The Return to Normalcy

Many believe everything will return to normal once Trump leaves office. Every political figure eventually steps down or is replaced. Trump will eventually exit the stage, but the underlying forces that supported him will endure. Opportunists, extremists, and the media ecosystem that thrives on outrage will remain. Billionaires who view democracy as an obstacle rather than a core value will remain influential by buying candidates and elections. Politicians who prioritize loyalty over integrity will continue to succeed. The next iteration of Republican leadership might be younger, more disciplined, smarter, and less chaotic.

Trump has achieved what very few politicians have. He has normalized and encouraged chaos, disrespect, outrage, and greed. This cultural shift will take decades to repair. Civility is hard to recapture when we are fed a steady diet of grievance, hatred, and loyalty to political cult figures. Sociologists and psychologists will study this shift and likely name it the Donald Trump Effect (DTE).

This damage was avoidable. Many deliberately chose to follow the pattern of grievance and disrespect that Donald Trump promotes daily. He provided them a voice and the authority to behave similarly, without any apology. President John F. Kennedy’s famous quote, “Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country,” inspired a new generation of Americans. Today, that message has shifted to “Don’t ask your country to do anything for you; ask how you can treat your fellow citizens with contempt and how much hate and greed you can harbor.”

Until the full reasons behind the ongoing cultural shift are identified, we need to address the fundamental issues. Trump emerges from a system shaped over decades by influential groups like the Heritage Foundation. Their Project 2025 serves as a blueprint for turning America into a Christian nationalist nation and aims to weaken the Department of Education to favor private and religious institutions. Those who cannot afford private education will receive just enough schooling to become cheap labor. Project 2025 proposes broad reforms across nearly all government sectors, including federal agency restructuring, immigration and border policies, reproductive rights, LGBTQ+ protections, law enforcement, economic regulation, and social programs. The primary goal is to reduce the size of government, concentrate executive power, and advance conservative values.

People with the least political power face the greatest hardships. Immigrants are often blamed, journalists face hostility, and individuals with disabilities are ridiculed or ignored. Scientists are ignored when their findings challenge political interests. Public officials are viewed more as obstacles than as defenders of democracy. The working poor are lectured on personal responsibility, while billionaires enjoy unprecedented access and influence. Showing compassion is now risky politically, and cruelty is frequently mistaken for strength.

Trump, the far-right news media, and the enablers in the Republican Party produce a daily menu of new ways to disrupt society and pit citizens against one another, then sit back at the end of the day to see what sticks.

This reality show has had many seasons filled with plots and twists. Over time, viewers may grow bored and switch channels, prompting a new production team to create a spin-off.

Those of us committed to America’s ideals should not stay on the sidelines. We need to continue repeatedly emphasizing what defines American greatness. It is rooted in our fundamental belief in freedom, liberty, and justice for all, as well as in innovation, research, science, education, and artistic excellence. These principles form the foundation that has garnered us global respect.

We refuse to let those who crave power divide us. We will not accept the false notion that our neighbors are enemies. Our fight for the America we know will never cease. That is why I remain hopeful for America.

Rights endure only if people are willing to defend them.