After Trump victory, ‘not my president’ becomes liberal rallying cry
The election of Donald Trump as president of the United States ignited angry protests from left-leaning Americans online and elsewhere — with the phrase “not my president” echoing throughout.
Many liberal and moderate Americans, who had joyfully anticipated Hillary Clinton shattering the glass ceiling as the first woman president, took to Twitter to lament that the nation elected a man they consider to be singularly unsuited for the role of commander in chief.
They used the hashtag #notmypresident to suggest that the slew of Trump’s controversial statements, beliefs and actions were not merely unbecoming but also an outrage to the office. The president-elect has been accused of xenophobia, racism, Islamophobia and misogyny repeatedly throughout his campaign. A common theme among people using the hashtag was that Trump represents hate to them.
I am ashamed to have fought for this country. I will never pick up a weapon in defense of it again. #NotMyPresident #IdiocracyIsReal
— Richard Bumm (@TheSoftwareEngi) November 9, 2016
A PRESIDENT IS SUPPOSED TO MAKE US FEEL PROTECTED AND PATRIOTIC, NOT SCARED AND ASHAMED TO BE AN AMERICAN. #NOTMyPresident
— Princess? (@materialgirl_me) November 9, 2016
I have never been more disgusted by this country in my entire life. #NotMyPresident
— Lupita Ortiz (@Guad_Ortiz) November 9, 2016
We just elected a president that is racist, sexist, and has no political or military background. Way to go. #Unbelievable #NOTmypresident
— Courtney Ableiter (@CAbleiter) November 9, 2016
For those people saying calm down, no I will not. Yesterday, hate won, racism won, and sexism won. He is #notmypresident And I am ashamed.
— Haley Halvorson (@haleyhalv22) November 9, 2016
If Donald Trump can spend the last 8 years treating Obama as if he's not the president, I can spend the next 4. #notmypresident
— NOVEMBER 8th ???????? ?? (@JamalPaisley) November 9, 2016
Others used a similar hashtag: #HesNotMyPresident.
As far as I'm concerned this is the only land with freedom and liberty this is the true USA #HesNotMyPresident pic.twitter.com/emfFRJY1Jo
— ????royalty free???? (@punkmisfitxoxx) November 9, 2016
America is supposed to be land of the free, now so many of us are scared for our future #HesNotMyPresident
— Jess/blackout (@EuphoricHurley) November 9, 2016
#HesNotMyPresident It doesn't sound right calling him President. After Obama leaves, I have no President.
— Chocolate Princess (@IKnow_WhatIWant) November 9, 2016
The Los Angeles Times reported that there were protests at college campuses and on streets across California. At UC Santa Barbara, for instance, hundreds of students gathered to disavow the president-elect, and some shouted, “Not my president. Not my president,” according to the paper.
As the hashtag went viral, Trump, who has long been an avid Twitter user, sent out his first tweet as president-elect and updated his bio on the platform to “President-elect of the United States.”
Such a beautiful and important evening! The forgotten man and woman will never be forgotten again. We will all come together as never before
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 9, 2016
Some condemned the hashtag as hypocritical. They found it ironic that many Democrats were outraged when Trump questioned whether Barack Obama was a U.S. citizen and therefore eligible to be president, only to later to say that Trump does not represent them despite having won the election.
#NotMyPresident The irony of this hashtag is Donald said the same about OBAMA for 8 years.
— SHARKADOM (@MPC1LOVE) November 9, 2016
#NotMyPresident this hashtag is stupid and hypercritical. you can't say this and accuse those who said the same about Obama traitors.
— NJ4K (@NJ4K1) November 9, 2016
I do not support the #NotMyPresident movement. We are a constitutional republic of, by, and for the people. #WeThePeople have chosen.
— Austin Petersen (@AP4LP) November 9, 2016
Trump’s victory over his highly favored rival came as a shock to much of the United States and throughout the world. Heading into the election, polls had been favoring the former secretary of state.
During his victory speech in New York City, Trump, a former reality television star, vowed to rebuild U.S. infrastructure and revitalize the economy. But his various radical policy proposals on the campaign trail and lack of experience in elected office sets the nation on an uncertain course.
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