“I expected it to at least be close,” says Matt-Walton Scott ’25, sharing a reflection we found to be common within the Paideia community. While the polls also predicted a close presidential election, they turned out to be exceedingly off. Trump won every swing state and decidedly dominated the election with 312 electoral votes.
Additionally, Trump won the popular vote, making history as only the second Republican candidate to win the popular vote in this century. This represents a huge swing from 2020, when Joe Biden won the popular vote by eight million votes. This comes after Biden had one of the lowest presidential approval ratings since these ratings were first recorded in 1937. Trump will now be the second president to serve two non-consecutive terms in the White House, the other president being Grover Cleveland.
The day after the election, the atmosphere at Paideia was undoubtedly strange. Many classes took a break from the usual work and held discussions about students’ feelings. “School on Wednesday was undoubtedly bleak, I was naturally upset too,” says Emmanuele Gray ’25. “However, as someone who leads in spaces dealing with diversity, equity, and inclusion, I spent my time trying to comfort others and facilitate discussions. I feel as though Paideia is beginning to move forward as a community.”
Generally speaking, the Paideia community had a negative reaction to the election. “Speaking internationally, if Trump is going to bring the American empire to an end and a more isolationist form of government, I think that will be a good thing. If he continues to expand the American empire then that will be incredibly dangerous to the world,” says Ameha Fekade ’25. “He’s kind of a wild card on the international stage. However, on the domestic front, it will be catastrophic for the American people either way with his fascistic policies.”
However, not everyone in the community felt this way about the election: “To me, this election highlights what the country truly values and wants for the future. I’m happy with the outcome, as it feels aligned with what people have been voicing and working toward. It’s a strong reflection of our collective priorities and a hopeful step toward meaningful progress,” says Jeffery Miller ’25.
In addition to Trump winning the presidency, Republicans also now have a majority in the Supreme Court and both branches of Congress. This represents a dramatic change since 2020, when the Democrats controlled both the White House and Congress. On Jan. 20, the Trump inauguration will take place, and we will see what the future holds for our country.
