Welcome to round two of America trying to make it work with THE ex. I really thought America was on a healing journey; I was wrong. But hey, we’ve all gone back before. America needs this one more time to get him, Donald John Trump, out of their system. For those like me who thought it was time for America to move on to better and bluer things, I’m sure you are heartbroken, scared, and exhausted. Watching someone repeat unhealthy cycles can be challenging, but some lessons are best learned through experience. All we can do now is prepare ourselves for the next four years of this relationship. 

To best prepare ourselves, we need to acknowledge the significance of this election. Why are people upset at this reunion? The answer is simple: this election was not just about choosing a president— millions of people’s health, rights, and lives were on the ballot. Trump’s 2025 Plan opposes immigrants’ rights, abortion and reproductive rights, LGBTQ+ rights, and racial equity, among other critical issues. Americans voted for the type of communities they wanted to be supported and the communities they wanted to be oppressed. That is a hard pill for some of you, especially if you voted red for the economy. I hope cheaper eggs are worth it and that Trump’s tariff plan treats you kindly. (Tip: Make your big purchases before Trump’s tariff plan goes into effect.)

We must mourn what we have lost or are about to lose: our rights and safety. Then, we need to understand where we stand. I know some of us want to protest and be vocal about this situation. However, we may not have that privilege. Now, more than ever, we need to assess how secure it is to be a person of color, a woman, queer, or anyone from a marginalized background before making a statement. During the next four years, we must be strategic about protesting and rely on our allies to support us with the privileges we lack. Our very existence as marginalized people is an act of rebellion in Trump’s America.

It’s time to roll up our sleeves and support each other as a community. If you can safely protest, go do that. If you can donate to organizations that support women’s rights, immigrants’ rights, relief efforts, or trans healthcare, go do that. If you can volunteer with nonprofits or grassroots organizations, do that. If you can educate others about anti-racism and how to be allies, do that. If you can share a post or educational resources, do that. Any amount of support will make a difference. This is not the time to belittle anyone’s ability to be involved. It is time to see what unites us and work together to support each other. The best way forward is in community, for the journey is long, and change is slow. 

We have survived a Trump-America relationship before and will do it again. We may have lost this battle, but as long as marginalized people exist in this country, we will never lose faith. Our ancestors have been fighting against these same systems of oppression long before we were even conceived. It is up to us and our allies to keep fighting for equity and reparations. We may not be able to fix the problem entirely, as systemic racism runs deep, but like those before us, we can bring folding chairs to the table. Work together to open doors glued shut. Show those against us that we are here to stay. We will survive this the same way we always have—through community.