“Make America Great Again!” 

But — 

“The government shutdown is now the longest in U.S. history.” 

“Millions of Americans won’t receive SNAP benefits in November, analysis finds.”  

“Trump Administration Deadlier for ICE Detainees Than COVID-19 Pandemic.” 

Should I continue?  

So many crises for a president who claimed he’d make America great. What, like it wasn’t great to begin with?  

The longest government shutdown in United States history means millions of federal employees are missing their third paycheck. Military personnel are expected to continue serving our country while their checks are on standby. Families are struggling to cover day-to-day necessities. The list goes on.  

The government shutdown has more implications than many realize. Federal funding is usually the first to be affected, since government shutdowns occur when Congress fails to reach a majority agreement on a new spending bill for the upcoming fiscal quarter.  

Although Vanderbilt is a private university, many of its students rely on federal grants to make their education possible. According to Vanderbilt’s Office of Financial Aid, 1,758 students, or roughly 24% of the undergraduate population, have a federal Pell grant for the 2025-2026 school year.  

If the shutdown had taken place just a few months earlier, almost a quarter of students at Vanderbilt would have been forced to find alternative ways to afford their education. As a Pell grant recipient myself, it frightens me to believe that external means of support are slowly at threat of being eliminated or delayed, solely to pursue a lousy and baseless political agenda to feed a personal ego.  

President Donald Trump, does threatening students and families across the U.S. with lasting financial burden make you think America will be greater? You were once a student at the University of Pennsylvania — oh, you were rich, I forgot.  

Again, “Make America Great Again!” but only for those who don’t rely on federal support.  

A government shutdown makes a president weak, doesn’t it? That’s directly quoted from you, Trump, in a 2013 interview.  

Are we great yet? Your party holds the House, the Senate and the presidency. There’s no one left to blame but you and the party you lead for the effects of this government shutdown.  

Be the strong man you claim to be and take some responsibility.  

Political scientist James David Barber, former professor at Duke University and author of “The Presidential Character: Predicting Performance in the White House,” argues that a president’s personal life and psychological characteristics shape their governing style. There are two distinct lines: Active vs. Passive, which measures the energy they devote to their job, and Positive vs. Negative, which reflects whether they genuinely enjoy the work.  

Former President Richard Nixon exemplified this active-negative type, often stretching his political agenda without much gain. However, he had resigned before the U.S. House of Representatives could vote on his articles of impeachment. With his stagflation, the Watergate scandal and social unrest due to the Vietnam War, the country was struggling to operate as one.  

Sound familiar, President Trump? With rising prices, social and civil unrest and struggling families across the country, you seem to embody the active-negative archetype, driven by an enormous ego rather than duty. Besides that, do you even care about the people of the United States? 

Can’t you take the hint? You’ve been impeached twice, and yet you continue to cause issues.  

I ask again: Are we great yet?  

In a country where social and civil issues should not be recurring centuries later, our generation must be the one to fight back and stand up to authoritarian rule. Vanderbilt should transition to the positive side of history and have the courage to stand up and protect the common interests of its students.  

Furthermore, families across the country are struggling to put food on the table, thanks to your delay in reinstating Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits. According to a sworn statement from a U.S. Department of Agriculture official, the U.S. plans to use contingency funds to cover only 50% of SNAP benefits for eligible U.S. residents during the shutdown.  

Do you even know what this means? 41 million people rely on SNAP, according to a 2024 study by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. Many of these people reside in rural areas, which, according to the Pew Research Center, is a prominent voting demographic in your favor.  

It’s clear that not even your loyal voters can outlast your wrath against the United States. 

No food, no water, just despair. While these families are struggling, you are having the time of your life, hosting a Gatsby-inspired party, notably with expensive decorations, dancers and all kinds of food. Dancers and attendees were seen wearing costumes mimicking those from the Roaring 20s. It’s almost like you know, Trump, that America is heading into a black hole that you cannot fix.  

And now, because of your government shutdown, the Federal Aviation Administration has ordered airlines to cut 10% of flights at the nation’s 40 busiest airports to relieve pressure on air traffic control and airport personnel. As we approach the Thanksgiving holiday, how do you expect students to get home to their families? Vanderbilt community, this directly affects some of your travel plans. Unfortunately, Trump, not all of us have private jets or infinite money to bypass these decisions.  

I now ask you, the people: Is America great yet?  

To the Vanderbilt community: I urge you to register to vote. Make a plan to vote with friends, family and loved ones for the greater good of our nation. The Constitution of the United States of America was built on the power of the people. Ultimately, the people have the power, not the fascist president. If you are a Tennessee resident, decide to vote in the Dec. 2 special election. Voting in this election could potentially change the political makeup of the House of Representatives.  

As California Governor Gavin Newsom put it: “Trump does not give a damn about you.”  

So, President Trump — be reminded: you are a weak president, and democracy will prevail.