Donald Trump for President?

Would he be a good president?

Nivetha Aravindan

More stories from Nivetha Aravindan

Americans have different opinions regarding the business leader, reality television star, and now presidential candidate, Donald Trump. As of October 31, Trump is leading the Republican primary with 31 percent of the vote, according to the HuffPost Pollster. Trump is best known as the former host of reality game show “The Apprentice,” and as a wealthy businessman. Although Trump’s success as a businessman and television star has turned him into a billionaire, many are still not sure as to whether or not his possible presidency will be beneficial to the U.S., and the matter has been an ongoing debate among the American people.

Some say that Trump’s acquaintance with several business leaders could be beneficial to the United States. His confidence, negotiating skills, and his support for the free enterprise system excite his voter base. During his presidential announcement on June 16 Trumps had this to say. “Sadly the American dream is dead. But if I get elected president I will bring it back bigger and better and stronger than ever before.” Such a promise inevitably sounds compelling to many Americans.

However, there is an immense amount of negative feedback associated with the infamously blunt billionaire, who has made a number of derogatory comments about other nationalities. During his presidential announcement on June 16, Trump made some offending comments about Mexicans, stating that although there are some “good” Mexicans in America, many are criminals.

His confidence, negotiating skills, and his support for the free enterprise system excite his voter base.

— Nivetha Aravindan

“When Mexico sends its people, they are not sending their best. They are sending people that have lots of problems,” said Trump in his speech. “I don’t like Donald Trump” says Lorhena Antonio, Class of 2018, “because he has no value for immigrants. He wants (a wall built) all around the southern border. Simply, there is no need for that. Donald Trump is taking away all chances of people who aren’t U.S. citizens from having an education and a bright, successful future,” said Antonio.

Trump’s four previous filings for business bankruptcy also bring up questions as to whether or not he would be able to preserve the United States’ treasury if he were to be elected president. According to CNN Money, Trump declares that successful businesses frequently file for bankruptcies but this theory wouldn’t matter much to the country since there isn’t really a way for the U.S. government “to file for bankruptcy.”

Trump’s rude statements towards other politicians has also brought him a lot of negative attention. A September 2015 issue of Rolling Stone magazine publicized insulting comments that Trump made about one of the other Republican presidential candidates, Carly Fiorina, in which he stated, “Look at that face! Would anyone vote for that? Can you imagine that, the face of our next president?” According to the Huffington Post, Fiorina confidently replied to Trump’s offending remarks at the Federation of Republican Women in Arizona. “Ladies, look at this face. This is the face of a 61-year-old woman. I am proud of every year and every wrinkle,” said Fiorina

Trump also made some false and spiteful comments about President Obama. During the 2012 presidential election, he publicized rumors that the president was not a native born citizen, and referred to Obama as the worst president in the history of the United States during an appearance on the show Hannity in 2015. “I don’t like him because he’s very cocky and is not supportive of many groups of people,” says Jessica Barry, Class of 2018, voicing a concern many have about Donald Trump’s character.

All in all, Donald Trump has been a very candid and straightforward presidential candidate regarding his personal opinions. He has made his own, honest views widely known throughout his presidential campaign, reflecting some of Trump’s positive qualities, as well as his negative qualities. The debate regarding whether or not Trump would make a good chief executive continues, and if the Republican Party votes to nominate him for office, Americans will have to seriously consider whether he is fit to be President.