“A heartbreaking day for everyone around the world”

Donald Trump will be the new president of the United States for the second time after a close confrontation with his competitor Kamala Haris. This election brought up many controversial issues, including women’s reproductive rights, the protection of minorities, and the war in Gaza. We asked what Bristol Uni students thought about the election results.

The response was, as expected, overwhelmingly negative.

Students, including many international students from the US, told us it is “a heartbreaking day for everyone around the world.”

women’s rights

One of Trump’s central issues is the ban on abortion. While his stance on the nationwide abortion ban is unclear, one of his Project 2025 One of their policies is to use the Comstock Act of 1873 to prohibit the mailing of abortion pills. Given that two-thirds of abortions in the United States are performed using mail-in abortion pills, this could be detrimental to the reproductive rights of even those who live in Democratic states.

Since the overturning of Row v Wade, access to abortion has been almost completely banned in 17 states cross country. Repealing abortion as a constitutional right makes it easier for Trump to restrict access to abortions without needing the support of the Senate or House of Representatives.

Annabelle, an American student studying Veterinary Medicine in Bristol, told us: “As a woman, I am afraid of losing some of my rights in the United States and I am worried about how much control Trump will have now that the Senate is also majority Republican. Overall, I am worried about the next four years and I am not sure if I will return to the United States after graduating due to the political situation.”

Additionally, Trump has been accused of a series of sexual misconduct and rape, as well as making misogynistic comments. comments like calling Nancy Pelosi a “sickly crazy person…”

One student told us the results are “incredibly depressing for women and girls across America.”

Minorities

Trump has vowed to reinstate his controversial Muslim travel ban and encourage mass deportations across the country. With these raids and deportations, Trump will pursue a dystopian reality similar to President Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1954, when his government detained and deported people of Mexican ancestry, including American citizens.

This “despicable campaign of destruction” (third-year politics student) will also target LGBTQ+ people with a focus on attacking the rights of trans youth by banning schools from supporting gender transition. Trump also wants to rescind national anti-discrimination protections for LGBTQ+ people, as well as promote a strictly heterosexual marriage education program similar to Thatcher’s Section 28.

An anonymous student told us it’s “a sad day for minorities.”

Genocide in Gaza

Another key issue highlighted by Bristol students was the Democrats’ “support for genocide.” An American international student studying in Bristol told us: “Her (Kamala’s) very pro-Israel stance prevented many people from voting for her.” Adding that “Kamala barely had time to prepare her campaign, make her plans known and divert her partnership with Biden and form an independent coalition.”

Harris, like current President Joe Biden, has repeatedly defended Israel’s right to defend itself when asked about the suffering in Gaza; Some analysts believe that this issue caused him to lose the undecided status of Michigan which has one of the highest Arab and Muslim populations in the country.

George, a Bristol Student Socialist Society committee member, said: “The Biden-Harris administration has displeased much of the nation by continuing to arm and give carte blanche to Israel, a state carrying out genocide of the Palestinian people. broadcast live. “

Economy

The new Trump administration will try to repeal many of Biden’s economic policies, including the Inflation Reduction Act and tax cuts. These setbacks could increase further economic inequality and be detrimental to the American economy.

A member of Bristol’s student socialist society said: “The old cliché is correct: the rich get richer, the poor get poorer and those in the middle get squeezed.” explaining how some voters felt Trump could be an alternative to this, since “Democrats, by sticking to their corporate donors, rather than any popular demands, have handed America over to the far right.” George also added: “Trump is terrifying.”

This election has brought fear and pain to Bristol students, as a convicted felon and alleged rapist will become president of one of the most powerful countries in the world for the second time.

Louise, who studies child studies, told us: “My family is super liberal and we knew Biden would never have won, but Kamala made us all feel hopeful. My community back home was excited about her and her campaign had a lot of energy and positivity. “I can’t imagine people would choose Trump over her.”