I’m often asked “Why are you backing Trump?” If you’re curious, here’s my answer:
The Economy
You know what they say: You can’t put a price on economic growth and prosperity. Considering the fact that Trump has positioned himself as an anti-establishment candidate and business leader, I think it’s safe to say that he’s not adverse to unleashing the power of the free market on the global economy. It’s also pretty evident that he doesn’t believe in excessive regulation, keeping prices low, and protecting the environment, which I think are all great reasons to back him.
In a recent interview with 60 Minutes, Trump stated ‘As far as regulations, I think we’re going to have a lot of regulation but I think it’s good regulation’ He went on to say ‘We have to do things right. Let’s not forget that this country was built literally on regulation’.
The reason Trump has been so successful in his endeavors is due to his unique ability to understand the psychology of the American voter. He is a realist and a businessman. He doesn’t believe in making unrealistic promises in order to gain political support. Instead, he promises to restore American honor and to “make America great again.” This appeal to patriotic feelings is one of the primary reasons why his opinions matter to so many people.
Foreign Policy
You know what else people say: “A man’s character is his destiny.’” There are a lot of men who don’t see eye to eye with Trump on domestic issues but we need to remember that he is the President-Elect of the United States and has a different set of responsibilities. One of his primary goals as president will be to oversee the complete overhaul of America’s relationship with the rest of the world. This includes but is not limited to: removing diplomats from embassy walls, negotiating new trade agreements, calling off nuclear weapons tests, and trying to end the war in Syria.
We are currently mired in a war that was unforeseen by most and resulted in unimaginable human suffering. Trump’s opposition to military intervention abroad is one of the main reasons he has been so effective in uniting both sides of the isle in his campaign to become president. He has positioned himself as the anti-war candidate and his recent comments indicating that he will not commit to an endless series of conflicts have won him a lot of support. His stance on Iraq and Afghanistan has already won him support since voters want to see the war effort ended. The military has also become so desensitized to violence that if the commander-in-chief can achieve peace, the least they will have to deal with is resignations.
One of the reasons I am supporting Trump is the simple fact that he will bring an end to the forever wars. We have spent decades fighting over political issues and the endless cycle of violence in the Middle East has destabilized the entire region. Trump’s success in negotiating better deals with our allies will be beneficial in ending this cycle of hatred and mistrust. It is also imperative that we stop supporting despotic regimes in the Middle East that are threatening the very existence of our country. Trump’s promise to “drain the swamp” in Washington D.C. is one of the main reasons I am supporting him. Our government has become completely dysfunctional and it’s time for someone new to step in and shake things up. The corruption that has plagued both political parties for years must come to an end.
Immigration
The third area of focus for Trump is immigration. During the campaign, he made it a point to attack Hillary Clinton for her ‘open-border’ policies and her ‘back-door’ immigration plans. He has made strong appeals to anti-immigrant sentiment across the country and his success in doing so has been phenomenal. A whopping 73% of Republicans want to reduce immigration. Only 7% want to increase it. Pretty clear-cut numbers there. Another great polling statistic about immigration and why it’s a hot button issue for voters is that only 28% of Democrats and 12% of Republicans believe that immigrants strengthen our country. The remaining electorate believes that they take away jobs from citizens and don’t integrate well into American society. A huge chunk of our population feels this way, which makes the issue a pretty potent one for political discourse.
It seems that Trump is a one-stop-shop when it comes to immigration. You name it, he probably said it or did it. His message of “America First” and his tough stance against illegal immigration resonates with voters across demographics. His success in making illegal immigration a key issue in the election is a testament to its potency. Most importantly, Trump has made it clear that he will stand up for our lawful immigrant population by barring immigration from certain dangerous regions of the world. He opposes sanctuary cities and supports increased interior enforcement. The bottom line is that Trump is not afraid to take a position and stick to it. This makes him a breath of fresh air for those who have been disillusioned by the indecisive nature of the Washington establishment.
The Media
As I’ve gotten older, I’ve become more acutely aware of the power of the media in shaping our opinions and swaying elections. Every day, we are inundated with biased and false news stories that are designed to influence our thinking and steer our opinions in a certain direction. In the age of fake news and biased reporting, people are more vulnerable to propaganda and untruths than they’ve ever been before. It is now more important than ever that we get our news from multiple sources and verify the facts as much as possible. If you want to find the truth, you have to sift through a lot of crap to get to it.
In the media world, Trump’s biggest weakness is the fact that he’s not a polished politician. He’s not afraid to speak his mind and has no qualms about calling out his rivals in public. This, in turn, makes him an easy target for media manipulation. There are also questions about how he will handle various issues as president (like the press covering him) and whether or not he will continue to promote alternative facts and misinformation. The bottom line is that we will need to be ever vigilant in guarding against false news and unverified claims.
I believe that Trump can still pack a punch as a President and, although much of the country may disagree, I believe he can still make America great again.