Since President Donald Trump took office on Jan. 20, he has implemented policies that have put the brakes on many of America’s previous administration’s efforts.
The results of 2025 presidential election continue to be a hot topic among students, even though many are not yet old enough to vote.
Star Thames, 17-year-old senior, first encountered Trump’s political presence during her middle school years. Reflecting on his policies, she expressed disappointment, feeling that they “are taking away rights from many; I even heard he doesn’t want to hire Black people.”
She believes that America is going to be less populated with the new immigration policies. Star also recalled a time last summer when Trump was lightly grazed by a bullet at a rally, which heightened her suspicions about a next foreseeable attack on him. Despite some relief over TikTok’s return after a brief ban, she said, “I still don’t like him.”
Michael Vega, a 17-year-old senior, remains disinterested in politics. He has witnessed ICE activity in the neighborhood of Co-op City and knows around five families who have been directly affected by Trump’s policies. He has also noticed an increase in inflation during this time. He thinks that banning TikTok would have had a major influence on many young people today.
Jayden Colon, 16-year-old junior, shared that while he couldn’t participate in voting, he felt strongly about Trump’s policies: “I don’t agree with Trump’s policies because he is forcibly deporting people who are documented out of America, banning transgender healthcare, raising taxes and making abortion illegal, which I think is unfair because he shouldn’t get to decide these things for people.”
He’s concerned these policies will lead to massive decreases in immigration because people will fear for their safety under Trump’s rule. He also shared his thoughts on social media, saying, “I think TikTok shouldn’t be banned because it is a form of freedom of speech and a way for people to connect with others.”
Malak El Amir, 14-year-old freshman, recalls first hearing about Donald Trump when she was just 10-years-old. “Trump didn’t affect my life personally,” she shared, “but I heard a lot about him. He doesn’t like Black people,” saying that the sentiment hurt her. On a lighter note, she expressed relief over TikTok being unbanned, saying, “I’d be bored without it.”
Menatullah Elhusseiny, a 15-year-old freshman, first heard of Trump in 2019. She shared that his presidency significantly affected her life, though she refused to provide specific details, stating it was too personal. When asked about the recent policies in place, she said, “Poor people are more affected while rich people are the ones who benefit from it. Trump just shows off without truly helping anyone.”
Sophomore Kannielys Pagan and junior Samya Khalian shared different views. Kannielys supports Trump’s immigration policies, believing they protect American jobs and resources. She believes that President Trump has had a positive effect on immigration laws and processes throughout the country. Kannielys supports Trump in most of his endeavors except abortion laws. “I agree with Trump removing immigrants because they’re taking our jobs, taking up shelter, and causing taxes to go up,” she said.
Yerelin Pacheco Taveras shared a different perspective, saying that Trump’s immigration laws are unfair to those who contribute positively to American society. She believes that they benefit the United States both economically and socially.
“We’re just gonna have to wait four years till he’s gone,” she said.
