Good Afternoon Mr Njie, and thank you for last night’s program. I’d like to submit this writing to AG Radio and Newspaper if you’d consider it for publication as a follow up from yesterday’s program.
The divisive impact of Trump’s influence on politics is clear, as it even affected our conversation last night. The divide between the Republicans and Democrats couldn’t be starker: the Republican camp, led by Trump, often promotes messages laced with racism, insults, and negativity. In contrast, Democrats generally focus on unity, hope, and a constructive outlook. Trump’s first term was not just a setback for the U.S. but for the ideals of democracy itself. Electing a deeply flawed leader has consequences, often unintended and far-reaching, especially when decisions are made with a narrow focus on specific issues rather than the bigger picture.
The American democratic system itself seems flawed; if it weren’t, both Al Gore and Hillary Clinton, who won the popular vote, would have been presidents. The Electoral College—unpopular among the majority—coupled with lobbying, unlimited campaign contributions, and an interpretation of free speech that allows misinformation and insults, has undermined democracy, turning it into a system where anything goes. This has created one of the least ideal forms of democracy.
The recent Supreme Court decision that presidents might have immunity from criminal accountability for actions during their term is troubling, not just for the U.S. but for the world. Imagine a leader with unchecked power, access to nuclear weapons, and the ability to sign orders without constraint—that’s a frightening scenario for those who grasp the stakes.
Trump’s rise in the polls and his party’s stronghold in both houses reflect a wider shift, where recent elections globally have leaned right due to inflation and the cost-of-living crisis. Right-wing politicians exploit these issues, often scapegoating immigrants and downplaying centrist policies. Many Americans, like voters worldwide, are guided by financial hardship, but without recognizing these challenges are global—from COVID to ongoing wars—rather than stemming from U.S. policy alone. Despite America’s economic resilience, Trump’s campaign has consistently painted the economy in a negative light, playing on fear with accusations against immigrants, even claiming absurd things like migrant-driven pet consumption in Ohio. Such statements go unchallenged, laughed off, and normalized.
Trump’s rhetoric around mass deportations should be particularly concerning for African nations. It’s hard to understand the support for Trump from African, and particularly Gambian, voters given his hostile stance toward Africa, Black people, and immigrants. Even if people don’t vote on moral grounds, rational thinking should guide them to see what’s at stake.
Research shows that many right-wing voters without a college education are easier to influence—a fact Trump recognized early on. Driven by my personal values and beliefs, I could never support a candidate so openly tyrannical, dishonest, and dismissive of democratic norms. Trump was handed a thriving economy by Obama but ran up the federal debt by $7.8 trillion in four years, mainly through tax cuts for the richest 1%. He even tried dismantling Obamacare, which benefits over 50 million Americans, solely because it’s associated with Obama.
Trump has openly threatened to use the Department of Justice and the National Guard against his opponents, prompting emergency Pentagon meetings following his election win. Given his and his party’s control over the branches of government, his threats could very well materialize.
I would rather abstain from voting than cast a vote for a convicted felon, a misogynist, and a man with over 90 indictments. Trump’s mass deportation promises would devastate the African continent, especially Gambia, while harming the U.S. economy, particularly in sectors like agriculture, construction, and manufacturing. Trump is poised to be the face of America’s decline, and for that, I say thank you, Mr. Donald Trump.
By Saul Jawara
