Most students at NKHS can’t vote yet. However, a lot of them have strong opinions about political issues that impact them, a major and recent one being the November 5 election of 45th (and soon to be 47th) President-elect Donald Trump. Channeling Jordan Klepper, junior staff writer Eliza Adler asked around to tap the political pulse of North Kingstown’s student body. She simply asked for people’s brief thoughts on the results of the election. So what do NKHS students think about the election?
Some students expressed satisfaction and happiness with the results of the election. Freshman Jose Hogberg-Castillo said, “The election, Donald Trump winning, was a good thing. Me, personally? I’d rather have Donald Trump, feel me?”
Those who were happy about the election cited their trust in Trump’s leadership, his policies around things like the Second Amendment and the economy, and issues with this election’s democratic hopeful, Vice President Kamala Harris. Aidan Paul, a sophomore, is “pretty satisfied with the results of the election. I just think [Trump is] more trustworthy because he’s already been president once, and Kamala […] throughout, she’s just not been popular. […] She’s just kind of extreme with a lot of her policies, and I just don’t think she’s really trustworthy.” Aidan Brunelle, a senior, said, “I just like Donald Trump because [of] his policies, […] I guess you could say he’s for guns.”
Others saw concerns with Donald Trump as exaggerated, and felt relatively secure in their own lives remaining the same after his inauguration takes place in January. Ivory Perry said, “Can I be honest? I really don’t care, as long as it doesn’t affect me. I think a lot of kids are paying attention to what they’re hearing on the news, which is a lot of untrue information, like how a lot of people have been saying that it’s not rights to our body. you can get an abortion [before] a certain amount of months. A certain period you can, a certain period you can’t. It’s not like they’re taking away our rights in general. We still have rights, just not after a certain amount of months.”
Other students feel less optimistic about the next Trump presidency, describing feelings of fear, hopelessness, and panic. Edie Kolbe, a freshman, said that she feels “fear. Lots of fear. We’re all very scared.” Lila Flaherty, a junior, is “just disappointed, because I thought by now we’d have a woman president, but we don’t. I’m kinda worried about our country’s future.”
Many people remarked on policies they worry about Trump enacting, such as restrictions on abortion like those that came with the fall of Roe vs. Wade in 2022 at the hands of Trump’s Supreme Court picks, encroachment on gender-affirming treatment, and potential foreign policy moves that could pull U.S. aid from conflicts in places like Ukraine and Israel. Frankie Gincastro, a senior, said that she “might be moving to Canada because of it. [I’m] not optimistic, no, I’d like to have abortion rights.” Alexis Adamonis, a junior, is “worried for the future of democracy. I’m worried for the Middle East situation, not specifically Palestine, but anything that an aggressive foreign policy would do to Palestine, and Israel, and then Lebanon, and then Iran. [Also] trans people, people’s healthcare in Florida is already [in] decline[…] in preparation for the new regime.”
Others cited concerns with Trump’s character and reputation as the country’s president from 2016 to 2020. Serenity Goggins, a senior, said, “I feel like there’s not really been a difference yet, but just knowing Trump and how he’s been in these couple of years, I’m feeling like he’s not been great for America […] and he’s been making it seem like he’s been helping the United States, but I feel like he’s been putting it in jeopardy with what he’s been doing. I also don’t believe that Kamala is the best either, but I do believe she has a better way…”
Other common sentiments were uncertainty and indifference. Many students had mixed feelings about the election and want to wait and see how it will pan out. Gianna Amedeo, a junior, said, “Obviously, a lot of people aren’t gonna like the results, and I don’t know how I feel. I’ll just have to see how it goes. The best thing you can do is just accept it and keep being vocal about the issues that you care about. Junior Eli Kuzminski said, “I feel like it’s certainly interesting, and it will be an interesting next four years. We will have to see what happens, and I’d like to know if the things President Trump says he’ll do […] if he actually does enact them. And what does happen, and if we see a better four years than the past few years. I’m just skeptical, but optimistic.”
Within the social studies department, teachers are waiting to see how the turn of events will affect the classes they teach, from history and democracy to current events and law. Mr. Damon Lindsay, who teaches AP U.S. History, Current Issues, and Criminal Justice, is “interested to see how much change there will be.” Mr. Travis Crocker, who teaches US History 1 and World History, said, “In my opinion, the next four years will not be boring.”
