The immediate fallout of the American election saw protesters take to the streets, voicing their valid disappointment and concern regarding their country’s impending future. It’s a sentiment echoing across the entire nation, and for everyone who didn’t vote for Donald Trump, it’s a natural reaction born of extreme disappointment. Hillary Clinton’s campaign hoped that celebrity endorsements would only help to augment her platform, something to help reach the White House steps. While it may have solidified her loyalist vote, it also fueled her opponent’s narrative of an elitist agenda.
When Trump was declared president-elect, Clinton’s high-profile supporters shared their shock and sadness on social media. One of these celebrities, was prominent screenwriter, Aaron Sorkin, who wrote a powerful letter to his daughter, Roxy. Sorkin shared his message exclusively on Vanity Fair, which published the piece earlier today. In his letter, Sorkin said that seeing Trump elected was a “terrible feeling for a father”.
Like many who fear the makeup of the extreme right-wing movement, Sorkin says that not only did the American people elect Trump, but so too did they justify his dangerous supporters. “It wasn’t just Donald Trump who won last night—it was his supporters too,” writes the West Wing scribe. “The Klan won last night. White nationalists. Sexists, racists and buffoons. Angry young white men who think rap music and Cinco de Mayo are a threat to their way of life (or are the reason for their way of life) have been given cause to celebrate”.
The letter ends with a smidgen of hope, as Sorkin reiterates that there are plenty of people around the world who feel the same disgust as he does. While he remains upset at the result, the filmmaker tells his daughter that now is the time to fight back. “We’re not powerless and we’re not voiceless,” he states assuredly. “We don’t have majorities in the House or Senate but we do have representatives there. It’s also good to remember that most members of Trump’s own party feel exactly the same way about him that we do”.
Like many others, Sorkin continues to drive the political discussion online, with a narrative shared by a staggering amount of folks around the world. While remaining somewhat positive, he still feels that Americans have “embarrassed ourselves in front of our children and the world.”
