Students react to Trump’s victory and its impact

Photo courtesy: The Reuters

After Former President Donald Trump’s win over Vice President Kamala Harris in the 2024 Presidential Election, students at Florida A&M University and Florida State University have strong opinions about what this means for the country’s future. Some students are in favor of his win, while others are upset. 

Keyvion Andino, a FAMU senior studying elementary education, is excited about the possibility of change and believes Trump will bring back stability. Andino believes Trump’s victory could restore balance to America after years of what he describes as “off-balance” leadership. 

He also shared why he believes Trump’s victory could help restore balance to America after years of what he describes as “off-balance” leadership, arguing that Biden’s leadership has been ineffective. “We have a president who can’t even remember his name,” Andino said. 

For Andino, Trump’s leadership is a chance to bring order back to the country. He thinks Trump will focus on helping Americans first instead of what he sees as the wrong priorities under President Biden and Vice President Harris. 

Andino is upset about policies that he feels give too much help to undocumented immigrants, like giving them food stamps and free cell phones.“That could be going to people who are citizens and need it,” Andino said. 

Looking ahead, Andino is hopeful that Trump will change some of the rules made by Biden and Harris and bring more stability and balance to the country.

Oscar Jean, a senior graphic design student at FAMU, shared a more cautious perspective on the recent election results and the changes that may come under Trump’s leadership. While he acknowledges the uncertainty ahead, Jean believes it’s important for people to stay strong and not be shaken by the current challenges.

Jean reflects on the struggles minority communities faced throughout history, especially in times of leadership that may not always have the best interests at heart. “We’ve always kind of persevered through adversities,” Jean said. 

Jean admits that he is fearful of what changes could come, especially if policies that are currently being discussed are put into place. “I honestly just pray we make it through the storm,” Jean said. Despite his concerns, Jean remains hopeful.

For Jean, while the future feels uncertain, staying strong, united and hopeful is key to navigating whatever comes next.”It’s too soon to tell what’ll happen to us,” Jean says, adding that no matter what, Black people must keep faith and continue to push through difficult times, as they always have.

Ogheneteme Okotete, a master’s student in computer science at Florida State University, shares a thoughtful but balanced view of the situation. As an immigrant himself, he understands the concerns many people in his community have about Trump’s leadership, especially given his past statements and immigration policies.

“While some people believe Trump’s economic policies might help the country grow, there’s still a lot of fear among immigrants and marginalized groups,” Okotete said. “For many of us, it’s not just about the economy—it’s about worrying whether we’ll be able to stay in the country, if our families might get separated, or if our rights will be taken away.”

Despite his concerns, Okotete isn’t entirely negative about the future under Trump. He acknowledges that Trump’s policies might lead to growth in some areas of the economy, but he stresses the importance of policies that protect everyone, not just the privileged few.

“At the end of the day, stability is important, but not at the expense of fairness,” Okotete said. “We need a government that looks out for everyone, not just a select group. I hope that we can come together as a country and tackle the real issues we face, without letting fear and division control our future.”

As the country looks ahead to what a second term under Donald Trump might bring, students at Florida A&M University have different views on what this means for the future.