”Now it is time for America to bind the wounds of division. We have to get together. To all Republicans and Democrats and independents across this nation I say it is time for us to come together as one united people. It’s time. I pledge to every citizen of our land that I will be president for all Americans, and this is so important to me. For those who have chosen not to support me in the past, of which there were a few people, I'm reaching out to you for your guidance and your help so that we can work together and unify our great country.” These were the words of the new President elect of the United States, Donald J. Trump.
After a little under two years of a hard fought and divisive campaign, it almost seems impossible to imagine that those words go together. But they do, and it has left many Americans, myself included, are asking a simple question: what now?
In truth, Trump needs to set an ambitious agenda if he is to survive Washington, as momentum is on his side considering that the Republican Party controls both the House of Representatives and the Senate. The main issue Trump needs to focus on for his political survival however, remains repeal and replace of Obamacare and creating economic growth.
According to polls conducted by Gallup, 43% of voters said that the economy was the most important issue of the 2016 election. This means that if Trump and the Republicans want to stay in Washington, they had better work on the economy.
Already however, House Speaker Paul Ryan has laid out an ambitious agenda for the new Congress. The plan calls for the expansion of US trade, repeal and restructure of US regulatory policy, and sweeping tax reform. All of this is ideal, but it will be interesting if President-elect Trump’s stance on trade will affect this plan in anyway. As German Field Marshall Erwin Rommel once said, “no plan survives contact with the enemy.
There is one undeniable truth however, the country remains divided as of today. As I write this, there are riots ongoing in the streets of America’s biggest cities and many people are voicing their concerns over the Trump Presidency. We as a people must always remember, that even though we may not like the outcome of an election, we come together as one people the day after and work to heal the divide that is often caused by long presidential campaigns.
I think one excellent example of how to win a controversial election comes from how George W. Bush handled his controversial win in the 2000 election. In his speech before the Texas legislature, Bush said the following: “It is the challenge of our moment. After a difficult election, we must put politics behind us and work together to make the promise of America available for every one of our citizens. I am optimistic that we can change the tone in Washington, D.C.I believe things happen for a reason, and I hope the long wait of the last five weeks will heighten a desire to move beyond the bitterness and partisanship of the recent past. Our nation must rise above a house divided. Americans share hopes and goals and values far more important than any political disagreements. Republicans want the best for our nation, and so do Democrats. Our votes may differ, but not our hopes.” In short, Trump must have one goal, bring us together.
