In 2024, I found myself reluctantly pinning my endorsement on Kamala Harris. This decision saw me turning my back on an old ally, Donald Trump, a bold figure despite his eccentricities. Regrettably, my vote did not go to him in 2016 as the allure of a Clinton presidency wooed my family and me. Trump, while not the unblemished hero, was inundated with opposition from the moment of his assumption into office under the moniker of Trump 45.
His presidency did witness commendable progress in domains such as tariffs, the trade relationship with China, and the overall economic health of the nation. Throughout his term, the baseless ‘Russia, Russia’ narrative was fervently propagated as a guise. Democratic propaganda machine spared no effort to discredit Trump during an overwhelming backlash.
The ensuing Stormy Daniels saga saw me continue to stand by Trump. His remarkable initiative, ‘Operation Warp Speed’, proved to be a beacon of hope during a bleak period, producing an effective vaccine in an unprecedentedly short span of time. This move managed to save countless lives and offered a glimmer of light in our collective despair.
In the 2020 elections, I found myself torn once more. Despite a personal inclination for Trump, I succumbed to the sway of my Democrat-leaning family from voting for my ally. Instead, I took the path of lesser resistance by voting for an inconsequential candidate, ensuring that my vote essentially remained null.
Following Trump’s defeat in the 2020 election, I found myself empathizing with him during a personal phone call. His request was for me to scrutinize the alleged voting irregularities; nothing of significance ensued from this investigation. On reassuming the presidency in 2024, Trump’s leadership took on a strikingly self-assured demeanor.
As Trump 47, he seemed to possess even more authority and simmering anger than as Trump 45. Neither Ukraine’s Zelenskyy, Canada, rocker Neil Young, Oprah, nor Beyoncé enjoyed immunity from his potential fury. He was notorious for his explosive reactions during Oval Office press conferences, especially when he felt slighted.
Against this backdrop arrived Bruce Springsteen, one of the very few public figures brave enough to openly criticize Trump. His display of disapproval occurred on a dimly lit stage in Manchester, England. Addressing a full house of attendees, he used his latest rendition of the song ‘City of Ruin’ to express his disdain for the Trump Administration.
Next, he claimed the beautiful America, the symbol of liberty for a good two and a half centuries, was unfortunately in the grip of a ‘corrupt, incompetent and treasonous Administration’. These harsh accusations were incredibly daring, considering the notoriety of Trump’s short fuse and swift response to confrontations.
As expected, Trump did not let this pass lightly. Springsteen was dubbed a ‘dried out prune of a rocker’ by the President, further cautioning him to hold his peace. Personally, while I do not subscribe to Springsteen’s opinion of Trump being corrupt or treasonous, I staunchly disagree with his abrasive policies regarding immigrants and unwarranted attacks on the bastions of education.
Nevertheless, it seems Trump’s severe measures have found favor with his growing, fervent base. Yet, despite this undeserving popularity, it is still our responsibility as denizens to voice our disapproval over policies which do not align with our principles. The proposed slashes to Medicaid are a case in point here.
However, it is equally important to tone down the rhetoric and concentrate on productive debates and discussions over the hot-button issues. With summer approaching, the tensions are palpable in the political atmosphere. The hurling of baseless allegations and insults will only exacerbate the descent into chaos as we move ahead.