Make NMBU Great Again?
Make NMBU Great Again?
On the morning of Wednesday, November 6th, Norwegian time, Donald Trump was declared the winner of the 2024 U.S. presidential election. "When the U.S. sneezes, the world catches a cold," as the saying goes. Will students in Ås feel the impact when Trump sneezes?
Jounalist: Kine Lie
Translator: Rebekka Berg
Illustrator: Ingvild Sperstad
What do the experts say?
As with any U.S. presidential election, thousands of American experts in Norway have emerged from their hibernation. Now that Trump has been declared the winner, many of these experts have shared their opinions on what Norwegians might expect. Kirkens SOS reported that one in four calls they received in the days following the election came from people feeling increased anxiety after Trump’s victory. The Mental Health helpline also experienced a surge in calls, indicating that many Norwegians are concerned about the future under Trump. But what does it really entail?
Many are worried about international climate cooperation and the future state of the climate during the upcoming presidential term. Trump has expressed skepticism about international climate collaboration and does not believe in human-caused climate change. When asked about rising sea levels and global warming, Trump responded, "Who the hell cares?" Well, many students at NMBU care deeply about the climate crisis. It is likely that climate anxiety among young people will increase during Trump’s presidency. The (semi-)recently elected president has been clear about the U.S.'s approach to oil exploration—“drill, baby, drill.” This could also mean that Norwegian oil companies in the U.S. might profit even more from their oil extraction. NRK estimates that U.S. greenhouse gas emissions could increase by as much as 4 billion tons by 2030 under Trump’s leadership—twice the amount the world has managed to cut over the past five years.
Students at NMBU are also concerned about war, conflict, and justice. Two of the most discussed conflicts right now—Gaza and Ukraine—could both be affected by the shift in power in the U.S. Trump has stated that he can end the war in Ukraine within 24 hours. However, U.S. experts emphasize that he has not yet articulated a foreign policy strategy, although he has mentioned that he does not wish to continue supporting Ukraine unconditionally. Regarding the war in Gaza, experts believe that cooperation between Israel and the U.S. will become even closer under Trump, giving Israel more freedom of action. Consequently, Palestinians may face a grim future.
What do NMBU students say?
On Tuesday afternoon, Tuntreet sent out a survey to NMBU students to find out how they would have voted in this year’s U.S. presidential election. There was significant interest, and we received 454 responses. Among these, 88% said they would have voted for Kamala Harris, while 10% would have voted for Donald Trump. 2% would have voted blank or for other candidates. The survey also asked why students would vote as they did. Some responses were quite reasoned: "Kamala is a less ticking time bomb than Trump," "Kamala is democratic," or "Trump will remove women's rights," etc. Other responses were more creative, such as: "Trump is delulu," or "Kamala is brat."
A nationwide survey also showed that most Norwegians would vote for Kamala Harris in a presidential election between her and Trump. However, among men aged 17-29, 47% would vote for Trump, compared to only 9% of women in the same age group. Trump thus appears to be especially popular among young men in Norway. As of November 2024, Fremskrittspartiet (FRP) is the largest political party in Norway, and several European countries are experiencing a right-wing wave similar to that in the U.S. Could this be a trend we will see more of in Norwegian politics going forward?
What does the American student say?
Tuntreet spoke with American exchange student Lindsey O’Neal about her thoughts on Trump’s victory and the future for NMBU students and the U.S.
Lindsey emphasizes that she is not surprised but still disappointed by the election outcome. Her exchange stay ends this Christmas, and she is preparing mentally and emotionally to return to the U.S. Lindsey is pursuing a master’s degree in environmental studies and is not optimistic about what Trump will do for climate change in the U.S. “Trump’s priorities will impact my passion and commitment to climate action and social freedom,” she says, adding that she expects reduced funding for her field.
Furthermore, Lindsey expressed concerns about increased racism, sexism, and violence under Trump: “The U.S. will become more dangerous for marginalized groups. I fear it will look more and more like the nightmare in The Handmaid’s Tale.” She refers to Margaret Atwood’s dystopian story where women serve as handmaids and walking wombs with no control over their own lives.
For NMBU students, Lindsey's message is clear: NMBU can learn from the U.S. but must be careful not to use the U.S. as an excuse for its own problems with sustainable development and the rise of right-wing politics. Regarding her home university, Lindsey worries about armed attacks against herself and her fellow students, due to the free gun policies promoted by Trump and his party.
The next four years could be bleak for both the U.S. and Norway under Trump, at least according to Lindsey and Norwegian experts. Fortunately, students who invested in Bitcoin a few years ago can now use their gains from Trump’s victory for something more uplifting than the U.S. presidential election.
