Joe Biden and Kamala Harris' historic win was emotional for a lot of people. Moments after it was announced across every major network this weekend, crowds took to the streets to celebrate. But while so many were overcome with emotion after waiting for days to hear the results, only a few were captured on TV in the midst of their own outpouring.
One commentator couldn't contain his relief. Van Jones was visibly emotional as he spoke about what this win means to him as a father. "It's easier to be a parent this morning," he said while choking up. "It's easier to be a dad. It's easier to tell your kids that character matters. The truth matters. Being a good person matters."
Over the course of the Trump presidency, it was well-documented that Donald Trump often shared misinformation with his millions of followers on social media. He also told a record number of outright lies when speaking to the press. While the US is still divided on many issues, most people agree that the truth matters, especially when it comes to our leaders.
No matter where your views fall on the political spectrum, it's hard not to see that Joe Biden's win was extremely emotional for a lot of people. But for parents who believe in teaching their children that our leaders should, at the very least, try to tell the truth, this win held even more weight. The Trump presidency has been overshadowed by mistruths from the very start.
Trump began his campaign with a falsehood about President Barack Obama, saying that the president was not born in the United States — a claim that had already been thoroughly disproved. And throughout his own presidency, Trump has repeated false claims and shared lies on social media, which spread like wildfire. It's been emotionally exhausting to watch and, for parents trying to teach their kids the importance of telling the truth, at times hard to stomach.
This is the point that Van Jones spoke to. And it's only part of what makes Biden's win so important to so many. While the age of misinformation is far from over, and people will continue to share misinformation on social media, having a president who spouts lies on the regular is deeply harmful on so many levels.
Van Jones also pointed to other groups that this win is important to. "This is vindication for a lot of people who have suffered under this administration," he continued. "If you're Muslim in this country, you won't have to worry about the president not wanting you here. If you're an immigrant, you won't have to worry about your babies being snatched away."
He continued, "If you're a Dreamer, you won't have to be worried about getting sent away for no reason. When George Floyd was murdered, he said 'I can't breathe.' Over these past four years, too many of us have felt like they couldn't breathe."
The Trump presidency has been harmful to a lot of minority groups who felt targeted as a result of the president's rhetoric. Having a president who has no qualms about using racist language, who refuses to acknowledge that Black Lives Matter, and who creates an environment of fear and division has made this a scary time for so many. Van Jones believes that the coming of a new president will be healing.
He also said that a Biden presidency will be less exhausting. "Going to the store while people get nastier and nastier as they become less and less afraid to show their racism makes you tired," he said. "Being worried about if your sister can just go to Walmart and get back into her car without somebody saying offensive something to her — it's not okay."
People on the internet were quick to echo Van's feelings. Even Michelle Obama weighed in. She wrote, "Van, thank you for expressing the sorrow and relief that we all feel. My hope is that those who hoped for a different outcome will take a moment to empathize with the pain so many of us have felt over the past four years."
Biden acknowledged in his speech over the weekend that it's been a tough four years. But he also spoke at length about creating unity in this country. It seems like the biggest focus of the beginning of his presidency will be about bringing people together — something that is so sorely needed at this moment.
Hopefully, people will begin to come together so that our nation can start to heal. We have been so divided for the past several years, made worse by the spread of misinformation — largely coming from the commander in chief. Now the people have spoken and are ready for something new.
Van Jones is just one of the many, many people and parents who are hoping for the best.
