America’s Hope for Unity in a Nation Divided by Politics

As Donald Trump prepares to take the oath of office next month and begin his second term as president, Americans are at odds with the state of divisiveness across the country. While some believe President-elect Trump can unify the nation, others believe his rhetoric and new agenda will deepen the divide. Regardless of party affiliation, one theme remains constant: Americans want to be united. 

In Lynchburg, Virginia, locals have shared their discontent with the political system and its role in dividing the public. Shannon Pinn, a veteran who now runs a vendor booth at County Line Flea Market, believes the government aims to divide the people it represents.

“The division is being manufactured so that American citizens are played one against the other,” Pinn said.

Pinn also expressed discontent with the lack of accountability for government officials, who he believes place status and party affiliation above the law. 

“How are you going to bring together a nation that turns a blinder based on political affiliation?” Pinn said. “We let right and wrong go to the wayside because of popularity and party affiliation.”

For Pinn, this has trickled down to the American public, who he believes have slipped in their virtues and ability to self-reflect.

“There has been a lowering of a bar as far as what it means to be an American citizen; there’s no personal responsibility anymore; there’s no civic mindedness,” Pinn said.

Logan Grant, a Lynchburg native who did not vote in the 2024 election, expressed his distaste for the entire political system.

“The American political system is impossible to establish and maintain unity,” Grant said.

While some people still have faith in the political system, Grant’s views on the lack of unity is shared by many.

A recent Gallup poll found that 80 percent of Americans believe that the country is greatly divided, a figure that has more than tripled from the 24 percent of Americans who felt the same over two decades ago. Some Americans attribute this divide to the lack of healthy discourse within the government and amongst the electorate. 

Evan Price, a communications student at the University of Lynchburg, says that more people should approach divisive conversations with a sense of respect.

“We need to be able to challenge people while still being respectful and maintaining some sort of dignity,” said Price. “I think just having a healthy dialogue is extremely, extremely important with people.”

Brian Craig, a longtime Bedford, Virginia resident, feels unity is more important than personal ideology or party affiliation. He stressed the importance of setting aside differences to unite as a country.

“Let’s move forward and work together, that’s what the public needs to do,” Craig said.

Lisa Callahan, a small business owner in Bedford, says that she believes unity will come with time but critiqued some groups for placing ideology and party affiliation over unity.

“I think that in the long run, people will unite. But there are some people that are so far left and so far liberal that they just don’t get it,” Callahan said.

During his election night victory speech, president-elect Trump encouraged the American people to come together and unite.

“It is time to put the divisions of the past four years behind us,” said Trump, who will now be tasked with promoting and maintaining unity after he is sworn into office on Jan. 20.

Despite this call for unity, Trump has a history of divisive rhetoric, which has left some Americans hoping that he can change as he heads into his second term. 

Emma Timberg, a communications student at the University of Lynchburg, hopes to see a change in Trump’s approach to reaching across the aisle.

“As a president, you should be able to respect someone else and someone else’s differing opinion,” Timberg said.

In his second inaugural address, delivered near the end of the Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln stated that the best way for the nation to move forward is for Americans to act “With malice toward none and with charity for all.” Lincoln’s approach to maintaining the Union did not seek to pit Americans in the north and the south against each other, but rather highlighted their common interest to “achieve and cherish a just and lasting peace amongst ourselves and with all nations.” 

The idea of a lasting peace amongst all Americans may feel foreign to some, but others are holding out hope for unity across the nation. With such a deep divide at the federal level, some feel it is the responsibility of the American people to enact change; they are adamant that if unity is desired, then unity will prevail.

“A lot of people I don’t think understand that their government is a reflection of them; not only of their virtues, but their feelings,” Pinn said.