On November 5, 2024, the United States once again found itself at a crossroads as it reelected Donald Trump to the presidency, making him the first convicted felon to hold the office. And, on January 20, 2025, America watched as Trump, with his loyal appointees at his side, returned to the White House. His second inauguration was not just a political event⸺it was a stark reminder of the deep ideological fractures in this country.
From his relentless efforts to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education, to his campaign to erase diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs across public and private institutions, Trump’s presidency has been marked by a commitment to an agenda that is an enemy of many of the hard-fought civil rights victories of the past century. Among his first executive actions, he vowed to “begin the largest deportation in American history,” referring to undocumented immigrants as “violent animals and thieves.” His rhetoric, as inflammatory as his 2016 and 2020 presidential runs, has emboldened his supporters, including the Proud Boys and right wing extremists, while igniting fear and resistance among those who see his policies as a direct attack on democracy and the civil rights of marginalized communities.
Why Did They Vote for Trump?
Amid the sea of red, “MAGA” hats and Trump banners at the inauguration, I sought to understand the perspective of voters who supported him, particularly teachers and voters of color who had once cast their ballots for former president Joe Biden, a Democrat.
One such voter was Kadin Blakesley, a White public school teacher who supported Trump’s proposal to eliminate the Department of Education. “Honestly, they don’t do much,” he told me. “If the federal government stops interfering with education, that’s more money back to the states and more money for teachers like me.”
His statement, however, overlooks the critical role the Department of Education plays in ensuring equitable access to quality education nationwide. From overseeing federal funding for K-12 schools to administering Pell Grants for low-income college students, the department serves as an essential safeguard against systemic inequalities in education. The elimination of this department could have devastating consequences, particularly for first-generation students and historically marginalized communities that rely on federal aid to access higher education.
I also spoke with two Black voters who had previously supported Biden but switched their allegiance to Trump. “Biden did nothing for Black people,” one woman told me. “Trump, at least, represents us and will bring real change.”
Their perception contradicts the reality of Biden’s presidency, during which he appointed 25 Black judges to the federal bench, nominated Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson as the first Black woman on the U.S. Supreme Court, and spearheaded economic policies that led to a historic 60% increase in Black household wealth compared to pre-pandemic levels. The Biden administration also created 2.6 million jobs for Black workers and worked to expand voting rights, police reform, and student debt relief⸺policies that directly benefited Black communities. And yet, the anti-Biden-Harris sentiment among some Black voters signals a larger issue: the failure of the Democratic Party to effectively communicate its impact and inspire unwavering loyalty.
Resistance on the Streets
While thousands cheered for Trump’s return to power, protesters lined the streets of Washington, D.C., determined to make their voices heard. Among them was a young Black activist leading a small but passionate demonstration. “Trump is a fascist, and his administration is built on White supremacy,” he declared. “We are going to build a movement of resistance so strong that this regime will be unable to carry out its agenda.”
The comparison between Trump and Adolf Hitler has been widely debated. However, his appeal to nationalist sentiments, his embrace of far-right organizations such as the Proud Boys, and his inflammatory rhetoric targeting immigrants and people of color evoke chilling echoes of history. Fascism thrives on suppression of dissent and the consolidation of power under a single leader who portrays democratic institutions as fundamentally broken and in the case of Trump, institutions that betray the interests of White people.
Trump’s America is one where racial and social divisions are deepening, where fear and resentment drive policy decisions, and where the gains of the civil rights movement are under direct assault. His presidency is not an anomaly⸺it is a reflection of a nation that has yet to fully reckon with slavery, the defeat of the South in the Civil War, and its inability to commit to a just future for Black America.
Where Do We Go From Here?
January 20, 2025, will be remembered as a day of reckoning⸺a day when America reaffirmed her allegiance to a leader who has repeatedly sought to undermine democratic norms, attack marginalized communities, and sow division. It was also a day that forced many Americans to confront a very uncomfortable truth: America was never going to change without a fight.
For Black Americans, for immigrants, for the LGBTQ+ community, for every group that has been labeled an enemy of Trump’s America, the stakes are higher than ever. The question is no longer about whether America will uphold her democratic ideals, but whether those who believe in justice and equality will organize, resist, and build a future that truly represents all of America.
Trump’s presidency is not just a political reality; it is a challenge. The fight for just America is not over. It is only just beginning.
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