President Trump’s impeachment inquiry received mostly positive reviews locally but mixed reactions on a larger scale.
The impeachment investigation, while contentious nationwide, received little backlash at Woodside, though some progressives see it as a misstep of the Democratic Party.
After a whistleblower complaint detailing a call between President Trump and Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky was released, the Democrat-controlled House began an impeachment investigation. Many Woodside students voiced their support.
“I think [the investigation] may possibly be warranted,” said Ronan Morrill, a Woodside senior. “This is not a partisan issue, because the integrity of the electoral process is at stake.”
Though some progressives disagree with Morrill’s assessment, they claim impeachment does not solve the failings of the government. Some speculate that impeaching Trump will give a false sense of accomplishment to Democrats; his policies are still in effect and little will have changed.
“If we don’t begin to address the underlying… disenfranchisement and rage, and legitimate rage, on the part of the white working class … impeachment itself will rip the fabric of American society further into antagonistic tribes,” commented Pulitzer Prize winning journalist Chris Hedges.
However, nationwide, opinions are not so progressive.
“[The whistleblower] is a deep state operative, pure and simple,” Stephen Miller, a White House political aid stated.
While a CNN poll found that 51 percent of the country is in favor of impeachment investigations and 44 percent are opposed, Trump’s base has remained firm in its support of the President. Republican officials have generally been against the investigation, but some Republicans, such as Congressman Mark Amodi, indicated tentative support.
When asked whether he supports the investigation, Amodi said, “Let’s put it through the process and see what happens.”
A spokeswoman for Amodi later clarified that Amodi supports the “oversight process” but not an inquiry. Trump has continued calls to end the impeachment inquiry.
In a tweet, President Trump expressed his displeasure with the investigation: “If that perfect phone call with the President of Ukraine isn’t considered appropriate, then no future President can EVER again speak to another foreign leader!”
“If the things they say he has done are true, I think those are not acceptable at all,” said Woodside junior Gavin Feri. “It’s just not something you should do as a president.”
