It is no surprise that President Donald Trump, a proud billionaire, and his posse of out-of-touch, self-interested plutocrats do not care about regular folks. All Americans, even Trump fanatics, should be fearful of the next four years. Trump’s term is likely to entail financial pain for average Americans while the president and his rich friends revel in their power and wealth. If Democrats hope to gain back political power in 2026 and 2028, they must shine a light on Trump’s historical failure to deliver for average Americans and craft a new political agenda designed to help working Americans.
Trump’s first administration was full of false promises he made to working Americans while prioritizing helping the ultra-rich. For example, Trump promised that his tax cuts would help average Americans, yet this policy disproportionately benefited wealthy Americans; the tax cuts of households in the top 1% and 5% of income were more than triple the total value of the tax cuts received by those in the bottom 60% of income, leading to an increasing wealth gap.
During his first term, Trump also promised that lower corporate tax rates would lead to a $4,000 jump in average household income. Yet, Americans earning less than $114,000 per year never saw this $4,000 reach their bank accounts, and the salaries of top executives shot up during his administration. Trump similarly promised to invest a trillion dollars in infrastructure to create more jobs and improve transportation in the United States, but this plan was never realized. In fact, it was former President Joe Biden who passed the Bipartisan Infrastructure Act, which provided $1.2 trillion for infrastructure funding across the country.
Domestic manufacturing was another focus of Trump’s 2016 campaign, in which he planned to lift up the American worker as he railed against job losses in the American Rust Belt due to offshoring in China and other nations. These pledges propelled his 2016 victory as he swept the Rust Belt — a former Democratic stronghold that was built on the party’s connections to union manufacturing. However, those jobs disappeared amid Democratic support for globalization, pushing Rust Belt voters towards Trump and his promises to end globalization. Despite promising boosts to American manufacturing, Trump once again did not follow through; the United States lost 200,000 manufacturing jobs under his first presidency. In his second administration, Trump has implemented tariffs on imports from Canada, China and Mexico and is planning more, aiming to boost American manufacturing while generating extra revenue for the government. However, these tariffs, like the ones in his first administration, will only harm the U.S. manufacturing job market. Time and time again, Trump has wooed the working class with promises to uplift them — almost always, though, his policies have made their plights worse while allowing wealthy campaign donors to line their pockets.
As if mistreating the working class isn’t bad enough, Trump has decided to financially punish first responders too. This latest episode of Trump’s indifference with him cutting healthcare for 9/11 first responders is particularly horrifying, though not surprising considering his record. The fact that America’s president will not support American heroes who ran into the burning Twin Towers is dumbfounding and shocking. Yet, this behavior is consistent with Trump being a Vietnam War draft dodger, along with his previous characterizations of American soldiers killed in war as “losers” and “suckers.”
Trump was deceitful in his first term and will likely continue spewing false promises and lies in his second. Over the next four years, he will prioritize the interests of his wealthy backers while neglecting working Americans — including those who make up his political base. Trump will push forward a renewal of his 2017 tax cuts that will primarily benefit the wealthy, which he, again, falsely promises will help working Americans. Among Trump’s top advisors and cabinet picks are Elon Musk, Doug Burgum and Howard Lutnick — all of whom are ultra-wealthy and poised to focus Trump’s administration on their interests instead of those of working Americans.
Now, it is up to the Democratic Party to craft a message appealing to average Americans. Do not label those who voted for Trump as stupid, ignorant or any demeaning term, as this will only drive more voters away from the party. Democrats must not only attack Trump’s shortcomings but also understand their own party’s flaws to fix them. It is essential that Democrats and their 2028 presidential nominee convince Americans that they will lead the country to a prosperous future, rather than focusing on Trump, his successor, likely Vice President J.D. Vance, and the Republican Party’s bad fit for leadership. Crafting an appealing agenda for average Americans and properly messaging it on the campaign trail will determine whether they will succeed or if the Republican Party will continue to disrespect American heroes and workers.
Contact Aidan O'Sullivan at amosull@emory.edu
Aidan O'Sullivan (he/him) (26Ox, 28C) is a Political Science major from South Kingstown, Rhode Island. He is a big fan of the New York Giants, Mets, and Knicks. Outside the Wheel he enjoys playing sports like basketball and volleyball, spending time with friends, and reading. He is a part of the Oxford Student Government Association as a First Year Senator too.
