Jennifer Manthey

Because Trump’s character is absolutely disqualifying

Ask any child in an elementary school who the president of the United States is, and they can likely give you the correct answer.

Ask them who their school board representative is, or who their state legislative representative is, or who their mayor is, and you are less likely to get a correct response. These positions of power might affect much more directly that child’s life and experience, but they do not hold the same cultural influence.

The president of the United States holds a position of not just executive power but important cultural power.

A president enters the office filled with policy ideas, goals, and motivations. Much of what they wish to accomplish is often blocked or appealed or held up by Congress. Much of it never comes to fruition.

But a president’s character is on display constantly, as they campaign, as they debate, as they give speeches and post on social media and interact publicly with others. Their character becomes very well-known.

I would argue that good character is the most vital quality we need in a president of the United States.

If a president has humility and an ability to listen, they don’t need to be an expert on all the things they will encounter and all decisions that they must make. If they are wise and curious, they will surround themselves with people who are knowledgeable and ethical, and will receive advice well. If they lack character, they will surround themselves only with people who flatter them, and will cut ties with anyone who disagrees with or challenges them.

In this election, we have two candidates who are not perfect, because a perfect candidate does not exist. But it is clear which candidate has the more mature, stable, decent character. For the past three elections, we have been subjected to a candidate who exhibits a deceitful, abhorrent, disgusting character. It has had rippling effects throughout our country, in our relationships, in our national discourse. We have become less civil.

Donald Trump wants us to believe that he is here for the American worker, but he has a history of cheating and not paying his workers. He asks Christians to believe that he is a devout family man, but he cannot exhibit the most basic biblical knowledge, cheats on his wives, and is involved in too many scandals to count. He tries to convince women he has respect for us, but he publicly mocks and disparages women and has been held criminally liable for sexual assault. 

He claims to understand the needs of rural America, but he has lived his whole life in cities and privately mocks and belittles the people who support him. He tells us he is not racist, yet every white supremacist organization in this country proudly supports his candidacy.

Kamala Harris, on the other hand, is exuberant and positive. She seeks to work with and learn from others who do not agree with her. She exhibits a tough sort of leadership that seems to be grounded in love for the people of the United States.

Donald Trump’s character is absolutely disqualifying. I would never want my children to meet him or to strive to be like him.

Jennifer Manthey is author of The Fight, winner of the Trio Award for Poetry, and finalist for a 2024 Minnesota Book Award. She lives in Minneapolis and works for a small housing justice nonprofit organization.