Current Event Essay

Current Event Essay The 2016 presidential election has been one of the most prevalent events reported in the news for over a year, and it continues to be publicized by the media leading up to the inauguration of president-elect Donald Trump on January 20, 2017. This election process has been a very controversial issue in government because of the drastic differences in public opinion and the division it has caused in the public. Over the course of this semester, this topic has drastically grown and changed--through protests against Trump’s victory, recounts in close states, and lawsuits against the president-elect, to the now-issue of Trump’s possible conflict of interest between his business and his presidency. The presidential election

in Nelson, Lewis). Donald Trump was projected to win the electoral college and did, even though this was challenged by scientists, who claimed the vote totals from electronic voting machines may have been manipulated (“Computer Scientists”). Recounts were encouraged and did take place in Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Wisconsin, the three closest states in terms of the popular vote, which lead to substantial changes in public opinion (“Computer Scientists”). These recounts led to lawsuits, and Jill Stein and the Green Party even took the Pennsylvania recount case to federal court (Roebuck, Jeremy). Public events such as this case prompted a change in public opinion, and the formation of protests once Trump was formally elected by the electoral college. Protesters gathered at state capitals around the country in dispute of the election results, demonstrating their anger and resentment about the results of the election (“Donald Trump Wins”). The recounts sparked a change in the public, initiating hope for anti-Trump supporters to make themselves heard (“What Do

Following the election up to the inauguration shows the steps taken from both the current president and the president-elect to create a smooth transition of power, even when the party in power is changing. In class, the process of cabinet nominations was discussed, and it was clearly shown through this issue--the president-elect makes nominations for the department heads, like Trump’s nomination of James Mattis as defense secretary, which are either accepted or turned down by the nominee, and then approved or denied by the Senate after inauguration (“Trump Names Gen”). This issue also expanded on the differences among the political parties, and the contrasting party ideas. For example, Trump has already claimed he will expand US nuclear power, a conservative view, and has nominated conservative cabinet picks, appeasing his Republican party (“Donald Trump: US”). Also, Trump’s claims to change foreign relations in China when questioning the One-China policy relates back to the president’s role concerning foreign countries (“China”). This change in military view and foreign policy connects to the presidential roles discussed in class; particularly Chief Diplomat and Commander in Chief, putting the president as the head of foreign relations and the US military,