The Trump vs Biden debate has many citizens asking if they chose the right candidate to run the next 4 years. In particular, this debate can lead to many emotions and questions from the public about what candidate is truly best for the US.  In this instance two West Ottawa students came together to have an unbiased discussion about this presidential debate and state their cases as to who the better candidate is.

Niklas Armstead and Levi McGee were asked the same questions and given chances to respond to each other’s points. 

The interview started with the question “Which of the two candidates (Trump or Biden), did a better job in their four years, and why?” Both interviewees worked to formulate their arguments.

“Trump did a better job because he was able to keep gas prices in check. There was also less of a drug epidemic in America, and under him, borders were secure. However, I do understand why so many people don’t like him because really he did not present himself as a professional,” McGee said.  

After a moment, Armstead responded: “Trump didn’t handle the pandemic very well; he should have listened to more advisories when it came to that. In regards to gas prices, one country or party doesn’t control that.  We mainly get gas from Middle Eastern countries that were also in the pandemic.  With Biden, something I think he really did well was adapting to climate change.  He’s really pushed for more green power, making it the second most used source of energy in the U.S, and that’s something that I think will help all of us in the long run,”

The interview paused momentarily at the sound of the bell, allowing them to collect their thoughts. The two were then asked “What’s one thing that you feel your candidate has done well, or even better than the other candidate?  Why?”  

“I think Biden’s strength is foreign policy.  He’s made it much easier to connect with other countries, being much more friendly.  Whereas I feel like with Trump, his America number one mentality was abrasive, and made trading with other countries a lot more difficult,” Armstead said.  McGee later cited that he “like that Biden always tried to be friendly with other countries,” however, he also felt “Biden’s want to be friends with everybody gives enemies of America like China or the Taliban the opportunity to get insider information and put us all at risk.  Meanwhile, under Trump, he strove to make America a self-sufficient country.  He looked out for our best interest.”

McGee called “keeping the border under control,” a strong suit of Trump, further stating “I’m not saying everyone who comes across the border is looking to do harm, some are just in desperate situations without anywhere else to turn.  However, Biden’s policy leaves America vulnerable to infiltration by malicious foreign powers.  The Taliban, for instance, has a stronghold in Mexico, and terrorists are trying to get across the border.  China could easily send people over to collect intel on America because the border is so insecure.  If a country like China wanted information, wanted control, it would be all too easy to get it”.  

Armstead took a breath to calibrate a response, before saying “Immigration is what America is built on, be it Irish, Chinese, or Japanese. People come here, not for espionage but because of the circumstances their homes are in. China’s failing housing market, hurricanes in Puerto Rico.  I think it’s good policy for America to be the place that people go when they have nowhere else to turn”.

Tensions at this point had risen, the two becoming quiet in their thoughts.  To help remedy this, the next question was less divisive. “What is something you like about the opposing candidate?”

“I like Biden’s attempts to build international relationships,” McGee said, while Armstead said “I appreciate that Trump wanted to make a more self-sufficient America, because if we are more self-sufficient, we can more easily build relationships with other countries without worrying about trade deals.  I also think that the voters who vote for Trump do so not just because they hate the other guy, but because they like a president, and that’s something I don’t think Biden has”. 

The awkward tension started to dissipate, carrying over into the next question “Is your candidate fit for office?”.

“He’s old.  He’s like 85.  The great thing about America is that for every decision one person wants to make, many more people have to approve it.  So if a president who is as old as Biden or Trump even, is elected, then there are measures in place to keep the country safe.  That being said, they’re both old as hell, and if there was another option in the Democratic party, of course, I would vote for them,” Armstead said.

McGee said “I feel like Biden shouldn’t be in office simply because sometimes, he can’t even string a thought together.  He’s far too old.  Trump I think is perfectly fine to run for office, but I think he needs to try and repair his relationship with the public, maybe by deleting Twitter and quitting bad-mouthing everyone”.

With some common ground established, the two were asked the final question. “How do you feel about the current state of politics?  Do you think that people can have rational conversations such as this one?”

“I think we can so long as it isn’t Thanksgiving dinner, and we aren’t all sitting around waiting for food. But really, I think that having these conversations is hard.  As teenagers, we are constantly surrounded by social media that only talks about how evil the other side is.  The amount of hate everyone has for each other keeps us seeing only the worst in each other.  And I think it’s important to admit the strengths and weaknesses of both sides.  Like, I don’t like everything Trump does, but I also don’t hate everything that Biden does,” McGee said.

“I think it’s much easier for the younger generations because we have social media.  I worry about the older generations who are stuck in their ways, who only hear what either Trump or Biden says.  And when someone thinks they are better than you, or only believes the teachings of one side, then I think those conversations become difficult,” Armstead said.

Whatever you take out of this article, the thing that all should be able to agree on is that regardless of one’s personal beliefs, conversations like this one should be objective, civil, and for the most part, comfortable.  The day when society can no longer tolerate civil discourse is the day of its collapse.