Trump Protests: The President-Elect’s First Opportunity To Unify The Country Is Not Going Very Well

The results of the presidential election proved that America is strongly divided. Donald Trump walked on stage after clinching the 270 electoral college votes required to win the White House and called for unity. President Obama and Hillary Clinton encouraged Americans to root for his success. Trump protests have since erupted coast-to-coast, giving the president-elect his first opportunity to prove he truly can unite the country.

Just had a very open and successful presidential election. Now professional protesters, incited by the media, are protesting. Very unfair!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 11, 2016

Trump’s first response to the protests called the reactions “unfair.” To many people, the same adjective could be used to explain how Hillary Clinton supporters feel after their candidate won the popular vote but lost the election. Trump changed his tune the next day when more protesters took to the streets chanting things like “love trumps hate.”

Love the fact that the small groups of protesters last night have passion for our great country. We will all come together and be proud!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 11, 2016

Most of the protests across the country have been peaceful. The Oregonian reported on the third night of protests that it began as a peaceful march but quickly turned violent after anarchist groups arrived armed with baseball bats smashing car and storefront windows. The Oregon Police Department responded by dispatching officers in riot gear and arresting 26 protesters.

The protests are a stark reminder of how divided the nation is. When Obama and Trump met for the first time on Thursday, the current president said he’s encouraged by Trump’s interest to work with his team during the transition.

“I believe that it is important for all of us, regardless of party and regardless of political preferences, to now come together, work together, to deal with the many challenges that we face,” Obama said.

Senator Elizabeth Warren, who has called Trump a “small, insecure money-grubber” on the campaign trail, issued a statement after the election striking a different tone.

“The integrity of our democracy is more important that any individual election and those of us who supported Hillary Clinton will respect this result. President-elect Trump promised to rebuild our economy for working people, and I offer to put aside our differences and work with him on that task.”

Senator Bernie Sanders joined Warren in saying there will be issues he and fellow Democrats will be willing to work with Trump.

“To the degree that Mr. Trump is serious about pursuing policies that improve the lives of working families in this country, I and other progressives are prepared to work with him. To the degree that he pursues racist, sexist, xenophobic and anti-environment policies, we will vigorously oppose him.”

While the Democratic Party establishment licks its wounds and tries to figure out what went wrong, Senator Harry Reid issued a scathing statement in response to the protests and Trump’s sweeping victory on Election Day.

“If this is going to be a time of healing, we must first put the responsibility for healing where it belongs: at the feet of Donald Trump, a sexual predator who lost the popular vote and fueled his campaign with bigotry and hate. Winning the electoral college does not absolve Trump of the grave sins he committed against millions of Americans. Donald Trump may not possess the capacity to assuage those fears, but he owes it to this nation to try.”

The page on Trump’s website that detailed his proposed ban on all Muslims entering the United States mysteriously disappeared after he won the election. If Trump publicly walks back this highly controversial policy, it could be a great way to encourage protesters that he wants to unite the country he now leads. Trump also has the opportunity to unite the country with whom he appoints in his cabinet. Trump’s past statements are all the American people have to predict the future. The direction Trump wants to take America now depends on his actions.

[Featured Image by Spencer Platt/Getty Images]