Never since the inauguration of Abraham Lincoln has so much in the free world hinged upon the intentions of one man coming fresh to the Presidency. Freedom then was a very different concept to freedom now, but Lincoln set in train a change of direction for the United States which broadened the notion of what freedom meant and ultimately projected America to leadership of the free world. But Lincoln’s mission was achieved at enormous cost.
Now Donald Trump, the outlandish candidate who should not be chosen, would not be nominated and could not run and when all those predictions failed, would lose big and drag the Republican party down with him, is about to take the oath of office as the 45th President of the United States. He has not only won the Presidency, but he has delivered the rare victorious combination of Republican control of both the House and the Senate. Never in history has so much political commentary from so many seasoned pundits proved so wrong.
So now nobody dares predict what comes next. This blog believes there will be disruptive change and a new perspective both at home and abroad. At what cost we cannot tell, nor whether that cost will be justified by outcomes which reach out to those who have been left behind, as well as ease tensions in a world where so much needs to be calmed. One can only hope that this billionaire’s ability to make a profit will attend him in politics as it has in business. We know he will leave the world and his country in a different place. The test is whether it will be a better one.