Trump Calls for Unity After Winning Divisive Election

President-elect Donald Trump at the White House on Thursday, Nov. 10. / Olivier Douliery / TNS

In a shocking win that defied polls, Donald J. Trump became the 45th president elect of the United States Nov. 8 after launching a long campaign against Democrat Hillary Clinton.

The New York City-based real estate mogul, 70, was declared the winner early Nov. 9 with 290 electoral votes. During his acceptance speech, he appeared more composed than during his campaign rallies, and called for unity in a country split by a contentious election that pitted divergent ideologies against each other.

“Now it’s time for America to bind the wounds of division,” he said. “To all Republicans, Democrats, and Independents, it’s time to come together.”

In her concession speech, Hillary Clinton said: “We owe him an open mind and the chance to lead.”

During his campaign, Trump took strong stances on controversial issues, including abortion, the environment and illegal immigration.

As a result, people in cities across the country — including Santa Ana — took to the streets after the election to protest his proposed policies.

The announcement of Trump’s victory also resonated among students nationwide. Young people under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program were uncertain if their eligibility would be terminated, while Muslims who wear hijabs to class were afraid of becoming a target.

In a Nov. 13 interview on 60 Minutes, Trump renewed his call for unity, and said that protestors should not “fear” him or his policies.

At SAC, students continue to reflect on the results and what they mean for their future.

Santa Ana College administrators are hoping to assist students by addressing their fears, anxieties and questions regarding the election results. SAC president Dr. Linda Rose will host an open forum for students Monday from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. in A-210.

Trump supporters on campus are in a more celebratory mood over his win.

SAC student Daniel Ayala thinks Trump will focus more on enacting political change and move away from the hateful rhetoric that he was known for on the campaign trail.

“I think it’s a good direction for the country,” Ayala said. “It’s something fresh, new, and I like that.”

International student Gracia Sanchez, on the other hand, is uncertain about how the results will play out.

“I’m really sad and really angry right now because I don’t know what’s going to happen in the future, for us Latinos especially,” she said. “Or other communities like the minorities here.”

Exit polls show that Clinton lacked support from women, Millennials, Hispanics and African-Americans, all of whom helped elect President Barack Obama in 2008 and 2012.

“I feel like Hillary is a little too liberal and usually, as a Hispanic, we tend to be more conservative,” SAC student Jesus Ortiz said.