Dear Mr. President,

On the night of the 2016 election, I was eight years old and was sitting on my couch, intently watching the news with my family. Although I didn’t know much about the policies each major candidate had, I was so happy that there was a democratic woman on the ballot — someone who could represent me. Being eight years old, I went to bed early with the biggest feeling of hope in my chest. The next morning, I asked my dad who won. His only reply was, “He did,” with a look of solemnity on his face that I’d never seen before. You won.

The night of the 2024 election, I was 15 years old and was sitting on my couch, intently watching the news with my family. Again, I was filled with so much hope, with the hope that a woman could win, with the hope that everything would be normal again. As state after state was called, the feeling of assurance was slowly replaced by pure dread. Further and further I plunged into the what-ifs.

I can’t even describe the day after. There was a look. I saw it on everyone’s faces, in their actions, in their words. The only thing that came to the surface was why. I was grasping for a reason, a purpose for someone so evil to be allowed to gain so much power. I wanted to be so angry at you, at the system, at the people that would have voted for you; but I couldn’t bring myself to be. I was just scared. I am scared. There was no longer justice or fairness in the world the day you became the President-Elect.

Mr. President, I’ve been wondering for a long time about what I would say to you if I had the chance. I would like to say I would scream, curse and argue, but I’m not so sure anymore. If she could see the news, eight-year-old me would ask, “Why?” Why have you decided to remove necessary programs for people’s survival? Why are you filled with so much hate? Why won’t you listen?

I’ve told myself things won’t return to how they were; it would be impossible. My grandfather was rejected from jobs, college clubs and social groups because of his religion. There would be no way I would share the same experiences as him, right? Well, the future isn’t looking so bright.

I will congratulate you for following through on one promise, though, especially seeing as that’s usually difficult for you. You have changed the United States and made it ‘great again,’ in your eyes. People keep telling themselves we were never going back, yet here we are, with an income gap nearing that of the French before their revolution in 1788. We have gone back, and in your eyes, you have made the country great again.

I fail to comprehend how someone could be so cruel, how someone could have so much hate in their soul. Doesn’t it get exhausting at some point? I try not to look at the news, just to keep some hope and sanity. The daily ping from the New York Times stops that. It voids it.

I look forward to the night of the 2028 election because I will be sitting on my couch, with my family, intently watching the news. I look forward to it because you can’t run again. I would ask you to please reconsider your actions, but I think that you are too far in even to consider that.

Sincerely,
A terrified high school student.