Oliver Coan (286)

In the early hours of November 6, 2024, it was revealed that Donald Trump had won the US presidency with 277 electoral votes (eventually 312), alongside a popular vote win. This was a shocker for some. In 2016, Hillary Clinton won the popular vote and in 2020 Biden won both the popular vote and the electoral votes’ majority. Throughout Trump’s campaign, he often dodged specifics about certain policies. 31 out of 38 writers of Project 2025, a Presidential plan, were former Trump advisors or connected to him otherwise. Trump denied it as being a part of his plan as the 47th President of the United States. Instead, he made his own plan: Agenda47. Many worry about the majority of America supporting Trump and his agenda. However, as Central students, how would his presidency even affect us?

Trump plans to change education drastically – there is a plan to get rid of the Department of Education, and teaching about Critical Race Theory or gender ideology may be prohibited. Philadelphia was the first city in the United States to require an African American history course to graduate. By the time Trump is officially President, it will have been 20 years since then, and the direction of our education in that regard will be years behind that. Additionally, the college that Central is preparing you for may not be good enough for Trump’s standards, as he plans to take over accreditation for these schools, and will tax them “billions” if they do not align with his rules. Education would differ a lot from how it is now, and we will be the first generation of students who will witness it firsthand.

Trump is not a supporter of freedom for LGBTQIA+ Americans. He has made baseless claims that transgender people crossing ‘gender lines’ in sports is a widespread issue in the country. Trump also wants to work with Congress to classify only two genders: male and female. Federal action that would take away these rights could directly impact many students at Central. He has stated he will not allow gender-affirming care, and will force schools to no longer “promote” sex and gender transition. Any hospital that provides surgery or care for these things will lose its federal health standard. Trump’s proposed policies becoming a part of law can make those affected feel scared and unwelcome. Students who wanted to receive care, advice, or information wouldn’t get it, and the fear of this would lead to a mass amount of students hiding their identities.

The continuously changing climate is another issue President-Elect Trump has decided to move backward on, or, quite literally, not believe in. Trump has called climate change a “hoax” in the past. In a world where it is 80 degrees in November, there are wildfires across America, and snow in Saudi Arabia, Trump wants to continue using fossil fuels. Under a Trump presidency,  the future of our climate will be bleak and unpredictable, and Central’s students will be the generation that will have to deal with the worsening climate crisis.

Abortion is something we are all too familiar with. Trump chose to avoid inquiries about it throughout his campaign. He stated that he would allow states to make decisions about abortion, but he’s also discussed nationwide bans after 15-20 weeks, and Vice-President elect Vance agreed with a nationwide ban until Trump voiced his opinion. Trump has said he wouldn’t sign a nationwide ban, but wouldn’t veto it either. A straight-up federal ban through Congress is possible, but not the only way. Trump could have the FDA lessen the accessibility of certain abortion pills or have the Justice Department work against abortion. Young adults are most likely to get abortions, so an abortion ban, statewide or nationwide, could change the way many live or plan to live. The future of abortion rights in America is in the air right now. Or, in better words, a natural right of hundreds of millions of women is going to be decided by a select few men.

These policies are pressing for young people, but despite being the future of the country, Trump wants to move in the past. These policies may excite you. They may not. Over the next 4 years, we will see if he’ll deliver on his promises. Trump has a lot of decisions to make about our country and about who matters in it. If you want to read more about the future of our country in Trump’s own words, go to donaldjtrump.com/agenda47.