Sharon, Massachusetts, U.S.A. – I can’t believe we’re back here, with Donald Trump being sworn in as president again in 2025.
Watching his inauguration felt surreal, but not in a good way.
When he won the 2016 election, I was just 7 and didn’t care much about politics. Now, at 16, I’m old enough to understand how the system works and see the bigger picture. I can form my own opinions and – as I follow what’s happening – I’m realizing how much political decisions affect both the country and its people.
It’s been eye-opening to watch events unfold as I gain a better grasp on how everything fits together.
As the first convicted felon to become a U.S. president, his election is a controversial moment in American history, and it raises so many questions about the standards and expectations we hold for our leaders.
His speech was striking, to say the least. Hearing him lay out his promises and ideas made everything feel completely out of touch. He talked about absurd plans like re-occupying the Panama Canal and renaming the Gulf of Mexico the “Gulf of America.”
A policy change that has been a hot topic is his immediate plan to end birthright citizenship, which is written into the Constitution. I’m not sure how he plans to get the support of two-thirds of Congress in both the House and Senate – plus ratification by three-fourths of the states – to change the birthright citizenship Amendment, but the fact that he’s even considering this is terrifying.
On top of that, it’s really concerning to have a president who still insists the 2020 election was rigged.
I believe in the importance of a peaceful transition, and unfortunately the events of January 6th are still on my mind. By keeping this false rhetoric alive, it hurts the credibility of our elections. And when a leader refuses to accept the results of an election, it sets a dangerous example for the future.
I don’t know if we’re headed into the “golden age” Trump claims he’ll bring. His words and actions make it clear that he’s focused on a specific vision, but I keep asking myself a question I think I already know the answer to: Does his vision of America reflect the broader, more diverse country we live in today?
Shiara Naveen is a Reporter with Youth Journalism International. She wrote this commentary.
Lyat Melese is a Correspondent with Youth Journalism International. She made the photograph of the Capitol dome.