I believe that historians will ultimately view Donald Trump as one of the most ineffective and divisive presidents in American history. However, I agree with his assertion that we must “Make America Great Again.” Where we diverge is in our understanding of what true greatness means for this nation.
America is more than a country—it is an idea. As President Ronald Reagan once noted in his farewell address, someone can move to France, Germany, or Italy but may never truly be accepted as French, German, or Italian. In contrast, America offers a unique identity: anyone, regardless of origin, can become an American. That transformation requires only a belief in the founding principles that all people are created equal and are endowed with the unalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
Over the course of our nation’s history, the definition of who qualifies to enjoy these rights has evolved. Once limited to white, property-owning men, these rights have since been extended to include women, people of color, members of the LGBTQ community, and individuals with disabilities. Progress has not been linear, but it has been undeniable.
The election of Donald Trump, however, marked a troubling shift. It appeared to signal a reversal—an intentional narrowing of the definition of who counts as fully American. Under this administration, it seems that the ideal of “all men are created equal” is being reinterpreted to apply only to a privileged few: wealthy, white, Christian men. This exclusionary stance ignores a fundamental truth: aside from the Native Americans whose land was taken from them, nearly all of us are descended from immigrants.
We are now witnessing a systematic removal of immigrants, many of whom arrived seeking refuge from hardship and persecution. Their dreams were the very dreams that built this country. Yet today, some of these individuals are detained without due process, incarcerated in foreign facilities despite committing no crime. As Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker warned, “Today it is an immigrant with a tattoo—tomorrow it could be a citizen with a Facebook post that annoys Trump.”
The administration’s leadership choices have deepened these concerns. Many of the president’s appointees appear chosen more for their loyalty than their qualifications. We see a Secretary of Transportation who opposes investment in public transit; an Attorney General who seems to disregard constitutional principles; a Secretary of Education who appears openly hostile to public schools and educators; and a Secretary of Energy (an immigrant himself) who has profited immensely from government subsidies, yet now advocates cutting the social safety net that supports millions of Americans.
Moreover, the president himself has reportedly disparaged members of our armed forces, referring to them as “losers” and “suckers,” and has failed to honor their sacrifices. There are reports of a Secretary of Health and Human Services who not only engaged in bizarre personal behavior but has also promoted dangerous misinformation about vaccines. Meanwhile, our national security leadership has demonstrated questionable judgment, raising concerns about their ability to manage sensitive defense matters. These are not trivial issues—they directly impact our national integrity, safety, and future.
Renowned astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson has offered a sobering assessment of the Trump presidency. I would like to build on his reflections:
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Making America Sick Again: by cutting funding to the National Institutes of Health, undermining medical research and innovation.
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Making America Stupid Again: by weakening the Department of Education and devaluing public education.
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Making America Poisoned Again: by rolling back Environmental Protection Agency regulations that protect our air, water, and land.
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Making America Hungry Again: by reducing funding for SNAP and depriving vulnerable children of critical nutrition.
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Making America Scared Again: by granting ICE agents sweeping powers to detain and deport, sometimes targeting even legal residents and U.S. citizens.
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Making America Weak Again: by damaging international alliances, particularly NATO, while aligning with autocrats and adversaries.
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Making America Poor Again: by enacting tariffs that disproportionately harm working- and middle-class families.
Despite my disappointment in what has transpired during the first 100 days of the Trump presidency, I remain hopeful. The American experiment has endured for nearly 250 years through civil war, world wars, economic collapse, pandemics, and systemic inequality. We are resilient because we believe in a shared ideal that transcends political parties.
To truly make America great again, we must recommit to those founding principles—not by excluding others, but by building a nation where every person, regardless of background, is respected, protected, and empowered to thrive. That effort will require the collective will of all Americans.
Let us rise to that challenge, together.
