Students React to Presidential Election Results
Student opinion is split on the nation's pick for president.
Former President Donald Trump is now President-Elect.
Trump defeated Vice President Kamala Harris with both the Electoral College and popular vote. Trump won 312 electoral votes to Harris’ 226. Trump swept all seven swing states and is the first Republican to win the popular vote since George W. Bush in 2004. Trump will be the first president since Grover Cleveland to serve two nonconsecutive terms.
Many students at Mississippi College went to the polls and made their voices heard.
Freshman Christian Studies major Grant Butler showed up to his classes the day after the election with a MAGA hat, expressing his support for the President-Elect. Butler says that his win gives him peace for his future.
“It’s a breath of fresh air,” Butler said. “It is refreshing to me as a college student beginning my life. I feel like he’s the best candidate that will close the border, reinforce the economy, and keep our country safe and patriotic.”
Butler feels that the economy will be stronger under Trump’s leadership and will be the most beneficial aspect of the election results for his fellow students.
“Lots of us are young adults ranging from 18 to 23,” Butler said. “We’re beginning our lives. We’re going to be getting married and starting jobs. Trump had a very good economy until COVID. The whole world shut down during COVID, but he had a very strong economy. Jobs increased. Unemployment rates decreased.”
On the flip side, sophomore Biology Pre-Med major April Selmon voted for Harris and is deeply concerned for the future of the country with the Former President returning to the White House, especially when it comes to immigration.
“If I’m just being honest, it gave me a visceral reaction,” Selmon said. “It’s a little bit upsetting. I’m quite anxious about what we’re about to see in the future of our country, because of some of his policies. We have already seen that he’s talking on the news about mass deportation as soon as he is able to take action in January. It is very worrisome, but what can you do? It is what it is now.”
Selmon believes that Trump’s proposal to shut down the federal Department of Education could create problems with financial aid that many students on campus depend on.
“As of right now, he is targeting the educational system, which does affect us as students, because he’s potentially trying to get rid of FAFSA, Pell Grants that we’re using to get through school,” Selmon said. “If we take those things away, many of us will have to go into debt and add even more trouble to the student loan crisis. That’s a big concern of mine.”
Republicans also won majorities in both the Senate and House of Representatives. The new Congress will be sworn in on January 3 before President-Elect Trump is inaugurated on January 20.
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