Republican front-runner Donald Trump once so eloquently stated, “We will have so much winning if I get elected that you may get bored with winning.”
In the summer of 2015, Trump tweeted that he had a very big announcement coming later that afternoon. Some predicted his candidacy for president, but no one expected him to be serious. Eight and a half months later, Trump is the national front-runner for the highest office in the land.
Political pundits and citizens alike assumed his momentum would cease after his offensive, generalized comments about illegal immigrants from Mexico. But his poll numbers only went up. Then, after mocking a disabled reporter during his rally, he was polling better than ever. Surely after he stated his temporary ban of Muslims entering the United States, he would lose significant support, right? Wrong. According to one poll, his numbers went up by 11 points in a few early voting states.
The Donald’s success is unprecedented. He has defied conventional political standards and seems to gain support after everything he spouts. He’s won three out of the four states that a Republican primary has taken place. Ladies and gentlemen, the possibility of Trump representing the GOP in the general election and potentially being the 45th president of the United States is no longer a joke. And this prospect is horrifying.
Trump potentially becoming the president is the worst thing that could happen for contemporary American politics. Addressing the elephant in the room (political pun intended), Trump’s temperament is not one that is fit to be one of the most powerful men in the free world. In a heated debate with Vladamir Putin over how to address instability in the Middle East or negotiating trade deals with Xi Jingping, it’s not guaranteed that Trump will keep his cool and not let his temperament cloud his judgement. Decisions about invading foreign territory have far more severe consequences than anything Trump has dealt with.
The president’s role will not be fulfilled by Trump. He consistently criticizes President Obama for his unconstitutional executive actions. Yet, Trump himself doesn’t seem to have a grasp of the Constitution. Remember when he said he wanted to shut down parts of the Internet? Imagine the chaos that would ensue. Also, let’s not forget Trump’s biggest responsibility as the president: commander-in-chief. It’s discomforting, to say the least, to know he will be deploying fathers, mothers, sons, and daughters of families everywhere.
Marco Rubio seemed to poke some holes into Trump’s campaign on Thursday evening when he grilled Trump’s policy, or lack thereof, on how he would repeal and replace Obamacare. When Rubio demanded Trump explain his policy, Trump kept repeating that the lines at the insurance companies would be reduced and that, “There will be so much competition, it’s going to be a beautiful thing.” Though this was only a small exchange in the grand scheme of the Republican primaries, Rubio got his point across.
At the end of the day, Trump does not belong in the same group with leaders like George Washington, Abraham Lincoln or Ronald Reagan. At all costs, Donald’s campaign must be trumped (yes, the political pun was intended again). It would be a disaster on all fronts. For the economy, national security and, ultimately, democracy itself. To people of all ages, do not vote for Donald Trump. President Trump himself may “win, win, win,” but the American people would lose, lose, lose.
