Donald Trump was sworn in as president for a second term Monday. His inauguration follows the 2024 presidential election, in which he defeated former Vice President Kamala Harris by 86 electoral votes.
President Trump received an almost unprecedented win, cementing himself as the second president to serve two non-consecutive terms.
Ahead of the 2024 election, Pew Research Center reported 48% of registered voters planned to vote for Harris and 47% for Trump.
Donald Trump surprised many by winning the popular vote by more than 2 million votes, marking the first time a Republican has won the popular vote since George W. Bush in 2004.
During his campaign, Trump focused heavily on the economy, promising to cut taxes, lower government spending and increase tariffs on foreign imports.
Sean Slatzer, president of the Ohio University College Democrats, commented on why he believes these promises contributed to Trump’s victory.
“I think people have been seeing the effects of the economy,” Slatzer said. “I mean, we all feel it. Nobody's happy about grocery prices, nobody's happy about rent. I don't think (Harris) spoke to that enough. I think she did say what she could, but I think people had already made their minds up.”
The OU College Republicans did not respond for comment.
Sam Gausmann, a freshman studying environmental pre-law, said Trump’s victory was largely due to his platform of change. Gausmann said for many voters, it did not matter whether the change was good or bad.
According to the 2024 GOP Platform, also known as Agenda 47, Trump vowed to defund schools that participate in political indoctrination of American children, keep transgender women out of women's sports, end inflation, stretch religious freedom to allow students in the classroom to pray and return education to the states.
The positions on these platforms that OU students are the most focused on under the Trump administration are social issues, the environment and education.
David Gideon, a sophomore studying exercise physiology, said he is worried about Trump's policies regarding human rights, specifically trans rights. He said Trump will pose a threat to many minority communities.
Gausmann said he is focused mostly on Trump’s beliefs regarding environmental issues and queer rights.
“I feel like environmental and queer people are going to come under fire a lot over the Trump administration,” Gausmann said.
According to a 2024 study from Gallup, 18% of American adults believe the country is united, with 80% believing it is divided.
After accepting the nomination as the Republican candidate for president in July 2024, Trump said in his acceptance speech, “I am running to be president for all of America, not half of America.”
Slatzer expressed distrust in Trump’s message, using Trump’s past messages to claim his campaign is built on division.
“I don't think he stands for unity at all,” Slatzer said. “I think a lot of his platform has been pretty hateful, especially with the things he was saying during his debates, especially with stuff obviously to Springfield, bringing negative light to specific communities.”
According to a CNN poll conducted with SSRN, Biden will leave office with 36% of U.S. adults approving of his performance as president, and Trump will enter office with a 46% favorability rating.
