With political season in full swing, more and more candidates are visiting the state of New Hampshire to have their ideas heard.
Perhaps one of the biggest names associated with the upcoming election, Republican candidate Donald J. Trump made a stop at Keene High School last Wednesday, September 30, for a town meeting.
Trump is currently the top Republican candidate in the running.
The audience erupted with applause and “Ladies and gentlemen, the next president of the United States” was announced through the speakers as Trump made his grand entrance into the high school gymnasium.
According to the fire marshal, there were 3,564 people in attendance. Many could not even fit into the main event and were sent into separate areas to view a live-stream of the discussion.
“They still have lines of people outside, and they filled up the second auditorium,” Trump said. “We are doing great.”
Trump’s campaign slogan, “Make America Great Again,” was repeated time and time again throughout his discussion.
Tim Smith / Photo Editor
“We don’t win anymore as a country. It’s really embarrassing…How stupid are we? It’s just going to change,” Trump said.
He said that countries such as China, Mexico and Japan are taking jobs away from us.
“All of these countries have just been ripping us. We’re going to be taking them back,” Trump said.
“Nabisco is moving. What is more United States than Nabisco? They’re going to make Oreos in Mexico,” Trump said.
According to Trump, the solution to this issue is to build a wall between the U.S. and Mexico.
“It’s like we’re open territory,” Trump said.
Another important issue regarding foreign policy that Trump touched upon was the refugee crisis currently happening in Syria.
According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, there are an estimated 9 million Syrians who have left their home country since the civil war began in 2011.
Of those 9 million, Trump said that the U.S. is looking to take in 200 thousand of them. (In fact, according to the U.S. state department, the U.S. has taken in about 1,500 Syrian refugees, and plans to take in about ten thousand.)
“They could be Isis, I don’t know. Did you ever see a migration like that? Why aren’t they fighting to save Syria? Why are they migrating all over Europe?” Trump said. “I’m [giving] the people a notice, that are coming here from Syria as part of this mass migration, that if I win, they’re going back.”
Trump said that it is possible that these refugees make up a 200 thousand-man army.
“I know a lot of people would say that’s not nice. We can’t afford to be nice,” Trump said.
As far as what Trump’s policies for these issues go, Trump said, “I don’t want to tell you…I want to be unpredictable.”
“When they ask me about what I want to do with Syria, I know what I want to do…but I don’t want to tell…I don’t want anyone to say ‘well Trump’s going to do this, so I’m going to do this’,” Trump said.
In addition to his views on foreign policies, Trump also discussed his plan for tax reform.
“Too few Americans are working, too many jobs are being shipped overseas, and too many middle-income families cannot make ends meet…My plan directly meets these challenges, and the challenges also of business. We’re going to make our businesses strong again, we’re going to make them competitive again,” Trump said.
He said that there would be major tax relief for middle-income families, and those who are single and earning less that 25 thousand a year, or married couples jointly earning less that 50 thousand a year, will no longer have to pay income tax.
As far as businesses go, Trump said, “So many businesses have been destroyed by the estate tax. Our plan reduces and/or totally eliminates most of the deductions and loopholes available to special interests.”
Trump said that he is running for president in hopes of improving the country.
“I love the people of this country, and I didn’t really want to do this…I do it because we have a chance to make this country greater than it’s ever been before, and if I didn’t believe that, I wouldn’t do it,” Trump said.
He continued, “We need a real leader. We want somebody that truly loves the country, truly wants to make it work, and I can promise you this…If I get elected president, we will indeed make America great again.”
In addition to members of Trump’s following in attendance, there were several Keene State College students and residents of the surrounding community who were there for different interests.
KSC student Andrew White said that he attended because he thought it would be interesting to hear what Trump had to say.
“His policies are kind of ridiculous, and he’s not a politician. He bullies his peers, he calls everyone stupid and he doesn’t really have an idea of how the game works,” White said.
Regarding the issues that Trump touched upon, White said, “Where he speculated if we let [Syrian refugees] in here they might attack us is ridiculous.”
Additionally, KSC student Brendan Callery also attended because he said he thought it was important to be involved with politics.
“I thought he had a lot of hype. That’s pretty much all it was…He said that he has ideas but he doesn’t want anyone to know about them, but promises that they are real…that’s insane,” Callery said.
Along with students in attendance for their own personal interest, students associated with NextGen climate were also present.
KSC student Joseph Ogden, who works for NextGen, said that he wanted to ask questions regarding climate change.
“He hasn’t mentioned any climate change policies whatsoever. It was more of a show than a political event…He hasn’t touched on student debt, climate change, issues that are a lot more important than building a wall between us and Mexico,” Ogden said.
According to the event page, there would be an opportunity for a question and answer session after Trump spoke, however there was no such opportunity after his speech.
Accompanying the members of the outer community of Keene at the event was home-school teacher of Chesterfield, NH, Leslie Burns.
“I am an anybody but Trump person. I’m mostly Republican, but would probably vote Hillary over Trump,” Burns said.
Burns continued, “I teach debate and logic, so I brought my students here to count how many logical fallacies there were, and whether or not there was evidence to backup promises…there wasn’t.”
Devon can be contacted at droberts@kscequinox.com
