“Are you all up?”
Sitting alone in my room, I kept refreshing The Associated Press 2024 election map on my phone. The only way I knew how to escape the tense, unbearable wait was to reach out.
One by one, I messaged each of my close friends, asking if they were following the election. And one by one, they all responded with what felt like an answer I’d heard a thousand times before: “Yes.”
Millions of young people across the nation watched as their country made the ultimate decision: four years back or forward. For many of us, this moment felt familiar, a replay of an election where the stakes were nothing less than the most fundamental of human rights and the hope that our nation would vote to protect them.
Reproductive rights, LGBTQ+ protections, economic prosperity, the crisis in Gaza and perhaps most personal of all, whether our nation is informed enough to pay attention.
As I sat glued to my phone, refreshing the election results and reaching out to friends, the weight of these issues felt overwhelming. We had been here before, watching and waiting, hoping for an outcome that would safeguard our future. But this time, it felt different. This time, one person knew exactly how to play the game.
On Nov. 16, I will light a candle and blow away the years of youth I’ve completed. Half of which has been spent in a still position, watching and learning as the political landscape shifted and evolved.
I remember the first time Trump ran, how his unpredictable strategies shocked everyone and changed the game. But this time, things are different. Trump is no longer the outsider; he’s the candidate who knows exactly how to maneuver through the chaos, using the lessons from his past campaign and presidency to shape this moment. And no matter what side of the political landscape you are on, what can’t be ignored is this: Trump is no longer the candidate we thought couldn’t win. He is now not only the candidate who can, but the one America has chosen.
What makes Trump’s approach so unique this time is that he hasn’t perfected a singular strategy or stance, and that is precisely his perfection.
Trump stands for everything and nothing at once, creating the ideal candidate for people to project their fears onto. He’s become a vessel, a mirror reflecting what people fear most, rather than a leader offering a clear vision for what the future could hold. This adaptability, or perhaps ambiguity, means he can shape-shift to fit whatever narrative his supporters need at the moment, allowing them to rally not for an ideal world but against the worst-case scenarios they dread.
In 2016, Trump’s unpredictability was seen as a weakness. But over the years, he’s harnessed this trait, using it as a tool to connect with various groups who see him as the answer to their specific anxieties. Unlike candidates who present a well-defined vision, Trump’s approach means he can sidestep policy traps, switch positions without alienating his core base, and create a campaign that thrives on emotional reactions rather than concrete promises. This flexibility makes him a formidable opponent, especially when voters are motivated by fear and a desire to prevent their deepest worries from becoming reality.
The impact on young people, especially those like me who have come of age during Trump’s political era, is profound.
We’ve now experienced what it feels like to fight against a candidate who is like fighting air; you don’t quite get to see what you are up against. As we watched the results roll in, many are left with a disconcerting realization: we don’t truly know who has just been elected. Trump’s lack of a solid stance means we are unsure of what his presidency will look like, even after years of him being a prominent figure in our lives.
For half of my life, I’ve been resisting and rallying against someone who I seem to know less the longer he is present. Trump’s ambiguity has created an atmosphere where people are not choosing between clear policies or visions but reacting out of instinct and fear. This environment fosters a sense of disconnection and frustration; we’re left questioning what we are really up against and how to prepare for what’s next. The uncertainty isn’t just about policies, it’s about the foundation of what this leadership represents.
The recent fact that Trump stated he would not support a national abortion ban may have seemed reassuring at first, but the outcome of the 2024 election has shifted that sense of security.
This should not be the current worry of young girls in America, but it can become one overnight. The reversal of Roe v. Wade in 2022 was a sharp reminder of how quickly rights can be revoked, leaving millions without guaranteed access to safe reproductive health care. Our sisters, daughters and mothers are left to navigate a landscape that can shift without warning.
In the 2024 elections, voters in states like Arizona, Colorado, Maryland, Missouri, Montana, Nevada and New York approved measures to protect reproductive rights and enshrined abortion access within their state constitutions. While this progress is significant, it underscores a deeper issue: women do not deserve more rights in New York than in Indiana or any other state. Reproductive rights should be uniformly protected, not treated as privileges that change depending on geography.
The election results have amplified concerns beyond reproductive rights, extending to LGBTQ+ protections.
While there may not be a clear proposed national threat from Trump’s campaign, what’s beneath the surface is far more unsettling. Recent years have demonstrated how state-level initiatives, such as Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay” bill and laws restricting gender-affirming care for transgender youth, can erode rights incrementally. With Trump now set to lead the nation again, the ambiguity surrounding his platform leaves room for such policies to potentially gain momentum at the federal level. This underlying risk creates a climate of anxiety for LGBTQ+ individuals and their allies, who are left questioning when and how their hard-won rights might be undermined.
The crisis in Gaza highlights how hidden threats in foreign policy can lead to severe consequences. The American public continues to wake up with blood on their hands by association, as billions in aid to Israel enable military actions that have led to significant civilian casualties and destruction. With Trump as the president-elect, concerns about continued U.S. involvement and complicity in these outcomes deepen, raising questions about how humanitarian crises will be handled and what moral cost this will have on America’s global standing.
These issues illustrate that the most significant threats are often those not spoken aloud. With Trump’s return to power, the election isn’t just about what was promised or discussed; it’s about recognizing and responding to what’s lurking beneath the surface. For young people and all those invested in safeguarding rights and stability, this is a pivotal moment to stay vigilant and protect against the quiet erosion of progress.
The concerns surrounding reproductive rights, LGBTQ+ protections and international humanitarian issues are not just distant political battles; they are realities that shape our communities and futures. The 2024 election results are a wake-up call. Supporting organizations like the ACLU, Planned Parenthood and the Human Rights Campaign is crucial to protect reproductive and LGBTQ+ rights. Donating to these organizations or finding local advocacy groups in your community helps strengthen the fight for equal rights everywhere.
Don’t be fooled, these four years are not yet decided.
That is Trump’s superpower: keeping people guessing and leveraging ambiguity to his advantage. To fight back, we must learn to do what we have yet to do, be consistent. Staying engaged doesn’t end with casting a vote; it requires vigilance, advocacy and a commitment to the causes that impact us all. Through these next four years, you must keep your eyes open because when you are standing at that voting booth in 2028, you must remember why it matters.
