Biden, Trump, and the Influence of Party Lines
Another four years have passed, and the 2024 election season is in full swing. The country has experienced a devastating pandemic, the revival of activism movements such as Black Lives Matter (BLM) and the #MeToo movement, and now a contentious issue surrounding the Israel-Palestine conflict. Americans are forced to make a new decision in light of these events, and voters across the nation are asking themselves who their new president will be for the next four years.
According to Reuters, Biden and Trump are predicted to run against each other in the upcoming elections, and not many individuals seem content with their options. In a poll, 11% of registered voters said they would vote for other candidates, 5% said they would not vote, and 7% said they didn't know or refused to answer. Half of the people in the U.S.believe that Trump should not step within 1,000 feet of the White House.
Amidst ongoing attention to Trump's legal issues, concerns about Biden's health remain largely unchanged since September, indicating a persistent unease among voters. Interestingly, while more Democrats worry about Biden's age than Republicans do about Trump's legal challenges, this doesn't significantly impact voting behavior. Biden still garners support from many voters with concerns about his age. 61% of voters are concerned about former President Donald Trump's legal challenges, including felony charges, with only 27% of Republicans expressing major or moderate concerns.
Donald Trump's loss in the 2020 election and subsequent response, including when he encouraged a heavily armed and violent mob to attack the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021, demonstrated a disregard for democratic norms. Additionally, the discovery of classified documents at his personal Mar-a-Lago estate and Trump's potential obstruction of justice, coupled with his refusal to follow the law, further supported many Americans' opinion that he should not pursue the presidency again. Additionally, he is currently facing trial and is involved with multiple lawsuits, including but not limited to cases in Fulton County, Georgia, where he is being held accountable for his attempts to subvert the 2020 election. The charges, including racketeering and federal felonies, highlight the seriousness of Trump's actions in undermining democracy. While some may question the likelihood of a guilty verdict, the evidence presented, including plea deals from co-defendants and public statements by Trump himself, strengthens the case against him.
Moreover, recent legal battles over whether Trump should be disqualified from running for president again under the Fourteenth Amendment add another layer of complexity to the situation, with conflicting opinions from state authorities and a recent victory due to the U.S. Supreme Court overturning Colorado's decision to kick him off the republican primary ballot. He is also being sued in New York and indicted in Florida, Manhattan, and Washington. Needless to say, I see why people aren’t looking forward to having him in office, and this is only the icing on the political cake.
However, the grass isn't greener on the liberal side of the spectrum, as incumbent President Biden has recently been nicknamed "Genocide Joe” for his support for Israel. President Biden attracted criticism due to the perceived imbalance in the Israel-Palestine conflict. Many people have expressed concerns about the use of American taxpayer dollars to fund weaponry sent to Israel. This includes weapons such as MK-82 bombs, KMU-572 Joint Direct Attack Munitions, FMU-139 bomb fuses, assault rifles, and tank ammunition, justified by the need to combat Hamas. However, some argue that this support contributes to the ongoing conflict, resulting in casualties in Gaza.
While voters may overlook this policy, there are also concerns about Biden's age, despite his decision to run for office. An NBC News poll reveals that a significant majority of voters, encompassing 76%, express uneasiness about President Joe Biden's mental and physical health, with 54% of Democrats sharing these worries. Joe Biden was born in 1942, making him 81 years old, and by the time voting season rolls around in November, he will be 82 years old. A report detailing President Joe Biden's memory lapses and mishandling of classified documents raises serious concerns about his fitness to serve as commander-in-chief. Biden's forgetfulness about key events, such as his son's death, how many granddaughters he has, and the handling of classified White House materials, reflects poorly on his ability to fulfill his duties effectively. While Special Counsel Robert Hur declined to bring criminal charges against Biden due to his poor memory, this does not absolve him of accountability for his actions.
He also has a history of countries when he mixed up Egypt for Mexico during a press conference following being exonerated by Special Counsel Robert Hur by saying, "The president of Mexico did not want to open up the gate to allow humanitarian material to get in. I talked to him. I convinced him to open the gate," referring to the conflict in the middle east. In the same month, he confused French president Emmanuel Macron with Francois Mitterand, who died in 1996, during a rally address to supporters in Las Vegas, Nevada, when referring back to a meeting with The Group of Seven in 2021.
According to current polls, Trump is taking the lead so far. If voters look at the current economic landscape, the U.S. GDP increased by 3.3% in the fourth quarter of 2023, exceeding expectations. With the stock market up, unemployment down, wages rising, and inflation slowing, the Biden administration hopes people will remember what made them want to vote for them in the first place. Voters disagree with that sentiment, with wages not keeping pace with the costs of essential goods and services such as groceries, cars, houses, and child and elder care. When Americans think of the economy, they think of affordability, not just economic indicators. Plus, he has a low approval rating of only 38.9%.
However, many voters are concerned about Project 2025, a plan led by Paul Dans, a former employee of the Trump administration, to reshape the executive branch of the U.S. federal government in the event of a Republican victory in the 2024 U.S. presidential election. The Project 2025 manifesto says, "The actions of liberal politicians in Washington have created a desperate need and unique opportunity for conservatives to start undoing the damage the Left has wrought and build a better country for all Americans in 2025." This could be detrimental because so many women of childbearing age, young adults, children, African Americans, undocumented immigrants, and other marginalized communities would have so much to lose if Trump was elected. To name a few of the promises Trump has made, there would be a widespread abortion ban, a reversal of policies that allow transgender people to serve in the military, and an elimination of critical race theory programs and established DEI (Diversity, Equality, and Inclusion) offices and staff.
Taking all these factors into account, I believe that Trump might take office if things continue the way the Republican Party plans. Until then, we can only encourage voters around us to participate in the election and think very hard about candidates that align with personal interests and values rather than just voting along political party lines.
Williana Serve is a Freshman in college from New York City. Passionate about empowering youth voices, fostering inclusivity, and promoting representation, Williana believes in providing young change-makers with the tools and knowledge they need to contribute to a more just world. When she’s not doing schoolwork, she can be found watching TikTok, YouTube, or reading.