Donald Trump recently won the 2024 United States presidential election. This is not good.
Trump supporters confidently anticipated this outcome, as 76% of Trump voters were sure that he would win.
With 312 electoral votes, Trump won the election by miles, compared to the 226 electoral votes for Kamala Harris. With so many electoral votes, and a popular vote of 77,269,243, it is clear that many support Trump and the Republican party. So why is his presidential election victory such a tragedy?
Well, his plans for the country, and how they could affect other countries and their residents, including Canadians, are concerning to say the least.
Trump has vowed to deport more than 15 million undocumented people in the United States. Due to this, a large number of individuals must make the choice of staying put, and living in the shadows, or relocate to another state or country that is not in cooperation with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
With Canada sharing an undefended 8,900 kilometre border with the United States, many people will likely attempt to come from the US.
With Canada’s sparse housing supply and lack of resources to account for an additional one million people, the situation could result in an uncontrollable crisis.
One major issue is how Trump may choose to handle abortion rights. He has stated that he would not sign a national abortion ban, however, his past actions provide uncertainty on his stance. He has previously shown support for a nationwide abortion ban for abortions after 15 weeks’ gestation, as well as a House bill that would ban abortion after a certain period, nationwide. It is likely that there will be efforts to restrict legal abortions and women’s reproductive rights.
In short, Trump’s election win could cause unmanageable chaos in Canada and negatively impact its social climate in many ways, including ways regarding women’s rights.
Historically, the social and political state of the US has been known to influence and impact Canada. Many Canadians, including students here at North Park, could be indirectly affected in some way by Trump’s presidential election win.
Mr. Luchak, a teacher at North Park, shares a few thoughts on Trump’s electoral win, “I am disappointed in Donald Trump’s election because he lacks understanding of how to work effectively with all groups in society. I’m afraid that he will be someone who separates rather than unifies, and that because of his antagonistic style he will not be able to accomplish what he promises to accomplish.”
In a time when unity is most valued and needed, Trump works to create divisions that have unfavourable impacts.
THE NORTH STAR 