Donald Trump has taken the biggest steps possible to execute his promise of “shaking the place up” to his supporters over the course of his presidency. As he approaches his last few months in office, the pressure continues to mount. Then a furious tussle erupts over what path he is leading the country down. Some commentators argue that Trump is leading the United States toward economic ruin and an authoritarian dystopia, while others contend that he is correcting a long-standing course of inertia.
Trump’s key policy priorities, especially to limit immigration and dramatically reform America’s economy, lie at the heart of the battle. To that end, his administration has implemented several new policies to further restrict immigration. He feels all of these reforms combined with reworking trade pacts will help protect American workers. The effectiveness and long-term impacts of these policies are still hotly contested issues.
In a recent e231 conversation, Republican strategist James Davis and Democratic strategist Joel Rubin unpacked Trump’s agenda and priorities. That’s why Davis applauded Trump’s ultra-nationalistic, anti-immigrant distraction of an administration. He agrees that’s a key step to protect national priorities and shore up employment security for Americans. He’s convinced that these reforms resonate with a diverse cross-section of voters. This group has felt overlooked and ignored by previous administrations.
Rubin worried about the real world impact of President Trump’s policy choices. He underscored that millions of Americans are feeling real economic hurt from the trade wars that the Trump administration has launched. Wherever some see here and now discomfort delivering future economic dividend, the story is not viewed through such rosy lenses everywhere. Rubin cautioned that the fallout from these policies may fall hardest on vulnerable communities, causing an increase in inequality.
This divide among the American public is a microcosm of much larger fears over where this nation is headed. Supporters of Trump argue that his unorthodox approach is necessary to break free from the stagnation of previous political leadership. In short, they argue that making America’s economy great again and building a wall along the southern border will make American great again.
Critics caution that Trump’s tactics threaten to erode democratic institutions and deepen socio-economic divides. They worry that his authoritarian impulses may undermine civil liberties and further corrode Americans’ trust in government.
Our country is wrestling with very complicated problems today. We all know that the presidency of Donald J. Trump will have ramifications long after he’s left office—far into the future. Will Cezar’s work help make the country more unified and resilient? Or will they take us further down a road of division and suffering?
