Reminder: Facing the Consequences of Voting Trump

American voters are an ignominiously fickle lot, rebounding from one party to another on a whim – every two years – sometimes on flimsy rationale.

This time, they have led us into this troubling dilemma through dangerous complacency, electing Trump as president. To be forewarned is to be forearmed. They ignored the unmistakable warnings echoed by voices across the political spectrum, from Republicans to Democrats and independents, not to elect Donald Trump for a second term. With Trump’s indiscriminate mass layoffs in the federal government and other harsh policies, hitting both red and blue states – more red states- voters are confronting the consequences of their preferential voting, whether they like it or not. 

Most concerned Americans feared returning Trump to the White House would erode all democratic norms and institutions because Trump's second-term bid was driven more by a desire for retribution against political opponents than by a commitment to serving all Americans. As events have unfolded, it’s clear these concerns were valid, with profound implications for our democracy.

As a keen observer of American politics, I was struck by a recent Washington Post poll from February 13 to 18, 2025, revealing that 54 percent of Americans wanted more Democrats in office. Additionally, respondents in the survey expressed a desire for Democrats to control Congress in the upcoming session to serve as a check on the president. Fifty-five percent in the polls say Trump has failed to address their most important problems. Another 54 percent said they are pessimistic or afraid as they look ahead to the remainder of Trump’s second term. Can anyone tell me what’s going on here?

Furthermore, 83 percent of Americans disapproved of Trump’s pardoning of the criminals who attacked the Capitol, and more than half did not approve of his handling of the economy. Another 54 percent, a significant portion, said they disliked his federal government management, indicating widespread dissatisfaction with his governance.

Moderate Voices of America (MVA)

It Is the America Voters, Stupid!

Trump Voters, Ready to Penalize Republican Dissenters

American voters are an ignominiously fickle lot, rebounding from one party to another on a whim – every two years – sometimes on flimsy rationale. This time, they have led us into this troubling dilemma through dangerous complacency, electing Trump as president. To be forewarned is to be forearmed. They ignored the unmistakable warnings echoed by voices across the political spectrum, from Republicans to Democrats and independents, not to elect Donald Trump for a second term. With Trump’s indiscriminate mass layoffs in the federal government and other harsh policies, hitting both red and blue states – more red states- voters are confronting the consequences of their preferential voting, whether they like it or not. 

Most concerned Americans feared returning Trump to the White House would erode all democratic norms and institutions because Trump's second-term bid was driven more by a desire for retribution against political opponents than by a commitment to serving all Americans. As events have unfolded, it’s clear these concerns were valid, with profound implications for our democracy.

As a keen observer of American politics, I was struck by a recent Washington Post poll from February 13 to 18, 2025, revealing that 54 percent of Americans wanted more Democrats in office. Additionally, respondents in the survey expressed a desire for Democrats to control Congress in the upcoming session to serve as a check on the president. Fifty-five percent in the polls say Trump has failed to address their most important problems. Another 54 percent said they are pessimistic or afraid as they look ahead to the remainder of Trump’s second term. Can anyone tell me what’s going on here?

Furthermore, 83 percent of Americans disapproved of Trump’s pardoning of the criminals who attacked the Capitol, and more than half did not approve of his handling of the economy. Another 54 percent, a significant portion, said they disliked his federal government management, indicating widespread dissatisfaction with his governance.

Trump Has Highest Disapproval of Any Newly Elected President in History

It's difficult to believe how quickly things are falling apart. A CNN poll by SSRS released in late February 2025 revealed that 52 percent of U.S. adults disapprove of Trump's return to the Oval Office. Even regarding inflation—the key issue during Trump's election—he is disappointing many Americans who have not seen any positive financial changes. Trump has started to distance himself from the ever-rising inflation, stating, "I have nothing to do with that," and blaming his predecessor for the consistently high cost of living. However, the reality is that many Americans who voted for him are still facing rising grocery prices, which starkly contrasts with Trump's promises during his campaign.

Overall, 62 percent of the public believes that Trump has not done enough to decrease the costs of goods. This sentiment is even more pronounced among Democrats, with 73 percent expressing dissatisfaction and 65 percent of independents feeling the same. The weight of public opinion is evident, with even 47 percent of Republicans agreeing that Trump has not done enough to fight inflation. Surprisingly, when we look at the ideological divide, 74 percent of self-identified liberals say Trump has not done far enough to lower prices, and 65 percent of moderates and 50 percent of conservatives say the same, according to the CNN poll.

It is perplexing to witness such a significant shift in sentiment within just one month of the next presidential election, which is 48 months away. This approach appears to undermine the principles of responsible and conscientious democracy, raising concerns about its effectiveness and integrity. Indeed, American voters can do and must do better.

An informed voter understands a candidate and their policies, recognizing their impact on society's well-being. When one part of society struggles, we all feel the consequences. Unfortunately, many Americans base their vote solely on party affiliation and ideology, often overlooking the importance of collective well-being, which leads to misguided decisions that ultimately harm us all.

Donald Trump openly admires Vladimir Putin, a clear adversary of the United States, whom he has often praised and trusted. He ordered his Defense Secretary to halt all offensive cyber and information operations against Russia, making the U.S. more susceptible to potential Russian attacks. Trump intends to reverse all economic embargoes against Russia, resuscitating Russia’s economic influence and competition with the U.S. As Putin aims to rebuild the Russian empire, Trump plans to dimmish the U.S. superpower status, rendering it a second fiddle to Russia and surrendering the U.S. to Russia. So, why is Donald Trump propping up an indisputable U.S. adversary? This question is for everyone to answer, genuinely devoid of party or ideological affiliation.

Alarmingly, 81 percent of Americans do not trust Vladimir Putin, perceiving him as a serious threat to our national interests. This profound divide prompts urgent questions about President Trump's loyalty—whether it lies with the American people or with Putin. Thus, any American president must prioritize our nation's interests, not those of adversaries. Trump's behavior, among other detestable things, such as firing all 17 inspector generals (IGs) responsible for preventing corruption, waste, and abuse of office within the federal government without complying with the Constitution, raises the possibility of impeachable offenses, especially if Congress were to act impartially and uphold the values of our democracy.

Today, our nation stands at a crossroads, facing the threat of an emerging autocracy following the American electorate's election of Donald Trump as president. Trump is overreaching his legal authority by the day, undermining the checks and balances established by the Constitution to impose his severe policies. Federal courts have ruled his actions unconstitutional, thus halting their enforcement. However, it is a matter of time before Trump begins defying the courts as his supporters have advocated overstepping the judicial branch.

The Republican-led U.S. Congress has ceded its constitutional authority to Donald Trump. The fear of a primary challenge from the Trump MAGA base at home has led Republicans to abandon their role in maintaining checks and balances on the executive branch, allowing Trump to run wild. Even when the public interest is at risk, they comply with Trump's demands to preserve their seats in Congress. That’s not how Democracy is sustained. It is indeed a doomed proposition.

A recent Pew Research poll highlights widespread concern about presidential power from January 27 to February 2, 2025. A striking 65 percent of respondents believe granting Donald Trump more authority would be "too risky," while 78 percent feel any increase in presidential power threatens our democracy. If voters had elected a divided Congress to check Trump's impulsive decision-making, disregard for political norms, and penchant for dismantling our democratic institutions, America would be in a better place today.

I strongly encourage American voters to think carefully before granting complete control of both branches of government to any single political party, particularly one that exhibits autocratic tendencies. In the last election, it would have been wiser to divide power between the executive and legislative branches to attain a balanced approach to governance. However, altering the power structure in the upcoming midterm elections can never come too late. It's time voters realized their power and took responsibility for shaping their future.

We must protect our democracy at all costs, including against ever–changing, mundane expectations such as inflation, border security, etc. Thus, if you lose Democracy, you lose everything else.

The world is watching!

Please visit our website to read more informative articles:

 www.moderatevoices.org

Nicholas A. Owoyemi, CFA, (Author)

Moderate Voices of America (MVA)

30 Wall Street, 8th Floor

New York, NY 10005

(212) 406-1958

info@moderatevoices.org 

×