By Adam Schorr
It’s that time of year again; the 60th quadrennial presidential election is underway. Millions are voting early; others are casting mail-in and absentee ballots unconventionally. And with both major candidates virtually tied in national polls and running on polarizing issues, 2024 is poised to be historic.
But one candidate, who defied conventional wisdom, is attempting a political comeback the likes of which we may or might never see. That candidate is Donald John Trump, the 45th President of the United States, who has my “complete and total endorsement,” a phrase he coined in supporting fellow Republicans. So what qualifies the former president?
After unprecedentedly defeating Hillary Clinton in 2016, Trump assumed office as a political outsider. He redefined presidential norms while accomplishing a 50-year unemployment low, corporate tax reductions and tight immigration reform, such as the U.S-Mexico border wall construction. He also made notable diplomatic strides, including the Middle East Abraham Accords and being the first sitting US president to enter North Korea.
As president, he influenced the Republican Party, cultivating an appreciative base towards his unorthodox approaches, including social media outreach and steadfast conservatism. But in 2020, his term reached a turning point. COVID-19 ravaged the world, killing millions; global protests sparked following George Floyd’s murder; and America descended into turmoil. Then, after Joe Biden’s November 2020 victory, Trump questioned the election’s results, precipitating the Capitol riots of Jan. 6, 2021, which tarnished his reputation and became a talking point for Democrats.
Four years later, the man who got beat wanted to become a figure of feat. Undeterred, the former president launched his third consecutive White House run. He felt compelled to redeem his legacy, pursue his previous agenda, and unlike the Biden administration, achieve success. Moreover, he sees unfinished business with America, which he hopes to satisfy by “Making America Great Again.” If victorious, he would become the second president since Grover Cleveland to serve two non-consecutive terms.
Trump envisions himself as an agent of change in 2024, pursuing prior campaign strategies but with some differences and new pitches. He emphasizes his strong economic record, strict immigration policies, and “America First” trade practices. In addition, he's targeting conservative minorities, working-class voters and rural areas while garnering significant support from certain voting blocs, including Blacks, Latinos and Hispanics. Even former Democrat-turned-Independents like Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Tulsi Gabbard now roar like Republicans, despite some policy dissents. Regardless, it’s a positive shift.
In distinguishing from Democratic opponent Kamala Harris, he portrays her as complicit in the current administration’s failures, including the botched 2021 Afghanistan withdrawal, the border crisis and economic woes with high inflation and supply chain hurdles. Trump's campaign, however, seeks different tactics besides rallies, including events in traditionally Democratic states and retail politicking, which includes visiting local businesses, diners and churches, holding town hall meetings and facilitating roundtable discussions. New policies have also emerged like abolishing taxes on Social Security, tips and overtime, plus greatly expanding tariffs and requiring proof of citizenship, voter ID and paper-only ballots at the polls.
While Trump’s campaign is fruitful, he confronts unique challenges. Four criminal cases have plagued him, with one conviction, and scrutiny from his presidency generated serious opposition. Trump’s bid also provoked a split response, where supporters commend his resilience, especially following two assassination attempts on his life this year, and critics rebuke his contentious past while pondering his suitability, amplifying the divided atmosphere surrounding his candidacy.
With the campaign entering its final stretch, the stakes couldn’t be higher. The outcome will chart a new course for America, but will it be for democracy or tyranny, peace or conflict, strength or weakness? To me, only one candidate epitomizes strength. One who’s been despised and lied about, particularly by the media, for nine years, impeached twice, excessively sued, indicted four times, nearly killed twice, took an assassin’s bullet to the ear, and they’re still standing. That strikes me as extraordinary and many would likely concur.
Whether you tolerate his character, Donald Trump possesses firm solutions to the issues millions face. We must choose him and reject Kamala Harris to preserve our life, liberty and prosperity, as echoed by the Declaration of Independence.
Remember, through our elections, we, the people, are empowered to choose our leaders and shape our constitutional republic, all with the stroke of a pen or pencil. So, no matter who you support, exercise that power wisely on Nov. 5 and vote your conscience. So let’s do it, folks. Let’s get out and vote.