The Abingtonian has always included students’ voices and opinions related to local, national, and global politics. In the last four years, The Abingtonian has included editorials that have been supportive of President Trump, and it has included editorials that have criticized President Trump and cataloged his long list of offenses: he has relentlessly attacked the press as “enemies of the people,” he has racked up over 22,000 lies during his tenure that have devalued a sense of truth and decency in the nation and the world, he has pandered to racists and tweeted conspiracy theories, he admittedly misled the country about COVID-19 and he has led poorly through the pandemic, he has sought to dismantle the Affordable Care Act without proposing a replacement, and he continues to deny climate change.

President Trump is largely unpopular with news organizations around the country. Out of 96 daily newspapers, only five have endorsed Trump while 88 have endorsed former Vice President Joe Biden. Three did not endorse either candidate.  Out of 32 weekly newspapers, only 1 endorsed Trump. Out of three scientific journals, two endorsed Biden and one endorsed “not Trump.”

Here is one of Donald Trump’s “endorsements” from a daily newspaper:

“This is an election that pits a wretched human being whose policies and instincts for helping America thrive are generally correct against a doddering, doting uncle who would hand out gifts the nation can’t afford in order to win people’s love. Given that choice, economic policy and principle should prevail. Vote for Donald Trump.” – The Spokesman Review

Here are some excerpts of Biden’s major endorsements:

“Biden is a worthy antidote to Trump’s unbounded narcissism and chronic chaos.” — USA Today

“Mr. Biden is almost uniquely positioned for the moment. He would restore decency, honor and competence to America’s government.” — The Washington Post

“Joe Biden has vowed to be a president for all Americans, even those who do not support him.” — The New York Times

“Trump’s record easily justifies a position of ‘Anybody but Trump.’ But Biden isn’t just preferable to Trump; in many respects he is Trump’s antithesis.” — Los Angeles Times

“We suffer no delusions: Trump has on his side demagogic skill and ruthlessness, a willingness to break any norm or law in order to win. Nevertheless, we hope that Biden will displace him by a margin that prevents prolonged dispute or the kind of civil unrest that Trump appears to relish.” — The New Yorker

“Scientific American has never endorsed a presidential candidate in its 175-year history. This year we are compelled to do so. We do not do this lightly. The evidence and the science show that Donald Trump has badly damaged the U.S. and its people—because he rejects evidence and science.” — Scientific American

“The 2020 election, then, offers the nation a chance to reboot and rebuild from the racist, authoritarian, know-nothing wreckage wrought by the 45th president. And there are few Americans better suited to the challenge than Joe Biden.” — Rolling Stone

“Two men are running for president. One is a terrible man; the other is a decent man. Vote for the decent man.” — The Atlantic

“The fact that Biden is not an ideological firebrand, and is thought unlikely to pursue reelection in 2024 if he wins this November, augurs well for the central challenge that will confront the next president: how to repair the damage from Trump’s four years.” — The Boston Globe

“By endorsing Joe Biden, we are emphasizing that there is value in electing a president of the United States who does not engage with others with petulance. There is value in electing a president who does not insult, mock or demean. Our country can and must do better.” — Chicago Tribune

“Biden can fix this mess.” — The Seattle Times

“This election is a test of whether we still embrace the concept of ‘American exceptionalism,’ that the virtue of our values, our political system and our history remain so distinct, so worthy, so enduring that we are a role model for the world.” — San Francisco Chronicle

“Donald Trump’s despicable behavior and embarrassing record is not why The San Diego Union-Tribune Editorial Board today offers its enthusiastic endorsement of Democrat Joe Biden for president. We do so because Biden in important ways is the right person for the moment.” — The San Diego Union-Tribune

“America can overcome the damage Donald Trump has wrought in the last four years — and Joe Biden and Kamala Harris are the ones to lead the recovery.” — The Philadelphia Inquirer

“Trump’s deficiencies of decency are not a matter of style. These days, they are a matter of life and death.” — Houston Chronicle

Biden is “the only responsible choice, in fact, for voters who wish to see this country’s 244-year-old experiment in government by, for and of the people continue.” — Detroit Free Press

“The nation cannot afford four more years of him. It needs the Biden-Harris ticket to make things right.” — The South Florida Sun Sentinel

“Biden promises needed change. The alternative could be perilous for our democracy.” — Tampa Bay Times

“America needs Joe Biden.” — Newsday

“Anyone who cares about the country must this year vote for Biden, a good and able man who can put America on a path back toward sanity.” — The Buffalo News

The value of endorsements, and any effect that they may have on voters, is certainly debatable. That said, it is quite remarkable and telling that newspapers and journals overwhelmingly condemn one candidate and support the other.

As Trump’s former White House chief of staff, retired Marine General John Kelly, told friends, Donald Trump “is the most flawed person” he’s ever known. “The depths of his dishonesty is just astounding to me. The dishonesty, the transactional nature of every relationship, though it’s more pathetic than anything else. He is the most flawed person I have ever met in my life,” Kelly told friends, according to CNN reports.