How did Donald Trump ascend to the presidency? This question lingers in the minds of many Americans as he campaigns for re-election. In his inaugural address, he vowed,

I will never ever let you down

As we reflect on his tenure, we must ask: has he upheld this commitment? What implications would another four years of Trump have for our country and the world at large?

Next month, we will exercise a fundamental democratic right: voting in a fair election. Unfortunately, disinformation campaigns have sought to undermine our trust in the electoral process.

It’s unrealistic to expect individuals without a political background to sift through the overwhelming amount of information available. While I'm not a political analyst, I've had the chance to closely observe the significant events occurring in our country recently, which may not be on everyone’s radar.

An Unfortunate Crisis The COVID-19 pandemic and the government's inadequate response have exposed systemic inequalities in America related to race, gender, and socioeconomic status. If there's a silver lining, it’s that this crisis might prompt Americans to question whether this administration genuinely prioritizes public welfare. The president downplayed the virus, shifted responsibility to state governors, and urged them to reopen businesses prematurely, all for the sake of a favorable economic outlook before the election. He dismissed public health experts and even suggested dangerous remedies, such as disinfectant injections. His stance against mask-wearing has further complicated our response to the virus, leading to over 225,000 American deaths during his administration.

Do not be afraid of Covid

He remarked, all while healthcare workers were overwhelmed and risking their lives. His administration has stifled pandemic response efforts at every turn. As case numbers rise again, he remains indifferent, even as he targets the nation’s leading pandemic expert.

Recently, the announcement of delays in additional unemployment benefits and eviction protections has put millions of Americans at risk of financial ruin, unable to afford basic necessities.

The Trump Reality Show Donald Trump has kept his reality show, The Apprentice, alive over the past four years. The latest season began on June 16, 2015, and continues to unfold. The most recent episode took place at Walter Reed.

In a moment of humanity, I felt a pang of sympathy when he revealed his positive COVID test, despite my son's admonitions about why we should feel compassion for a man who, as Anand Giridharadas noted,

hosted a super-spreader event to honor a justice who would deny healthcare to the very people he himself would rely on.

For Trump, anyone who obstructs his path is deemed an adversary—be it the FBI, whistleblowers, or the media.

He has severely undermined America's credibility on the global stage, fostering relationships with autocrats while alienating allies. His administration has pardoned war criminals and has made shocking comments about fallen soldiers. Trump's America has not only closed its borders to the needy but has also separated thousands of migrant children from their families.

Following the infamous 2017 rally in Charlottesville, Trump further inflamed tensions by equating white supremacists with peaceful protestors. This is part of a broader trend, as far-right domestic terrorism has escalated dramatically. The DHS identified white supremacist groups as the primary terror threat in its 2020 assessment. Even if he isn’t directly responsible for this surge, he has done little to curb it, famously telling extremists to "stand back and stand by."

During the Trump presidency, hate crimes have not been met with calls for unity but have instead deepened divisions. His inflammatory tweets have incited dangerous actions, such as a foiled plot to kidnap Michigan's governor.

The Divided States of America Graham Wilson, a political science professor at Boston University, remarked on the deep divisions within our nation:

This is an extremely divided nation. There are really antagonistic, deeply felt divisions...

Neither the presidency nor the Senate currently reflect the will of the American populace. The Republican majority in the Senate represents 15 million fewer people than the Democratic minority, with some states having disproportionate representation. Notably, Puerto Rico and Washington D.C., with a combined population of around 4 million, lack Senate representation altogether.

In the last two decades, despite a Democrat winning the popular vote in four out of five elections, Republicans have occupied the presidency for 12 years due to the Electoral College system, which often skews representation in favor of less populous, more conservative states.

In response, 15 states and D.C. have joined the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact, pledging to award electoral votes based on the national popular vote. However, this initiative requires more states to join before it takes effect.

Currently, Trump's legal teams are already strategizing for post-election maneuvers that could potentially undermine the vote count in key battleground states, where Republicans control the legislature. This winner-take-all system is not mandated by law or the Constitution, and state legislatures may exploit this ambiguity. If no candidate secures 270 electoral votes, the election could be decided by the House, where Republicans hold a majority.

However, if Trump loses decisively, these plans might be thwarted.

The Importance of Down-Ballot Elections Elections are often viewed through the lens of the presidency, but state and local races are equally critical. In 2018, Florida voted to restore voting rights to 1.5 million ex-felons, a significant victory. Yet, in 2019, the state legislature passed a law requiring ex-felons to pay outstanding fees before they could vote again, effectively disenfranchising many.

Though a federal court deemed this law unconstitutional, the ruling was overturned by the U.S. Court of Appeals, with a majority of judges appointed by Trump. This highlights the significant role legal battles will play leading up to the presidential election and how they can hinder voter access for Democrats.

Additionally, Trump is poised to replace a liberal Supreme Court justice with a conservative one, potentially allowing him to appoint a quarter of the federal judiciary and a third of the Supreme Court.

If the head of the household plays the tambourine, the household will be in the habit of dancing.

Our Unfettered Commander in Despair Trump's legal and financial issues propel him toward autocratic tendencies, desperate to cling to power. He has suggested he might refuse to leave office peacefully if not re-elected. This situation underscores the importance of his potential Supreme Court appointment.

To achieve this, he is sowing seeds of doubt regarding the election's legitimacy. A recent Harvard study found that spikes in discussions about voter fraud often correlate with Trump's statements. Currently, there are over 300 ongoing legal disputes across at least 44 states concerning mail-in voting.

In June 2020, the Transition Integrity Project brought together experts to simulate various election day scenarios, revealing alarming potential outcomes, including violence and chaos.

A peaceful transfer of power is vital for the survival of American democracy, and it raises the question: if Trump fails to fulfill this duty, who will ensure the electorate's will is respected?

Promises Made and Broken Despite his campaign's anti-establishment rhetoric and promises to "drain the swamp," Trump's administration has been marked by the appointment of billionaires and Wall Street elites to key positions. As Norm Eisen observed,

The president said, ‘I’m going to drain the swamp’, and he threw the floodgates open to the alligators.

Numerous officials from his administration have faced legal troubles, highlighting a pattern of ethical violations unlike any previous president.

Moreover, Trump promised to revamp the nation's infrastructure, claiming he was the only one capable of doing so. Yet, substantial progress in this area remains elusive.

The ASCE releases an "Infrastructure Report Card" every four years, and in 2017, the nation received a dismal grade of D+. After four years of Trump, one can only speculate what the next grade might be.

In his inauguration speech, Trump painted a bleak picture of a divided America, stating,

This American carnage stops right here and stops right now

Now, almost four years later, his presidency is defined by turmoil. He continues to instill fear, claiming he alone can restore order, despite widespread protests following George Floyd's death.

While many protests remained peaceful, Trump's response escalated tensions, deploying federal troops to cities like Portland under the guise of restoring order. This move prompted calls from governors and mayors for the removal of federal forces.

In a striking incident, Trump threatened military action against American citizens, even as police used tear gas against peaceful demonstrators so he could stage a photo-op outside a church.

As we approach our nation's 250th anniversary, there are legitimate concerns about the state of our democracy. The divisions within our society have deepened, and listening to one another has become increasingly rare.

In stark terms, America feels like it’s struggling to stay afloat, passed from one administration to the next without ever truly rising above the surface. If maintaining the status quo is now seen as a victory, we should not be surprised by our current predicament.

Will America endure this troubled democratic process? Thankfully, unlike authoritarian regimes, we still have a free press.

Moreover, federal law enforcement agencies are actively working to counter Trump's attempts to undermine the electoral process. While we cannot relax, we can take comfort in knowing that our right to vote is being diligently protected.

Ultimately, it is up to each of us to advocate for the necessary changes, however small, to elect leaders who will help us reclaim a shared vision for our future. As Ella Baker wisely stated,

Give light, and people will find the way

In regard to your promise to never let the American people down, Mr. President, many of us feel profoundly let down.