Student POV: Why I’m Voting for Donald Trump

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Student Voices

Student POV: Why I’m Voting for Donald Trump

“We don’t need a normal president… We need a president who is a symbol for something much deeper”

October 30, 2024
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A tale of two campaigns: Donald Trump runs on a deeply negative vision of America, filling his speeches with martial and apocalyptic language, falsely claiming Haitian immigrants are “eating the cats and dogs” and predicting “the end of our country” if he doesn’t win. Meanwhile, Kamala Harris campaigns on joy, and optimism, as she tries to convince Americans that it’s time to move on from the bitter division and tribalism that has characterized American politics ever since Trump came down the escalator at Trump Tower in 2015 to first announce he was running for president.

Kamala tells us that we have the opportunity to finally rid ourselves of the long and arduous Trump years, rid ourselves of the impeachments, the riots, the assault on the Capitol, and finally move on to something new. Elect Kamala, and we can finally exorcise ourselves of the memory of 2016. We can reassure ourselves that we aren’t so fallen that we would relect a man as flawed as Donald Trump. America would be brought back to its moderate consensus. It’s certainly a tempting promise, and millions of Americans will cast their votes for it on November 5. 

But despite Kamala’s high-minded rhetoric, she cannot ignore the truth. The nation is in precipitous decline. Our borders are overrun by millions of illegal immigrants. Our citizens are increasingly obese, addicted to drugs, and depressed. Raving homeless people frequently accost us on the street. You walk into a Walgreens in a major city and the toothpaste is under lock and key. 

These are all external signs of the internal rot that has corrupted the nation’s soul. According to a recent Wall Street Journal poll, Americans now value money more than patriotism, having kids, or being involved in their community. Without any faith in each other or a transcendent destiny, we now drive all our attention to personal gain. 

We can no longer produce any original art. A staggering 80 percent of our most popular movies are sequels, spinoffs, or remakes, up from 16 percent in 1981. The art we do produce is self-referential and navel-gazing, betraying how afraid we are of saying something real about our future. 

The only form of art we still perform well is irony, because irony is the mark of those who believe in nothing and fear everything.

In similar times of great trouble and strife, people used to be able to turn to religion, but that has been taken from them too. God has been pushed out of public life and popular culture, and to make matters worse, there’s nothing to replace him. Without their society giving them a coherent vision of pious religiosity or militant atheism, Americans have been asked to DIY their own faith. This has led to a directionless public grasping at straws, mixing and matching between different faith traditions, trying in vain to replicate the confident belief of their ancestors. Now more than ever, Americans are like the writers of the Psalms, awash in an unfamiliar sea of humanity, yearning for a God they can’t see, feel, or understand.

While these problems may be partially endemic to modernity, they are exacerbated by Kamala Harris and the ideals of the liberal elite that back her. 

Liberal ideals of tolerance, diversity, and individualism have been stretched so far that we now have next to nothing in common. Lacking a shared identity, we grow distant from one another and wallow in a confused postmodern existence, unsure if we can believe in anything. 

On its face, our situation seems hopeless. What policies could a president ever implement that would solve problems as deep-seated and nebulous as declines in culture, religion, and morality? 

But that’s exactly why we don’t need a normal president, a mere administrator. We need a president who is a symbol for something much deeper. A president who would act as a talisman for the nation. 

Donald Trump’s unique qualities enable him, and him alone, to do just that. Trump’s ardent patriotism, cult following, and his stubborn assertion of “America First” provide a roadmap for us to rediscover our lost American pride. Using Trump and the MAGA movement as a vessel, we can embrace our past while forging a new future.

We can rebuild a grand narrative of who we are and what we’re here to do. It won’t be easy, and it won’t happen overnight. It’s not a problem that will be solved by a single election. But once Americans say yes to the idea that we are a great people with a unique destiny, the journey will begin. 

And once it begins, who’s to say where it will end? We could colonize space, build beautiful cities, and create awe-inspiring art that will reverberate for thousands of years. But first, we must dare to dream beyond our liberal consensus. We must dare to elect Donald Trump. 

Colin Sharpe (CAS’28) can be reached at csharpe@bu.edu.

“POV” is an opinion page that provides timely commentaries from students, faculty, and staff on a variety of issues: on-campus, local, state, national, or international. Anyone interested in submitting a piece, which should be about 700 words long, should contact today@bu.edu. BU Today reserves the right to reject or edit submissions. The views expressed are solely those of the author and are not intended to represent the views of Boston University.

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Student POV: Why I’m Voting for Donald Trump

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Boston University moderates comments to facilitate an informed, substantive, civil conversation. Abusive, profane, self-promotional, misleading, incoherent or off-topic comments will be rejected. Moderators are staffed during regular business hours (EST) and can only accept comments written in English. Statistics or facts must include a citation or a link to the citation.

There are 25 comments on Student POV: Why I’m Voting for Donald Trump

    1. He is going to open up American resources, which will lower prices on most items for all Americans . He’s going to stop the influx of illegal drugs. He will keep men out of women’s sports. Lots more too

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      2. He will do nothing to stop the influx of illegal drugs, 80% of fentanyl is smuggled across the border by U.S. citizens. Prices rising are the result of corporations being greedy and keeping prices at inflation levels even after the rising costs to produce have dropped from their covid peaks. The head of the FTC has been aggressively helping American citizens by going after these corporations, yeah, she won’t be around with Trump in office. His proposed tariffs will increase prices and inflation. He will give tax breaks to the corporations and elite and raise them for the lower and middle class. The social safety nets the middle and lower class need to survive will also be removed, increasing the % of upward class mobility which is already at staggering lows. He will bend the knee to Vladmir Putin, the dictator, invader, and mass murderer. Constant studies have also shown that immigrants put more into social welfare through taxes etc than they get out of it, providing a net positive impact on the economy. The fact that you decided to include “he will keep women out of sports” on a question about his policies tells me everything I need to know about your views. This article is an embarrassment, do better Boston University

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  2. Kamala Harris offers a hopeful, unifying vision for America, focusing on progress and healing. She acknowledges our challenges but believes in our collective strength to overcome them. Unlike the fear and division often promoted by her opponent, Harris emphasizes optimism, inclusion, and working together to address issues like inequality, healthcare, and climate change. Her campaign is a call to reject fear and division, choosing instead to believe in America’s potential and build a brighter future for all.

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    1. “A staggering 80 percent of our most popular movies are sequels, spinoffs, or remakes, up from 16 percent in 1981.” Won’t someone sound the alarm for the poor cinephiles! (meanwhile millions of pauperized noncitizens who are only here because their home nations have been rendered uninhabitable by nonstop US imperial meddling are just open season, I suppose)

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      1. You charge that I value citizens over noncitizens in the context of electing our president. I’m guilty as charged. We are here to elect the President of the United States, not an overseer of the world. While I do have deep regard for noncitizens all over the world, when we elect the leader of our country, our own people must come first. That has been the standard in every other country since time immemorial, and that should be the standard here.

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      2. Indeed. nonstop US imperialism. That’s the MAGA foreign policy despite the rhetoric about America First. It’s sell more arms to various nations and embroil our own military in global conflict and occupation. Also supporting Haraetz Israel!

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  4. Colin Sharpe’s argument fails on a variety of grounds. First, the obesity, drug addiction, and depression rates all also increased under Trump, making it unclear why a second term would resolve these issues. Second, describing these conditions as proof of America’s “internal rot” demonizes being fat, battling an addiction, and having a psychiatric condition, despite the extensive public health evidence that such stigmatization only hampers our efforts to resolve these issues. Third, the figure on 80% of culture being self-referential is pointless, both because the rate was similarly high in Trump’s first term and because conservatism inherently stands for preserving prior culture, rather than allowing liberal cultural change. Fourth, as for religiosity, Harris frequently references her Baptist faith and maintains concordance with Christian values of honesty and respect. Meanwhile, Trump takes the lord’s name in vain, rarely goes to church, is an adulterer found liable for sexual abuse, falsified business records, and made 30K false/misleading claims over his four-year presidency. First Amendment rights are not just lip service praise for Evangelicals, but a willingness to accept all expressions of faith, including Atheists. Perhaps the only thing Sharpe understands is that Trump has a cult following, such that in a second term, he will end American democracy and rule as a dictator.

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  5. I believe the existential issues facing the United States which you outline are in sharp contrast with the solutions you claim Donald Trump has to offer. I respect that you have focused on principles rather than specific policies (it’s a frequent mistake to believe that only the latter is important), so I too will focus on principles in this rebuttal.

    You describe a cultural rot, and a growing godlessness, infecting our country. Is the man to fix that truly going to be the exceedingly wealthy convicted felon, who cosplays as a devout Christian while spewing hatred and vindictiveness, and engages proudly in infidelity and sexual assault? What wholesome principles does he espouse or embody? Loving thy neighbor? Caring for those in need? Humility? Piety? Honesty? Nonviolence? If he’s doing those things, I and millions of Americans have had to squint to see it. You say we now care more about money than community involvement and other meaningful pursuits; I don’t disagree that this is concerning. But you think the solution is the man that constantly brags about his wealth, and extorts his supporters for more money at every turn? And, is the solution to godlessness a party that supports policy to make America explicitly a Christian nation, completely disregarding our foundational principles of separating church and state?

    You also decry the decline of meaningful and original art. First of all, the measure you’re using is the most popular films – a narrow category not decided by artists, but by film production companies looking to maximize profit (and these producers haven’t even been right all the time – plenty of recent remakes and adaptations have bombed at the box office). But setting aside this metric issue, which political faction historically and consistently seeks to uphold strict objective standards of aesthetic worthiness, and vehemently rejects experimental art? Hint: it isn’t progressives. And with this concern about spurring good art, you choose to support the party that wants to cut education funding (and thus arts programs), weaken unions (e.g. for actors and writers), censor literature, and put more money in the hands of the corporate leadership that decides what the hundredth Marvel movie will be?

    I know that I have not made a case here to vote for Kamala. I also cannot pretend that the current administration is flawless in their principles or policies. But in my opinion, there is a startling disconnect between the current issues with our nation that you outline, and your prescription of Donald Trump. Indeed, Trump is uniquely capable of leading America towards a grand unified vision. Except that vision of who “we” are comes at the expense of women, queer people, racial and religious minorities, people in poverty, and plenty more. He symbolizes and leads a movement not of godliness and optimism, but of hatred, small-mindedness, arrogance, and revenge. If that’s the attitude you want, then more power to you; but it’s not what you’ve described.

    I know that I will not convince any Trump voters to choose Kamala. But I at least hope they may reconsider their support for him and the current Republican party which is wholly devout to him.

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  6. Thank you Colin. I imagine it’s difficult to think the way you do at BU. I can’t wait for the landslide that is coming tomorrow. Sit back and enjoy!

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  7. While the rhetoric framing Donald Trump as a unique savior and talisman for a declining America may appeal to those disillusioned by modern challenges, it’s essential to ground the debate in reality and evaluate both his record and the implications of such rhetoric. The sweeping generalizations about cultural decline, homelessness, and a loss of national identity are serious issues, but the proposed solution — another Trump presidency — is neither realistic nor effective.

    First, let’s examine the core premise: that Donald Trump is uniquely qualified to “restore” America to greatness. The idea that a single figure can serve as the nation’s moral compass and “talisman” is not only dangerous but fails to acknowledge the complexities of governance. Trump’s first term in office was not marked by cultural revitalization or a unifying national identity. Rather, it deepened polarization, exacerbated racial and economic divides, and emboldened far-right extremism, culminating in the January 6th assault on the U.S. Capitol. This was not a symbol of America regaining its pride, but rather of the dangerous consequences of unchecked populism and divisive rhetoric.

    The notion that Trump’s presidency represents a path toward renewed American unity is undermined by the very language he uses — language that stokes fear, resentment, and anger. His repeated claims of national decline often rely on exaggerations or outright falsehoods, such as the inflammatory comment about Haitian immigrants “eating cats and dogs.” These kinds of statements are not only factually incorrect but are also harmful to the fabric of American society, fostering fear of immigrants and perpetuating division.

    On the other hand, framing Kamala Harris’s campaign as merely an optimistic diversion from reality overlooks the substance of her platform. Harris’s focus on moving past bitter division, tribalism, and chaos is precisely what the country needs after years of political strife. Rebuilding trust in government institutions, reasserting the rule of law, and focusing on policies that unite rather than divide are not just idealistic goals — they are crucial for the stability and future of the nation. The call for optimism, in this context, is not naïveté but a strategy for progress and healing. It is a vision of leadership that recognizes the importance of collaboration, compassion, and inclusivity in solving America’s most pressing problems.

    The rebuttal also misses the mark in its nostalgic lament over lost national identity and cultural creativity. While it’s true that America faces deep societal challenges — from economic inequality to mental health crises — these are not issues that can be solved by retreating into an idealized past or clinging to a narrative of American exceptionalism that ignores the country’s evolving diversity. Trump’s vision of America, with its emphasis on exclusionary nationalism, often rejects the very pluralism and diversity that have been central to the nation’s strength. America has never been about one identity, one race, or one creed — it has always been a complex, evolving experiment in democracy. Any attempt to reduce that to a monolithic vision of national pride does a disservice to the millions of Americans whose identities, experiences, and contributions shape this country every day.

    Moreover, the argument that liberal ideals such as tolerance, diversity, and individualism have driven the country into moral decay is a dangerous oversimplification. These values, when properly upheld, are the bedrock of a free and just society. They are what allow America to adapt, evolve, and lead in an increasingly interconnected world. Trump’s brand of leadership, on the other hand, often rejects these values, advocating instead for a zero-sum, fear-driven approach that has, in practice, isolated the U.S. on the global stage and alienated many of its own citizens.

    As for the nostalgic view of religion and art in American life, it is important to acknowledge that culture is constantly evolving. To claim that we are living in a time devoid of creativity or spirituality because our most popular films are sequels or because Americans no longer subscribe to a singular religious narrative is both myopic and dismissive of the broader cultural trends that reflect deeper societal changes. Modern art, film, and literature grapple with complex issues of identity, race, gender, and technology — issues that are crucial for understanding and navigating the world we live in today. Irony in art is not a sign of societal decay, but rather a reflection of an era grappling with contradictions and challenges in a rapidly changing world.

    Finally, while the argument seeks to paint a picture of Trump as a visionary leader capable of guiding America to new heights, it offers little in the way of concrete policy solutions. Platitudes about “rebuilding pride” and “rediscovering our destiny” may sound appealing, but they do nothing to address the systemic problems facing the country, such as healthcare, climate change, education, and infrastructure. The suggestion that Trump’s “America First” rhetoric will somehow lead to space colonization and artistic renaissance ignores the fact that Trump’s policies in his first term often undermined scientific advancement, cut funding for the arts, and dismissed climate change as a hoax.

    In conclusion, what America needs is not a return to the divisive, autocratic leadership of Donald Trump, but a leader who can unify, heal, and lead the country toward progress. Kamala Harris offers a vision of optimism not because she ignores the challenges we face, but because she understands that progress comes from unity, not fear, and from hope, not hatred. The real strength of America lies not in its ability to relive a mythologized past, but in its capacity to evolve, innovate, and include.

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  8. Sophia B. reminds me of what Biden said four years ago. He also was going to “unify, heal and lead”. How did that work out? Three months ago Harris was a footnote. Even the Democrats didn’t want her. Now she’s their savior. Who’s kidding who? Trump has literally survived TWO assassination attempts, TWO impeachments, and numerous lawfare attempts to become the forty seventh president. The American people will seal the deal today. GOD BLESS AMERICA.

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    1. S SQUEGLIA

      If you’d like to remember further, you might recall that while Biden was planning to “unify, heal and lead” the nation, Trump was attempting a coup and lying about losing. Three months ago, Biden made the difficult choice to step down from the nomination, in favor of Harris, as a multitude of Democrats had been requesting for months. Hardly a footnote or unwanted. Nobody is kidding anyone, especially in the face of numerous lies, fabrications, and misinformation. Trump’s survival of assassination attempts is amazing. All praise should go to the selfless Secret Service agents who put their lives on the line every day to protect our President, regardless of who that may be. As a veteran, I salute their sacrifice and effort. Trump did nothing. Nor did he “survive” two impeachments. He was impeached twice. That happened. The Senate failed to find him “guilty” in the subsequent trial, as far too many Republicans failed to live up to the promise of their oaths of office, rightly fearing retribution from their party, as Liz Cheney experienced first hand, thus was Trump acquitted. Not “innocent”, not “not guilty”; acquitted.

      Your friends, family, and fellow Americans keep asking you to recognize what is plainly evident. Trump is a crook, a liar, a grifter, a scam artist, a bigot, and a rapist. He only enriched himself while in office and now seeks to do it again, but even more so. How can you support him and claim that your love our country? God bless America, indeed, in these dark times. A demagogue arises, fooling the masses, turning brother against brother. I only hope that enough people see him for what he is and vote against that darkness.

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  9. You give a whole lot of examples of problems America is facing right now and exactly zero solutions from Donald Trump.

    “What policies could a president ever implement that would solve problems as deep-seated and nebulous as declines in culture, religion, and morality?” is a word for word quote from this article and no answer to the question is presented. Clearly these are issues you care about enough to vote for Donald Trump over- believing his policies to put an end to these problems- yet you didn’t say a single policy he would implement that would reverse this so-called decline.

    Furthermore, you pointed out how 80% of our movies and TV shows coming out these days are spinoffs or remakes of old media- what exactly will Trump do about this? This has no bearing at all on this election. No politician has commented on what they will do to make this stop because it is not nearly on the same level of importance as people’s rights. Which brings me to my next point- no reference to women’s or minority groups’ rights, which is arguably the most important issue to many voters.

    Sure, like you say, Trump will restore patriotism to America- but at what cost? For one, at the cost of women’s rights. Women, who make up 50.4% of the U.S. population, subjugated to the laws a man who doesn’t respect them in the slightest put in place. Pregnant women not being able to get proper healthcare and being forced to birth their rapists child. There has been an exponential rise in pregnancy complications and health defects in women after states were allowed to implement their own strict abortion laws. Several women dead simply because their doctors have been banned from doing their own jobs. But sure, making sure toothpaste isn’t behind a locked glass door and movies aren’t remakes matters more than women dying in parking lots.

    He’ll “restore patriotism” at the cost of ripping parents away from their children and the life they have built in America to deport them to a country they left for their own safety.

    He’ll “restore patriotism” by making himself invincible, so that laws, what America is built off of, don’t apply to him. How patriotic indeed.

    He’ll “restore patriotism” at the cost of stripping rights from the LGBTQ+ population, cancelling DEI initiatives, and furthering the racial divide- making it harder for people of color to get access to education, healthcare and jobs.

    But apparently equality is too much for you- “Liberal ideals of tolerance, diversity, and individualism have been stretched so far that we now have next to nothing in common.” Let me be very clear. We have next to nothing in common because you believe that actions that allow non-white people to have equal access to everything white people do is “stretching it too far.”

    And these are just some issues he will exacerbate here in the United States. I didn’t even touch on how harmful his presidency of the strongest and most developed country of the world would affect global issues.  

    Electing Donald Trump is putting a convicted serial rapist- someone who has violently forced himself on several women- in charge of women’s rights.

    It is putting someone who is endorsed by the KKK- a terrorist group based on white supremacy- in charge of POC’s rights.

    It is putting a 34-count convicted felon in charge of the criminal justice system.
    But we’re taking such risks for the betterment of society by “daring” to vote him in, right?

    I mean, after all, he’ll restore “our lost American pride,” so it makes it everything else ok, or is that not what you just said?

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  10. As an artist, I find your comment that “We can no longer produce any original art” interesting. I suggest you watch “Everything is a Remix” which details the underlying truth that ideas and art are not singularly owned. I also find it interesting that you support Trump, especially considering he posted AI-generated images of Taylor Swift endorsing him. This goes against your argument that art should be original. I would argue you research the communities you are speaking on behalf of before you go out and say ALL recent artwork is “self-referential and navel-gazing”.

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    1. Plenty of good art is being created. You just have to sift through the garbage to find it. It’s always been that way. The last thing most conservatives care about is art, anyway. They’re banning books for god’s sake.

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  11. I attempted to answer an accusation in this comment section directed at me that I did not love America because I voted for our president elect Donald Trump, but my comment was not printed. Once again, calling names is not an argument. I don’t need to be lectured by anyone because they believe that their opinions are the only ones that need to be stated. BU Today should not allow an accusation against someone and then not allow a response. Apparently, over 80 million Americans agree with me. Name calling does not resonate with us.

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  12. I don’t believe people voted based solely on the candidates platform. The following article from 2022 articulates perhaps a different truth. I believe the psychology influence presents a truth that provides insight to what motivates the individual to vote one way or the other. Beyond the face of the immediate choice Americans made they may have also set in motion a system of government ruled by Oligarchs, having no checks and balances, much like Russia, or even worse a communist regime like N Korea.

    How White Victimhood Fuels Republican Politics
    By Alex Samuels and Neil Lewis Jr.
    MAR. 21, 2022, AT 1:19 PM

    “When white Americans see minorities succeed, it threatens them in a way that makes them feel like victims. As Sommers puts it: “It seems like there’s some kind of status, attention or special treatment that certain white people think will be bestowed on them if they make the claim that they’ve been treated unfairly.”
    In other words, for a “post-racial” America to exist, white people would need to see people of color ascending to higher political offices and an increasingly multiracial nation as a win for all of America. Instead, many take these things as a personal attack and view it as a loss of their own status at the top of America’s racial hierarchy. “

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  13. America has spoken: they don’t want men in women’s sports, they don’t want inflation, they don’t want illegal migrants, they don’t want high grocery prices, and they don’t like wars across the pond. Women can have abortions, but we are working to prevent late term abortions, because most Americans believe late term is too far.

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  14. Trump has filed for bankruptcy 6 times, has been found guilty of sexual assault, had his foundation dissolved due to fraud, paid $25M for his fraudulent Trump University, has 34 felonies, is a prolific, liar with a limited vocabulary, and is in no position to fix anything. I am saddened that my fellow Americans, with all of the voluminous amount of information available to us, were willing to dispense with facts that did not validate their perceptions and would not take time or care enough to do valid research and/or fact check.

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