As Donald Trump approaches his second term as the president of the United States, he is about to make history in an unprecedented way by becoming America’s first convicted felon to serve in office. Trump was convicted on 34 felony counts, including the mishandling of security records, attempting to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election, and counts of sexual harassment and abuse.
Trump’s official prosecution began on April 15th, 2024, and concluded on May 30th, 2024, when he was convicted on all 34 charges. The conviction initially led many to believe Trump would face some form of punishment or legal repercussions; however, on Jan. 10th — just days before he was set to be inaugurated — Judge Juan Merchan dropped all 34 charges against Trump, clearing him of any further penalties. The decision, known as an “Unconditional Discharge,” means that Trump will not face jail time or probation, though the felony conviction remains on his legal record.
In his decision, Merchan clarified that the timing of Trump’s inauguration did not influence the decision. “Indeed, the sanctity of a jury verdict and the deference that must be accorded to it is a bedrock principle in our nation’s jurisprudence,” Merchan wrote in his official decision and order document.
This verdict has sparked controversy among American teenagers, many of whom did not have a say in the outcome of last year’s election. Community High School students voiced their stance on the recent decision and gave insight into how a non-voter sees the situation.
Sophomore Andrew Hadley spoke on the matter the day the judge’s decision was released; Hadley believed the fact that Trump was given immunity is a perfect example of the double standard between male and female candidates.
“I’m sure if a woman candidate ever even did half of what he did, she wouldn’t be in the conversation of running for president,” Hadley expressed.
Hadley predicted that Vice President Kamala Harris will continue to be prevalent in the world of politics, possibly running for president again in 2028.
“I don’t think Kamala Harris is going to be out of the conversation; she’ll probably be running for president again,” Hadley concluded.
Junior Ellie Fox discussed the bad image America seems to have, specifically with the French; Fox expects that besides the negative feedback, the U.S. will see support and empathy from other countries regarding Trump’s policies and plans for America. Fox reflected on how other nations responded to the overturning of Roe v. Wade, offering assistance to Americans who needed help.
“They see all this content and stuff online of people saying they don’t support this, and this is not America, and that a lot of our opinions are against this,” Fox said. “They start to feel bad for us and do all they can to help.”
Despite the controversy surrounding Trump’s presidency and conviction, CHS students remain optimistic about the future of the country. As Trump steps into his second term, his presidency will undoubtedly leave a mark on the nation. Whether viewed with support or skepticism, one thing is certain: we are living through a pivotal moment in history, and how the country responds will shape the political landscape for years to come.
