The 2024 Presidential race has concluded with Donald Trump winning the electoral vote and popular vote over Kamala Harris.

This election cycle has been historical on multiple levels. Set to begin his second term in office next year, Trump will be only the second president in American history to serve two nonconsecutive terms. On the opposing side of the podium, Kamala Harris joined the running for president late after Joe Biden dropped out of the race just three months before Election Day. The last time a candidate dropped out of the race for re-election was in 1968.

Following the election, many people including students have taken to social media to voice their opinions. Many people across the country have been posting on apps like Instagram, X, and TikTok to express how they feel about Trump winning. Some extreme posts include people threatening to leave the country, and people believing crazy things will happen to the country now that he is back in charge. Others include those that support him whole-heartedly and think this decision is best for the country.

We as a staff believe that although tensions between political parties have been amping up for the past couple of elections, it is important to remember that the election happens in order to elect a leader who will unite the country and lead it successfully. Regardless of how someone’s ideas match up to those of the presidential nominee, backlash against whoever wins is not helpful. When people protest and give backlash against the winner, it only creates more divide within the country. The goal of electing presidents is to create unity, and the retaliation that took place four years ago provides no benefit for our country.

In order to efficiently run a democracy, peace needs to be kept at the core. Since the election, relations between Trump, Harris, and even Biden have appeared friendly and supportive, which is the way we as citizens should act and treat each other. Regardless of opinions, we are all U.S. citizens who want one thing: to see our country succeed. We may have different ideas on how to get there and different preferences for leadership, but at the end of the day, we all want to see our country thrive. The first step to get this done is to accept the decision that the country has come to and to make the best out of the next four years rather than pitting ourselves against one another.