On the one-year anniversary of the second Trump administration, I reached out to a variety of Americans in my social media network in response to a request from Bylines Scotland: how are ordinary people in the United States feeling about our chaotic present and our uncertain future? Some responses are here, quoted with permission.
Tom (Maine; social worker):
This American experiment, as it has been, is over. Which is just as well, since it was founded in unequal measure of hope and pride, mixed with cruelty and genocide. It is my hope that out of this springs a new type of America, one which reflects true freedom and equality.
Natalie (Florida; liberal activist, tech writer):
Overwhelmed. But I get hopeful every time I see a story of some random citizen doing something really awesome, like recording the shooting of Ms. Good by an ICE agent. I got a little hopeful when I saw how many House members voted to bring back the tax credits for the Affordable Care Act (ACA), and the Senate finally grew a spine in regard to the invasion of Venezuela.
Gordon (Maine; clinical psychologist):
Dismayed, overwhelmed, incredulous. But not giving up. We may each be just a drop in the bucket, but this administration is evoking a lot of tears – of sadness and rage – so the bucket is getting heavy, and eventually it will be overflowing. We will wash this administration out and save our people, our Constitution, our democracy.
Kristen (Atlanta, Georgia; studied psychology, criminal justice):
Anxious and angry, but also hopeful and determined. I hate that this administration has taken us down this path of oligarchy, kleptocracy and authoritarianism while those who are supposed to serve as our checks and balances have largely turned a blind eye. But, more and more, we are seeing the collective citizenry wake up to what’s happening and the pushback is growing ever more present and is strengthening. That gives me hope that we can start to hold these people to account and maybe build back a better system, holding onto our democracy.
Mary Beth (Maine; community transportation organiser and court mediator):
My frustration and fear are through the roof.
R.D. (Maine; nonprofit theatre director, actor, writer):
More resolute than ever to stand for Democracy, capital D. Defiance till Death.
Kristi (Florida; real estate agent):
Trump is a fascist. Look it up. It’s the true definition and now he’s given a trillion to the military. He’s not even getting approval for the things he’s doing. I’m an Independent. I’m scared and I think it’s important that the world knows that we don’t think the things Trump is doing are right.
Sara Jones (New York City; community activist, horticulturist):
I’m shocked and saddened by the direction of the USA. The checks and balances are gone; this Oligarchy has broken international law and seized another country’s leaders for oil. We don’t want another oil war. Every member of this Cabinet is a criminal. There is a media buy-out, all skewed to praise his criminal actions. Masked armed men are harassing our citizens without warrants and shooting us for voicing dissent. We are in a moral crisis, led by an immoral narcissist. You can quote me, name me, call me out. I stand for democracy.
Stephanie (California; musician, nutritionist, grandmother):
It’s truly mind-boggling that we have tolerated such corruption. Will keep watching, listening and placing pressure on our leaders, who can make a difference.
Andy (Upper New York State; anthropologist, forester, writer):
Every protest is important, but most Americans are still not showing up. I do not feel alone, but it is a lonely place to be, in the middle of a regime that does not care for or about their own people and – it seems – one third of my country is fine with that. Also, incredibly grateful that people outside the US are as understanding as they are!
A weekly protest in rural Maine sparks awareness and hope
Since March 2025, a neighbor and I have spearheaded a weekly pro-democracy protest every Saturday in our little northern Maine town of Millinocket (pop. approx. 4,000). Our group consists of between 6-20 protestors on any given week, and we who were initially strangers have bonded over our shared fears and hopes. Just before Christmas 2025, a married couple (retired teachers in their 80’s) handed out goodie bags containing homemade cookies and the following letter to each of us:
A thank you note to ‘Our Save-America Friends’:
Today, we acknowledge how important you are to us. That importance is solidly recognized with a symbolic sweetness of cookies, created by using two long-time family recipes.
Born to parents who began their working careers during the beginning of the Great Depression and who were raising families during WWII, we were infused with an understanding of the importance of people working together for a noble cause. That understanding has never left us our entire lives.
We began our married life as a military couple who understood that our country was improperly at war because of poor government policy. During the time we completed our college bachelor’s degrees, we became passionately committed anti-war activists, supported by our core belief that duty was to a cause greater than ourselves. It was a lifelong desire to do the right thing, with no thought of how it tangibly affected us; rather it was the intrinsic comfort that motivated us, which continues to inspire us today.
Our togetherness with you in our united Millinocket effort in support of a noble cause is rooted in the understanding that the power of people working together, regardless of age, ability, economic health, or social standing, will prevail against the evil empire that presently exists in America’s executive branch.
We love you and our team.
A. and M.
Are our politicians brave enough to speak up?
It’s not only private citizens who are waking up and protesting. More and more elected representatives, political hopefuls, decorated military heroes, and legal experts in state governments are finding the courage to speak out and even to initiate lawsuits. In Maine, my choice for future governor, Dr. Nirav Shah (who as head of Maine’s CDC, guided us through the COVID pandemic) posted a strong statement on social media this week: “Every part of this tragedy (the killing of Renée Good) was predictable. Which means that every part was preventable. Stop the ICE raids before more people die.”
What does the future hold for America?
Is there a silver lining to this black shroud currently enveloping the hearts and minds of people in the United States? Maybe it’s the knowledge that we who despise and lament what’s happening are not alone. In a nation that prides itself on the origin myth of rough and ready wilderness-tamers and individual strivers who don’t need community, maybe a bloody lesson is being painfully learned.
If we can continue to reach out to each other, to persist and endure, we can regroup and build something stronger and better: a renewed America with added legal safeguards to prevent a power-mad, immoral demagogue and his ignorant followers from ever again trampling on the Constitutional rights of a too-trusting populace. The alternative is too dire to contemplate.
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