With the recent win by former U.S. President Donald Trump in the Iowa Republican presidential caucuses, and his projected win in the New Hampshire Republican Primary, this week we asked readers their thoughts on the possibility of a second Trump presidency.

 

“I think he’s committed a lot of crimes and he’s fake. He only does it for himself and his kids. He’s a faker. I don’t want him as president. I’d prefer somebody else. That’s the way I feel. The choices could be a little bit better. It’s hard to say. I don’t know about voting for him [U.S. President Joe Biden] because he hasn’t done anything for us, the poor people.”

Yvette Diaz,

Belmont

“I’m not a political guy. I don’t think it [a second Trump presidency] would be a good thing because he seems to incite a lot of fear and racism and division. A prime example was the January 6^th riot. That really put America’s justice system and democracy at risk. No, that was not a tourist thing. That was democracy being threatened. It’s terrible that they’re lying to the American people. That’s another reason why it would be scary to see Donald Trump in the White House again.”

Yaw Gyamfi,

Jerome Park

“We need him, yes, [as] president. I want Donald Trump to be president because he’s going to help the country like he said. He’s in favor of this country and he’s the only one who’s going to help us. Oh, there’s a lot of problems in the city and right now. I am an immigrant but the immigrants coming now, they don’t deserve to just come. They don’t come for opportunity. They’re coming to live free without paying. It’s okay if they come illegally, and want to stay here and work, but they want everything free and we’re paying for that.”

Marcia Calle,

Van Cortlandt Park South

“Keep the [current] president. Donald Trump needs to be in jail! I don’t want the White House to get burned down.”

Boog A. Lou,

Kingsbridge

“I’m going to say I don’t know. I can’t say that… they’ll persecute me. I don’t want to get into politics; I’ve changed my mind.”

Adolph Beckford,

Williamsbridge

 

Editor’s Note: Politico provided an overview in December 2023 of the status of criminal charges brought against the former U.S. President Donald Trump. Trump faces four felony counts for his alleged efforts to overturn the 2020 election. In Georgia, he faces 13 felony counts for his alleged election interference in that state. In New York, he faces 34 felony counts in connection with alleged hush money payments to a porn star, and in Florida, he faces 40 felony counts for the alleged hoarding of classified documents after he left office and allegedly impeding the government’s efforts to retrieve them. All cases are pending trial. A person charged with a crime is deemed innocent unless and until convicted in a court of law. Trump denies any wrongdoing.

 

In a separate civil case, a federal jury found in favor of E. Jean Carroll on Friday, Jan. 26, ordering the former president to pay Carroll $83.3 million in a defamation case.

 

According to the White House, the Biden-Harris administration top accomplishments include “lowering costs of families’ everyday expenses; more people are working than at any point in American history; making more in America [manufacturing boom]; rescued the economy and changed the course of the pandemic; rebuilding the country’s infrastructure [creating jobs]; historic expansion of benefits and services for toxic-exposed veterans; the first meaningful gun violence reduction legislation in 30 years; protected marriage for LGBTQI+ and interracial couples; historic confirmation of Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson [and] federal judges of diverse backgrounds.”

 

They also include “rallied the world to support Ukraine in response to Putin’s aggression; strengthened alliances [G7, NATO, etc] and partnerships [..]; successful counterterrorism missions against the leaders of Al Qaeda and ISIS; executive orders protecting reproductive rights; historic student debt relief for middle and working-class families; ending the failed approach to marijuana; advancing equity and racial justice, including historic criminal justice reform; delivering on the most aggressive climate and environmental justice agenda in American history; [and] more people with health insurance than ever before.”

 

According to Trump’s campaign website, his campaign issues include “rebuild[ing] the greatest economy in history, fair trade for the American worker, unleash energy dominance [via oil and natural gas], secure borders and reclaim national sovereignty, war on the drug cartels, stop crime and restore safety, renew American strength and leadership, reject globalism and embrace patriotism, care for our veterans, protect parents’ rights, defend law and liberty, end censorship and reclaim free speech, free, honest and lawful elections, drain the swamp of Washington corruption, [and] better health care choices at lower costs.”

 

Mr. Beckford began to give his response but then said he believed that if he shared his true feelings on the issue, he would hear about it from other seniors at Bronxwood Assisted Living.