By Michael Townsend

He called Mexican immigrants drug dealers and rapists. He insulted several women based on their appearance. He attacked a Gold Star family that spoke against him at the DNC for being Muslim. He even lost the popular vote in the election. Donald Trump has challenged every qualification to be the president of the historically great country known as America, and yet by a constitutional gaffe known as the electoral college, he is headed to the Oval Office to become the 45th President of the United States. Yet to save this great country from plunging into the dark abyss, we must get together behind Trump and support him throughout the next 4 years.

There is no denying that Trump has run one of the most bizarre political campaigns if not the most bizarre political campaign in American history, let alone one for the presidency. What Trump calls a lack of political correctness consists of passive racism, overt sexism, and an overall lack of tolerance for minority groups including the LGBT community. Yet in spite of these blunders, a persistent scandal concerning Democratic challenger Hillary Clinton’s use of a private email server to send and receive classified emails allowed Trump to maintain a close second place throughout much of the election.

Although Clinton still had a small, but assuring lead of 3 points on Real Clear Politics as late as early afternoon on Election Day, November 8, at the first poll closings Trump took an early electoral vote lead and maintained it throughout the evening en route to the 270 votes needed to win the election. In the early hours of November 9, Clinton conceded the election to Trump as major news outlets called the election in favor of Trump, thus completing the upset victory.

In spite of what people may think of Trump, a win is a win, and Trump won on Tuesday fair and square. As the liberal son of parents that have voted Democratic in every presidential election since 1984, by nature the last thing I want right now is to welcome the very conservative Trump into the White House. Yet in a divided country that has been moving in the wrong direction socially over the last year or two, it is necessary to unite behind our country’s leader no matter who it is.

Trump has put down countless Americans throughout the election cycle, yet only Trump has the power to fight for all Americans as the leader of this country. Therefore, no matter what my political views are, I will throw my support and trust behind Donald Trump as the President of the United States and I urge all Americans to do the same.

As someone who wants to see America remain a union for years to come, putting my faith in Trump is all my conscience allows me to do. We get another chance in 2020, but for the next four years it is important to have an open mind and give the 45th president all the confidence he needs to keep the country together.