Incumbent Again: Trump’s Second Term Approaches

As the nation prepares for the inauguration of President Donald Trump, many students and faculty at Sacred Heart are reflecting on what this historic event could mean for the country. Their comments reveal the many hopes and apprehensions about this transition, from concerns about key policies to hopes for national unity.
Despite mixed opinions about the next four years, one student, Emily Xiao ‘26, expressed caution about Trump’s presidency, as his first four years were marked by significant changes to legislation concerning abortion rights. Xiao hopes that Trump will not “try to control interstate commerce too much, so that women from other states can still access abortions in states that allow it.” She also mentioned the Republican Party, which now has control of the House of Representatives and the Senate, and how she hopes that Trump “doesn’t use his advantage in the House and Senate to abuse his powers.”
On the other hand, Social Science Teacher Ms. Serene Williams — an AP US History, AP Comparative Government, and AP United States Government and Politics instructor — hopes to see “more student engagement” during Trump’s second term. Williams said she hopes her students will recognize that “individuals can impact the system,” as indicated by many big tech companies and businessmen who have each contributed to Trump’s historical inaugural fund of over $200 million. Williams also talked about how “businessmen [who] were critical of Trump during his first presidency… have changed,” referring to Mark Zuckerburg and even Trump’s vice president, JD Vance, because they “don’t want regulation,” which Trump has stated will be one of his first executive orders. Williams anticipates that Trump’s second presidency will have far “less resistance” than his first term — referring to the Women’s March in San Francisco, which was known for its protests in 2020 in response to President Trump’s appointment of Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court. This year, the march was canceled due to “burnout, rising costs, and [a] lack of volunteers.”
Turning her attention to broader governmental issues, Williams emphasized her strong opposition to the political divisiveness within the government, mentioning how “decreas[ing] polarization” is crucial to effectively pass legislation. She cited the recent Israel-Palestine ceasefire, in which both President Biden and President-elect Trump, who are known for holding opposing viewpoints, collaborated together to create a deal.
Williams also recognized the historical weight of this inauguration. Comparing the current era to the Gilded Age (1870-1890), Williams connected the influence of big businessmen then, such as Andrew Carnegie, to modern businessmen, like Elon Musk, who both played significant roles within the government. She also believes that this period of wealth inequality and political power likely “won’t end with constitutional amendments,” but that it’s a critical time for reflection and action.
In response to the recent fires in Los Angeles, Xiao and Williams provided a more hopeful response. While Xiao hoped that he would “have better disaster reparations for the Los Angeles community,” Williams also hoped that by addressing the concerns about the fires that many had, President Trump could instill a sense of “national unity” among Americans, regardless of partisan identification.
As the nation steps into a new chapter, students and faculty alike at SHP have affirmed the importance of being informed, engaged, and hopeful about the future. Williams suggests that we can determine how the next four years of President-elect Trump’s presidency will take shape by watching the inauguration and seeing the first executive orders,” which will set “the tone [of] his presidency.”