Today, President Donald Trump takes office again. Serving as the 45th and 47th president of the United States, Trump is the only president besides Grover Cleveland to serve two non-consecutive terms in the White House. Compared to years past, this particular political cycle remains especially tense as the inordinate amount of political violence leading up to his inauguration has rattled the country.
The chaos began shortly after the June debate between former President Joe Biden and Trump. Trump faced an assassination attempt on July 13 at a campaign rally in Pennsylvania, and later that month, Biden announced his decision to drop out of the 2024 presidential race. The decision followed concerns from the public — and Democratic and Republican lawmakers alike — over Biden’s performance at the debate, age and cognitive ability, according to NBC.
Four days after the first presidential debate between Trump and the new Democratic nominee, Kamala Harris, Trump survived another assassination attempt while golfing.
On Nov. 8, federal prosecutors identified three Iranian men who had discussed a plan to assassinate Trump before he was re-elected, according to the New York Times. While Iran’s Foreign Ministry denied the allegation, U.S. security officials were alarmed.
No matter how one feels about the 2024 election results, political violence is never the answer. In a heated political climate, violence perpetuates the exact opposite meaning of democracy. Both Democrats and Republicans have exacerbated the existing hostility in the realm of politics. Polarization is also the fault of media companies that highlight the dividing aspects of the nation. News outlets rarely cover the compromise or unity that is achieved in the national government. The focus on division only forces Americans to polarize further, leading to the conditions our nation now finds itself in.
The new year rang in with violence, too. On Jan. 1, an attack in New Orleans was followed by a cyber truck explosion outside the Trump International Hotel in Las Vegas. The LA suspect, U.S. Army Master Sgt. Matthew Livelsberger, intended for the blast to be a “wake up call” to Americans as written in a letter he left behind, according to ABC. He criticized Democrats and Harris and emphasized that the American people should rally behind Trump to promote national hegemony.
The 2024 election is not the first time that political violence occurred throughout the nation. There have been 14 assassinations or assassination attempts against presidents since 1835, according to Statista, including those against Abraham Lincoln and John F. Kennedy.
Is the United States in great condition politically? No. Are there many existing issues that will prove challenging for the future? Yes. However, this nation has endured turbulence before, and democracy still continues to survive.
Some moments in the 2024 election were worth celebrating. For example, the 2024 vice presidential debate proved incredibly refreshing to witness two opposing candidates, JD Vance and Tim Walz, speak so civilly to one another. No matter your personal opinion on either candidate, their presentation to the American public was civil and intelligent: a debate worth celebrating. Another victory happened after the election. Despite Harris’ loss, Democrats maintained a peaceful transfer of power — another victory worth celebrating.
As someone not particularly happy with either presidential candidate in the 2024 election, I am choosing to keep a healthy dose of hope for the future of America. I advise you to do the same. Go for a walk, soak up the sun and appreciate the present moment. Social media sucks us into a loop of negativity. Political chatter fuels misconceptions and often proves inaccurate. I experience consistent frustration with American politicians, but simultaneously, I sometimes am pleasantly surprised. In such small victories, there is hope for the future.
