Trump! Love him? Hate him? Just (Can't) Vote for Him?

Donald Trump is about to complete the first year of his second term as President. His return to office did not resolve the divisions that defined his political career—it reaffirmed them, while also reshaping how many Americans relate to him. Trump is no longer a speculative choice or a controversial comeback; he is, once again, the sitting president. With that reality has come a shift in perspective: fewer abstractions, more lived consequences, and a clearer sense of what continued Trump leadership means in practice.

For supporters, the past year has largely confirmed expectations. Trump’s second term is viewed as a continuation—and in some areas an intensification—of the priorities that first brought him to power. His backers emphasize decisive action, reversing the progressive cultural and regulatory agendas of Biden’s presidency, and a renewed focus on immigration enforcement, executive authority, and America’s interests at home and abroad. Many argue that governing without the constraints of a first-term learning curve has allowed Trump to act more efficiently and assertively.

Critics, however, see the same developments as evidence that earlier concerns were well-founded. Nearly a year in, opposition to Trump has hardened around fears of institutional strain, escalating polarization, and a governing style that favors loyalty and confrontation over consensus. To these Americans, the second term feels less like a reset and more like an acceleration—one that deepens mistrust in the institutional limits of executive power and the will of the legislative and judicial branches to curtail it. Their resistance is no longer theoretical; it is grounded in observation of how power is being exercised now.

Yet perhaps the most revealing shift over the past year has occurred among those who never fully embraced Trump in the first place. Many voters who supported him reluctantly —out of frustration with alternatives or concern about the opposing party—now evaluate him with a mix of resignation and reassessment. Some feel confirmed in their belief that policy outcomes justified the trade-offs they made. Others feel uneasy, sensing that their vote solved one problem while exacerbating others.

So what camp are you in? Do you love Trump? Hate him? Voted for him as a lesser of two evils? Wish you hadn’t? Gather your thoughts and put your arguments forth. On this ever-controversial topic, you are likely to be challenged, so be sure to have your facts straight. And remember to be honest but respectful. Or just bring your popcorn, sit back and enjoy the dynamic.

Zoom link will be provided on the day of the event.