Donald Trump’s return to the presidency will be known as one of the great political comebacks of all time, and very well could precede a great comeback for our nation.
I have a mixed opinion of Donald Trump personally, and I think many Utahns feel the same. I wasn’t excited when he announced his third presidential run, and I voted for Nikki Haley in the Republican primary. But his campaign earned more than 75 million votes in part by turning skeptical voters like me into enthusiastic supporters. Trump earned more votes nearly everywhere than he had in 2016 and 2020, including here in Utah — where he expanded his margin of votes to nearly 60%. He did so by promising a safer world and a stronger economy, promises that he could make credibly because he had already been president.
As long as Trump follows through on his campaign promises, I believe Utah and America will be safer and our economy will be stronger. Deregulation and tax cuts funded by slashing wasteful government spending will be like rocket fuel to the economy. A closed border will allow for substantial immigration reform which can promote legal immigration and impede the flow of illicit drugs. A tough foreign policy will mean less war and terrorism abroad and a weaker Russia, China and Iran.
While some of the more extreme policies Trump mentioned on the campaign trail could spell trouble, more targeted versions of these policies would be beneficial. Whereas 20% tariffs across the board and deporting all 11 million illegal immigrants could be a disaster, targeted tariffs and deportations focused on criminals and recent arrivals could bolster both national defense and economic growth.
Much of the fearmongering about a second Trump presidency is overblown. Trump has said he would not support a federal abortion ban. He is surrounded by fierce proponents of the Constitution and the rule of law. There will be an election in four years, and Trump will not be on the ballot. Democracy in America is as strong as ever.
Trump was viewed as the moderate in this election, and he built a bare majority coalition by supporting things that most Americans support — like lowering taxes, securing the border, protecting social security and ending wars abroad. He only has four years left in his political career and, instead of worrying about reelection, he can focus on his legacy. He has every incentive to do what will benefit America in the long run so he can be remembered as a great president.
To my fellow young Utahns: We have hope and prosperity ahead. We have every reason to believe that life will become more affordable, and the American dream will become more accessible. Innovation and the free market are exactly why we lead so much better lives than Americans 100 years ago, and those are the exact forces Trump is seeking to unleash in his second term.
More conservative social policy won’t hurt either. Trump’s policies, such as his support of religious freedom and free IVF treatments, are undoubtedly more pro-family and pro-church than those of Kamala Harris. Many young Utahns really like family and church and, in my view, those who don’t could probably benefit from the support and community that family and church provide.
Donald Trump’s second election to the presidency was a significant blow to the insipid identity politics that have torn America apart over the past decade. A significant number of Americans from all races, religions, sexes and income brackets voted for Trump, and that is a good thing. When politicians pit identity groups in America against each other for their own political gain, they are doing a disservice to the country.
As a young, married college student with a baby on the way, I am excited for Trump’s second term. I feel more confident that I will be able to pay for necessities, get a good job and buy a house someday. I have more peace of mind about the state and trajectory of the world. I believe that Utah, America and likely the world will be safer and more prosperous than ever with Trump as president.
(Tanner Day) Tanner Day is a 23-year-old junior at Brigham Young University majoring in economics and philosophy.
Tanner Day is a 23-year-old junior at Brigham Young University majoring in economics and philosophy. He currently lives in Provo with his wife, who is expecting their first child.
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