Last night’s election results set the United States up for yet another four years of contention and political uncertainty, with Donald Trump reclaiming the presidency and JD Vance securing his position as vice president. While half of the country celebrates a Trump win, the other half is riddled with fear about what the next four years will look like—not only for Americans but for people around the globe. A Trump-Vance administration is prepared to implement policies that would roll back civil liberties, destroy international relationships and further restrict women’s autonomy. As we enter this next presidency, it is crucial to examine the real consequences their administration will have on human rights, gender equality and global stability.
Trump’s previous presidency included historic attempts to weaken civil rights protections, and there’s little evidence to argue that a second presidency wouldn’t be even worse. His administration rolled back key protections for LGBTQ+ individuals, allowing healthcare settings to discriminate based on sexual orientation. With an overwhelming conservative majority of Supreme Court Justices, coupled with an administration that would willingly amplify their efforts, restrictions for LGBTQ+ rights in schools and workplaces are seriously on the line. Vance, who has frequently expressed his conservative stance on the topic, aligns closely with policies targeting LGBTQ+ rights, pointing to the potential for these policies to become the norm under their administration.
Beyond LGBTQ+ rights, it’s critical to consider the genuine threat this administration poses to freedom of the press and freedom of expression. Trump has long criticized the media, labeling journalists as “enemies of the people” during his first presidency. This disdain for the media will only deepen during this second term, potentially encouraging laws that would restrict the freedom of the press or restrict the media that may negatively position him. With the support of the conservative media, Trump and Vance may be inclined to silence opposing opinions further, making free and fair journalism an increasingly endangered freedom in the United States.
For women, the stakes of this election result are, in effect, life-altering. With recent court rulings already denying and restricting access to abortion, a Trump-Vance administration may accelerate and increase the removals of reproductive rights. Trump’s last presidency afforded him the opportunity to completely reshape the Supreme Court, a change which made it possible for Roe v. Wade to get overturned. With the likely addition of more conservative justices, access to safe and legal abortions could become even more limited.
Vance, who has openly supported and pushed for “traditional family values,” is likely to support and propose policies that limit women’s bodily autonomy. This would make access to contraception, abortion services and reproductive healthcare difficult, if not impossible, for millions of women across the U.S. The continued loss of women’s reproductive rights will harm all women, including pro-life women who may never seek an abortion. The restrictions on women’s reproductive rights will mean that even if women are in medically life-threatening situations, assistance and intervention will be delayed until the last minute, endangering both her and the baby, in order for medical professionals to ensure they can’t be held legally liable for administering an abortion.
Reproductive rights aren’t the only thing on the line for women. Economic policies that may come out of this administration could impact gender pay equality and rights in the workplace. The tax cuts Trump so famously plans on implementing often benefit corporations and high-dollar earners, pushing middle and lower-class workers to the margins, many of whom are women. Programs specifically designed to support working women, like childcare funding, may face significant budget cuts, only adding to the existing barriers women striving for economic stability must overcome.
The results of this election are not limited to America’s borders; the rest of the world is more than likely to feel the effects of this administration. Trump’s “America first” plan will likely return, further isolating the country from its international allies and standing. During his previous term, Trump severely weakened U.S. global cooperation on climate change, international security and trade by withdrawing the United States–yet again–from the Paris Climate Accord Agreement and consistently publicly criticized NATO. A resurgence of these policies could leave the rest of the world scrambling to fill the vacant role left by the U.S. This would impact everything from environmental plans to collective global security measures, leaving the U.S. virtually alone.
More importantly, Trump’s cozy nature with authoritarian leaders like Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong-Un sends a concerning message to the rest of the world regarding where the country now stands. Trump’s second term may embolden these leaders to increase suppression of democratic movements and policies, as they know they’re less likely (if at all) to face any U.S. interference or opposition. With Vance and Trump’s nationalistic perspectives bouncing off each other, America could experience a historic sense of isolation. For nations that rely on U.S. support and relationships for human rights and assistance in governance, this administration could have detrimental consequences.
Trump and Vance’s victory poses a prominent risk for minority communities across the country. Throughout Trump’s previous presidency, federal policies were implemented and responsible for undercutting protections in housing, healthcare and education for people of color and immigrants in the U.S. Vance has, unsurprisingly, made controversial statements about immigration, calling for a “nationalist” response that would more than likely lead to stricter immigration policies and fewer protections for immigrant rights. These more stringent policies would come at a time when the U.S. immigration system is already broken, affording little protection or support for those seeking refuge and the chance at a better life. The immigration system in the United States has long experienced ridiculous waiting periods, inhumane detention centers and policies that leave immigrants wide open to abuse, making any additional restrictions by this new administration all the more harmful.
Recent efforts have been made to remove discussions of racial inequality from classrooms and workplaces. These efforts are likely to expand under this new administration, with critical race theory and initiatives focused on diversity potentially facing legislation at a national level. This may move the nation even farther away from addressing and acknowledging the system of inequality that exists–and has existed–within our country since its origin.
The results of this election could have been a moment of empowerment for everyone, sending the message to young people everywhere that anything is possible, no matter their gender. Instead, it sends the message to young men around the country and the world that they can abuse women, engage in political corruption and still rise to the top, virtually unchallenged and unpunished because they are apparently untouchable. As this new administration takes office, Americans have the opportunity and the responsibility to defend the democratic values this country was founded upon. The decisions we make will be the defining factor in determining the kind of legacy we leave behind.
