Donald Trump was elected, apparently with great apprehension, as the 45th President of the United States on 8 November 2016. Within almost two years in office, his supporters are dwindling. All his policies, speeches and bans have been resonant more of his likes and dislikes, instead of having a data-backed reason that helps the country in a positive way. It’s clear that Trump’s way of handling things is clearly reminiscent of a lot of leaders throughout the world who enforced their philosophies on entire nations after being elected, hence begging the question, is the biggest democracy in the world in the hands of a man who’s well on his way to be labelled as a dictator?

After photos of Trump’s team with Russians were publicized and ties with Putin were unearthed, speculations were rife that Trump might have meddled with the elections with the help of the Russians. His ban on trans-genders being a part of the country’s military, the ending of abortion rights and Planned Parenthood’s funding, the scarcity of cheap health insurance after revoking Obamacare – all Trump’s policies and choices, presented with weak reasons and protested by the majority of the world’s citizens, spoke of nothing but only his likes and dislikes.

Always an entrepreneur, Trump has turned the country into one of his enterprises, doing what he feels might expand his original business. His government has been formed on blatant nepotism, every one of whom is enjoying the title of ‘First Family’ without really realizing what it means to the entire world, many of whom depend on the US for funding as well.

Even though many sectors didn’t show any positive graphs during Obama’s presidency, the overall comfort that he provided to all minorities and genders through many policies made him widely known as one of the greatest presidents of the biggest superpower in the world. Currently, citizens are quoted daily in various articles saying that they are ‘afraid for their lives.’ Trump’s rule has made the country’s residents scared for their future. Is that what a democratic president aims to achieve?

‘White supremacy’ was a term that gained a lot of recognition during his campaign. Illegal immigration aside, Trump’s idea of dissing entire communities based on a few practising illegal activities is biased and dictator-like. Focusing on race and gender, and pushing out policies against many is a clear violation of a democratic leader, concerned for every citizen of his country.

Maybe the problem isn’t him, really. His campaigns were pretty straightforward on what was to come if he got elected, even if we read between the lines of many speeches. Maybe the problem is the people who cheered him on and voted for him and shared his ‘ideals’ of making America great again by rooting out the ‘weeds’, reminiscent of another man and another time. However, it is time we realize that handing over the biggest democracy in the world to a dictator was not such a great idea after all.

By:

Nishtha Chopra

1 B , BA(JMC)