On November 5, 2024, the United States had a crucial decision to make, and unfortunately, we missed an opportunity. Not only that, but in the process, we set a dangerous precedent.
Instead of electing the country’s first Black woman and person of South Asian descent into office, we chose an elderly white man who has been convicted of 34 felony counts. This election raises troubling questions about our nation’s standards for leadership.
What does it say about us when the most powerful position in the United States is held by someone with a significant criminal record? How were Americans able to overlook these serious convictions when casting their ballots?
It’s hard to understand why criminal charges, especially felonies, were ignored when selecting a leader. This decision speaks volumes about our current political climate and reflects a willingness among many to prioritize policy preferences over legal integrity.
Early Wednesday morning, former president Donald Trump was elected president of the United States after winning the battleground state of Wisconsin, securing the necessary 270 electoral votes. Vice President Harris earned 224 electoral votes.
Electing a convicted felon to the White House sets an uncomfortable precedent, suggesting that criminal records may no longer be disqualifying for public office. While we saw a glimpse of this in 2008 when Alaska Senator Ted Stevens remained in office despite a conviction on seven felony counts, the 2024 election opens the door to potentially wider implications.
If a candidate with 34 felony counts can hold the nation’s highest office, who is to say that a local mayor, governor, or even a city council member convicted of a crime couldn’t be elected? Is this really the path we want our country to take?
The election of former president Donald Trump, despite his convictions, reveals deep divisions in the way Americans view leadership and accountability. For many voters, policy outweighed criminal charges. Some may have believed that his legal troubles were politically motivated due to a distrust of institutions. Regardless of the motivations behind this decision, it raises difficult questions about the character we value in our leaders.
We can only wonder about the long-term impact this will have on the character and reputation of the United States. Only time will tell if this was a mistake.
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