The community reacts to Trump’s return to the White House

On January 23, 2025By Littum

HARRISONBURG, Va. (WHSV) – On January 20, 2025, President Donald Trump returned to the White House for his second term, becoming the second US president to serve two non-consecutive terms. Following his inauguration, members of the community have shared their thoughts on Trump’s return.

Trump, who signed several executive orders on his first day, from ending birthright citizenship to delaying a TikTok ban, has spurred mixed feelings in the community. Some are looking forward to having Trump in office, but are concerned about the president’s online persona.

“I’m hopeful because we live in America. We love when we conflict and things come together, so maybe in Trump’s second term, he can learn from the mistakes the first time, maybe stay off Twitter and do a lot of good things for this country because you never know,” Community member and former community teacher Eric Dixon said.

Isaac Castro, another resident, agreed with Dixon.

I still hope he will do the best he can,” Castro said. “But keep the theaters out.”

Others, like a member of the community who wanted to follow Susanna, expressed their unwavering support for Trump and his policies.

“I am very happy that Donald J. Trump was elected President of the United States and we hope that he can keep most or all of his promises,” said Susanna, “like helping the American people and focusing on us , not strangers and get rid of the criminals who have come across our borders.”

Meanwhile, some community members are worried about another Trump presidency. Madison and David, two residents who did not give their last names, said they were excited for what the next four years might bring.

“I’m nervous. I think there’s been a lot of scary rhetoric that’s been thrown around the election and things that are going to happen in the next four years,” Madison said.

An anonymous resident said he may be leaving the United States.

“I’m honestly looking for a new country, but not because of the citizens,” he said. “The elected officials have gone so far off course; they are just not to be trusted.”

Another anonymous resident is unhappy not only with Trump, but with American politics in general. In recent years, he has been dissatisfied with several politicians, regardless of party affiliation.

“George W. Bush, Mr. Trump and Mr. Biden, to me, have all been an embarrassment to the country. The people have re-elected Mr. Trump, so I’m not too positive,” said the anonymous resident. “We have to wait and look, but if he does some of the things he’s talking about, I think it’s going to be pretty scary.”

Politics is not always black and white for people in the valley. Across the aisle, voters seem to want the same things.

“90% of Americans believe the same thing. If you look at the polls of what Republicans and Democrats actually believe and what the middle is, because as a former civics teacher, you look at the middle.” said Dixon. “This polar opposite thing has to stop.”

Regardless of party affiliation, voters across the area are not that different from each other.

“I would really like to see more respect for the truth, more compassion for what their stories are,” David said. “Power is through community, and we don’t really have much of that now.”