Ashur Stepro would vote for Trump. Photo courtesy of 2025 graduate Cate Tucker.
At San Luis Obispo High School, there is a wide range of political views, with the most polarized sides of both parties represented. This includes 2025 graduate Ashur Stepro, who considers himself part of the republican party and a Donald Trump supporter who doesn’t agree with all of Trump’s policies. Left-leaning expressions editor Cate Tucker interviewed him.
Expressions: What’s your overall opinion on Trump?
Stepro: Donald Trump has a plan to turn around this country. His policies on subjects such as tariffs and immigration are beneficial to our country. However, I do think that his aggressive approach is causing backlash, including mass migration and huge spikes in prices for consumers.
Expressions: What are your opinions on the fact that Trump has stated that tariffs are rising to bring back American jobs?
Stepro: It will create more jobs for the United States as more companies will start being less reliant on other countries, such as China, for instance. More companies will start building their foundations in the United States. And that especially benefits us high schoolers, because we’re about to become adults and be in the workforce, whether that’s directly after graduating or later on, as a side job in college.
Expressions: CNBC said that if an iPhone were produced in America, it would cost 25% more. Would you be willing to pay that new price?
Stepro: Yikes. I would not directly buy brand new, I am willing to buy older models or refurbished goods as well.
Expressions: What are your personal views on immigration?
Stepro: I’ve been ranting on Instagram about this. I do think people often confuse immigrants with illegal immigrants, because an immigrant is just a foreigner. There is a process to let immigrants into the country, and they have to get their visas. People crossing the border and cutting in line make it unfair to those who wait and get their visa. Immigrants have come into the country, and 10% of them have committed crimes, such as the Haitians in Ohio.
Expressions: How do your views compare to Trump’s on this topic?
Stepro: I don’t agree with his ideas of mass deportation. There should be a slower process of putting foreigners back where they came from, and not just immediately sending them into camps and getting them out of the country. Especially because some illegal immigrants come in with families, and that’s unfair to the children. I do agree with his border policy, though.
Expressions: Do you disagree with Trump in his 2016 term, when he was okay with separating children from their parents during immigration?
Stepro: The parents decided to illegally step into the country. I’m not saying that I disagree or agree. I’m less focused on Donald Trump separating the family, and more on the parents who made that decision to bring their family into the country. I do agree with Trump’s choice on this, I just don’t want it to seem like I am not empathetic.
Expressions: How do you feel about the policies that Trump has put in place against transgender people?
Stepro: Someone who’s transgender might have full-on testosterone, they might have a full-on beard, but their passport says F, that’s just going to raise confusion. I do think that LGBT+ rights should not be taught within schools at such a young age. I do think that LGBT+ values should not be validated over counseling and proper diagnosis, as a lot of LGBT+ people may suffer from neurodivergent disabilities or depression. Along with LGBT+ are only 10%, so I don’t think, let’s say, there’s a classroom of thirty people, that it’s important to be taught for three people.
Sources: CNBC.com.
