The “Make America Great Again” campaign led by GOP presidential candidate Donald Trump is reaching new heights as results of the U.S. primaries continue to roll in week after week. Despite his growing popularity in states such as Arizona and Mississippi, many individuals have expressed deep concern for the future of the country if Trump is elected president.
Several of his campaign rallies have spun out of control — in one incident, a Black man was sucker punched by a white Trump supporter, and in a separate event, Chicago residents, both minorities and non-minorities, helped shut down a scheduled rally in their city. Outside the local chaos, many U.S. residents have called Trump racist and sexist, and his word choice has often been criticized. The candidate has said on record statements such as, “When Mexico sends its people, they’re not sending the best. They’re not sending you, they’re sending people that have lots of problems, and they’re bringing those problems to us. They’re bringing drugs. They’re bringing crime. They’re rapists … And some, I assume, are good people;” “One of the key problems today is that politics is such a disgrace. Good people don’t go into government;” and “Our great African-American president hasn’t exactly had a positive impact on the thugs who are so happily and openly destroying Baltimore!”
Statements such as these have sparked the idea of Americans packing their bags and moving out of the country to Canada. In a recent survey conducted by Vox.com, 28 percent of Americans claimed they’ll move to Canada should Donald Trump win the presidency.
Despite those remarks and concerns, Trump supporters admire him for his honesty, wit and outgoing personality. The Indianapolis Recorder Newspaper spoke with a variety of individuals about their stance on the presidential candidate.
Too Black, spoken word artist
“(He is) a racist, sexist, xenophobic and potentially fascist dictator who tapped into a sentiment among poor and working class whites that they are losing their footing. ‘Make America Great Again’ implies their country is being taken away from them by ‘others.’ These others are Muslims, gays, women, Latinos and Blacks — essentially anyone who isn’t a straight, white man. Trump speaks their language. He makes their whiteness feel whole again. He reminds them they deserve better. Ironically, they actually do, but unfortunately, white supremacy with a face-lift isn’t better. Still, that’s what Trump is offering. This can’t all be blamed on Trump, because the Republican party has been stoking the same flames for years. Trump just does it better.”
Greg Meriwether, Indianapolis resident
“When I think of Donald Trump, my mind is upset and thankful all at the same time. Donald Trump has absolutely no business being the front-runner for the GOP. He is a rabble-rouser and a total PR nightmare. I believe he is a racist, but more toward the Hispanic community. This makes me believe before the Hispanic population grew to what it is now, he was equally racist toward the Black community. However, I am thankful for Donald Trump, because he is allowing the Blacks who thought racism was dead to see it is alive and stronger than ever. He is also exposing the hidden racism that looms over this country, while proving that we as Blacks were not just making up these stories about inequality and injustice.”
Ash Ogunleye, YouTube vlogger
“Donald Trump is a self-made multi-billionaire, meaning he can’t be bought off by big business; he’s got a long track record of success; he knows how to make deals; he has the connections to get the job done and all in all is the only candidate who I believe has the country’s best interests in mind. While most of my views on Trump can be found in my YouTube videos, I will state again that, while I personally will always take my destiny in my own hands, Trump is the only candidate who is willing to address the immigration issue head on. If Blacks are going to cry about jobs not being available or being given to someone else, it would be perfectly logical to support a candidate who’s willing to build a wall, keep the illegals from coming in to take these same jobs from Americans, and boot out the ones living here currently and make them come in the legal way like everyone else. The solutions he has proposed to this country will help, I believe, to ‘Make America Great Again’ and unite this country after so many years. Trump is a representation of the thing that can break the chains Democrats have had on minorities and the less fortunate for so long. The Establishment wants everyone divided for their own power gain. This is mostly why I believe there is so much resentment toward Trump. That and the fact there’re so many who simply see him as a threat to their free handouts. I have been ridiculed for being Black and supporting Trump, (but I) have never and will never back down from what I believe in. There are also many Blacks across the country who feel the same way.”
Rosnellys Perez, Indianapolis resident
“I stopped following the race, because I feel like it’s a joke at this point. Donald Trump makes a mockery out of this. I think he would literally destroy the USA if elected. He makes rude comments and threatens other candidates and citizens and is being praised for it. I believe his mission is to create chaos in the country, and he has achieved this before being elected. The comments he made about Mexicans were specifically hurtful to me as an immigrant. I’m not going to say that every immigrant is a saint, but not every American is a saint, either. He has such a disgusting idea of us, and it’s sad that so many people support and agree with him.”
Aaron Story, Indianapolis resident
“It’s scary to think this is a real potential option for presidential leadership. While we are shocked, perhaps we shouldn’t be. Politics are always divisive, and the recent trend toward sensationalism over reason and intelligence has brought the worst of our country to the surface. While by far this is the worst and scariest option of the group, I’m not too motivated about any of the front-runners on either side. We are a divided nation in need of deep, deep healing.”
Sarah Stoner, Indianapolis resident
“I think Ted Cruz would make an excellent candidate, but the reality is Donald Trump is dominating the primaries and will likely be the front-runner for the Republican Party. I have been in support of Trump for quite a while now. I appreciate that he isn’t afraid to speak out on controversial topics or voice his opinions and plans and that he has successful experience outside of the political world and therefore isn’t focused on saying what is simply politically correct. Many Americans are fed up with the empty promises and smooth-talking speeches made by politicians, so in that sense Trump is refreshing! Although I don’t agree with everything he does or says, I find myself feeling more and more confident that he can get the job done! I don’t need a president who is nice and happy and tolerant of everything. What I believe America needs is someone who will make things happen and turn our country around. Yes, he is a prideful man, but I also think there’s something significant to be said for someone willing and able to financially back up his campaign entirely,. I think he is stirring things up, and it may not always look pretty, but it might be what our country needs, at least in part. He did come out and say he does not endorse or encourage violence. Ultimately, my trust is not in any man but in Christ, and even as I might support one over another, I can rest assured that God is bigger and more capable of redeeming us as a country and people than anyone or anything else! God uses imperfect people to do great things.”
