Though the odds were against him, Donald Trump has managed to secure the presidency after gaining the necessary 270 electoral votes to defeat his Democratic rival, Hillary Clinton, The Associated Press reports. Additionally, CNN reports Hillary Clinton has called and conceded the race. Despite denigrating countless women, African Americans, immigrants, Hispanics, Muslims, and the parents of a decorated veteran, Trump capitalized on tough economic times and fear tactics to secure a win. For many, this is a nightmare come true.
As president, Trump has promised to build a wall along our border with Mexico (and make them pay for it), eliminate Obamacare, defund Planned Parenthood, ban Muslims from entering the United States, and reintroduce waterboarding, among other things. There’s no telling exactly how Trump will put these measures into place, but if his bombastic rhetoric is to be believed, there won’t be much compromising across party lines.
While Donald Trump’s divisive campaign has fueled hate speech, empowered bigots, and instilled fear in world leaders, we have to remember that he does not represent Americans as a whole and cannot act singularly on our behalf. We can rely on rational leaders in the House and Senate to prevent Trump’s more extreme plans while continuing to push for elected officials who will uphold the basic rights Trump has threatened. In the coming weeks, months, and years, we’ll likely have to double down on freedom of speech to defend the values we hold most dear. In these trying days, we should also keep at the forefront of our minds Franklin D. Roosevelt’s wise words: “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.”