The NYU College Republicans’ guest essay, “Living fearlessly and embracing Trump’s vision for change,” fails to address former President Donald Trump’s biggest missteps and most glaring character flaws — not only in the shadow of the upcoming election, but especially as it pertains to the fate of the country. Many of the College Republicans’ criticisms of Democrats and defenses of Trump are either out of place, misrepresentative or outright false. There are major issues with the op-ed’s chief contentions with President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris as well as their “unfulfilled promises,” only highlighted by the very little time spent talking about those of Trump.
At the start of the College Republicans’ essay, the group criticized Democrats for playing on fear and weaponizing identity politics. However, there is no condemnation of Trump’s fomenting of xenophobia. The authors claim that Trump “does not pander incessantly, nor does he act entitled for our vote,” presumably forgetting his comments against Jewish Americans who aren’t voting for him and his targeted messaging toward evangelical Christians. Trump’s protectionist plan is laughably touted as having “long-term benefits to a domestic economy” despite the overwhelmingly unfavorable economic consensus regarding his previous and prospective tariffs.
The College Republicans’ essay also comments on allegations of an uptick in crime under Biden’s presidency. Fear of crime has been weaponized for the sake of political expediency for many years. It is often spun that violent crime is a growing threat and Democratic leadership is responsible. It is a popular talking point despite how easily debunked it is. It’s so easily debunked, in fact, that the College Republicans’ own source refutes it.
No justification is provided for the authors’ suggestion that Biden and Harris are to blame for Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack on Israeli towns and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Perhaps they believe that Trump would have prevented them from happening — somehow. The authors could have justifiably lambasted the Biden administration for aiding and abetting Israel’s escalatory and genocidal actions in the Middle East, but doing so would call into question their support of Trump, who indicated during his presidency and more recently that he would not do any better than Biden.
Immigration remains a salient political issue despite the sharp decrease in monthly migrant encounters at the southern border. The College Republicans correctly point out that we have a border crisis, but do not say much more on the topic. Fortunately, we can look at a 2023 report by the American Immigration Council for some policy recommendations. Some of the report’s recommendations would have been put into action if it were not for Republican obstruction at Trump’s request. The report also criticizes the “aggressive enforcement and deterrence-based policies” of past presidential administrations, especially those of Trump’s. One can only wonder why the College Republicans cited this report in their op-ed, considering that Trump’s mass deportation plan and previous policy of family separation stand in contradiction to the report’s recommendations, as well as human decency.
Most shocking is the College Republicans’ downplaying of the Jan. 6 insurrection as merely “a group of people illegally promenading through the U.S. Capitol,” and how it is “not in any way sufficient to dissuade” them from voting for Trump. Absent is any acknowledgment of the violence that occurred or the participation of extremist militias. Trump’s principal role in the unprecedented and illegal attempts to overturn the election, of which Jan. 6 was the culmination, goes unmentioned. Either the authors are in such an echo chamber that they are unaware of indisputable evidence that has been publicly available for years and has continued to emerge, or they consciously endorse Trump’s commission of crimes against the country because they believe in the “big lie.”
Neither Biden nor Harris can be blamed for the majority of America’s inflation, which surged in 2021 and 2022 due to pandemic-related disruptions in various economic sectors. Perhaps the Biden administration deserves some criticism for the inflation that can be attributed to its COVID-19 legislation, but these fiscal support measures were undoubtedly necessary and economically beneficial, especially for those most in need. The Biden administration certainly has plenty to brag about economy-wise.
The College Republicans contend that this year’s presidential election represents a choice “between the status quo and actual change.” I wholeheartedly agree. A second Trump presidency would be a change for the worse. It is unacceptable to knowingly and willfully support an overtly authoritarian, anti-democratic, bigoted and sexually abusive felon over someone who is none of those things. Those of us who care about democracy and the rule of law know what to do. For the sake of the country, vote Democratic and reject fascism.
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Contact Garrison Sylvester at [email protected].
