At a time like this, words are hard to find. Grief and loss are such personal subjects, and to many of us, that’s what this is: grieving our hope for a better America. On the other hand, sometimes words are all we have. As an international student without the ability to vote, my words are my power. As a woman, my words are my freedom. As a person living in the United States today, my words are my last hope—and I know I’m not alone. Donald Trump has won another term. This is not a time for silence. So we asked people: How do you feel about Trump being elected president of the United States? This is what they had to say. 

“I am afraid that people I love will be hurt, and that I will be helpless against it.”

“I am angered knowing that so many women just watched their assaulter be elected president.”

“I hate to say it, but I’m not shocked at all that America is still as racist and sexist as it has always been.”

“I am immensely disappointed in America and incredibly fearful for the human rights of people I love going forward.”

“I’m a registered Republican. However, I don’t align with President Trump’s policies and beliefs. What has happened is now done. We as people of the United States of America need to continue to fight, no matter what party. A country is only as strong as its people are.”

“I am devastated, but devastation doesn’t fix things, so I’m full of righteous indignation.”

“I feel truly disgusted and horrified that so many people could believe voting for a felon was the way to go.”

“I feel as though every woman needs to make the decision to decenter men from their life because men have proven time and time again that they do not care what happens to us.”

“Women need to radicalize and join the 4B movement. We can never be free until we are free from men. They hate us to death.”

“Self-righteousness and selfish moral purity in voting will always end in the same, devastating way.”

“With Trump being elected, I genuinely don’t know how to move forward—I feel scared for the future, for my rights, and for my friends. History was going to be made either way; either the first female president or the first convicted felon president—it goes to show that the worst crime you can commit in this country is being anything other than a straight, white man.”

“As a woman, I feel disempowered.”

“I’m appalled by the fact that people truly wanted him back and also extremely scared for what’s going to happen to our country. No matter what his supporters say, he’s a direct adversary to human rights.”

“It’s difficult to stay motivated in a field centered on equity when I feel disillusioned by our country’s lack of compassion and the blame that divides us.”

“Sick to my stomach and terrified over what this means for me and the people I love, but also hopeful that we can find a way to come together and support each other like we’ve done before.”

“I think it’s egregious that the American people would rather put a rapist felon who incited an insurrection over a woman. I’m thinking about all my girls today.”

“I feel overwhelmingly devastated for citizens across the nation, most especially for immigrants aspiring to become American citizens, the LGBTQ+ community seeking acceptance and safety, people of color striving for equality, and women fighting for the right to autonomy, as their ability to live freely, safely, and with guaranteed rights in America is on the line under a Trump presidency.”

“We survived his term once, I’m sure we can do it again.”

“A rapist, felon, and liar is more capable of running a country than an educated woman, really?”

“I’m not just angry, I’m disgusted that we would allow a woman-hating rapist to be President for a second time.”

“I don’t want to not be American, but I wish I could feel proud of America.”

“I can’t help but feel guilty, like maybe if I had done something more this wouldn’t have happened.”

“I feel scared for my future and the future of the people I love not only because a felon and rapist is going to be running this country but also because so many Americans chose to vote for him and put marginalized groups in danger.”

“I feel lost.”

So goes the Emerson motto we love to quote, “expression necessary to evolution.” As we begin to consider the setbacks Trump’s presidency will afford us, remember that if we express today, then perhaps we can evolve tomorrow.