing figure is causing America to take sides.  The truth is, Trump doesn’t understand and fails to relate to the youth of today in every way.

It seems as if Trump doesn’t hate everyone; he’s just too immersed in his own ego to care about anyone other than himself. To Trump, anyone who is not him is the opposition.

Overall, as his presidency continues on; it’s getting clearer that Trump might not be the leader of the free world, but rather the leader of a backwards country.