Donald Trump began his presidency with a burst of anger on January
20, 2017. Many observers noted that his 16-minute inaugural address
was more akin to a tirade than the more idealistic speeches delivered
on past inauguration days. The disrupter had arrived in Washington.
Washington - Some of the harshest lines of Donald Trump's
inauguration speech on January 20, 2017, were the ones in which he
described what he said was the reality for many US citizens.
On a chilly and at times rainy day, he spoke of "rusted out factories
scattered like tombstones," schools that leave young people "deprived
of all knowledge" and "the crime, the gangs and the drugs," pledging:
"This American carnage stops right here and stops right now."
Though the 45th president made a brief appeal for unity, the message
he delivered that day was not about reconciliation or hope - his
victory had not changed the dogged campaigner.
"We, the citizens of America are now joined in a great national
effort to rebuild our country and restore its promise for all of our
people," he said.
His first year, however, has been more about division: blacks against
whites, immigrants against citizens, rich against poor, left against
right and nationalists against globalists. People have dug in deep -
and farther from the middle.
While political scientists say the division in America didn't start
that day, they agree the split has grown larger since the populist
president took office.
A survey by Pew Research Center shows that 60 per cent of Americans
believe the relationship between different ethnic groups has
deteriorated, emphasizing the country's racial divide.
Trump also spoke about the establishment and his aim to return power
to the people.
"For too long, a small group in our nation's capital has reaped the
rewards of government, while the people have borne the cost," Trump
said. "January 20, 2017 will be remembered as the day the people took
over again."
The reality is that never before have so many representatives of big
business been so close to the president. Wall Street, critics fear,
has taken power, not the people.
While he has made good on his pledge to disrupt the political
establishment he might not have reckoned with a backlash from his own
party.
Top Republicans have been frustrated by his policies, statements and
tweets on a number of occasions. In the Senate, where Republicans
hold a slim majority, many members consider Trump toxic.
The White House itself has hardly any establishment Republicans in
top positions since Sean Spicer departed as spokesman and Reince
Priebus was replaced as chief of staff by former general John Kelly.
The most important cabinet posts are filled by former military men
and financiers.
In foreign policy, some of his biggest decisions have been made
unilaterally. He pulled the US out of the Paris climate accord and
upset allies in the Middle East with his decision to recognize
Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.
Elaine Kamarck of the Brookings Institution has reached the
conclusion that the first year of his presidency "has been nothing
but one big self-inflicted wound."
Trump barely fulfilled any of his promises, she said. He antagonized
senators belonging to his own party and broke with allies.
Trump put US allies and everyone else in the world on notice in his
inauguration speech when he said "from this day forward, it's going
to be only America first." He said Americans would rebuild their
country with American labour and follow two rules "buy American, and
hire American."
As a consequence, a free trade agreement under negotiation with
Pacific Rim countries was cancelled within days of Trump taking
office and the more than 20-year-old North American Free Trade
Agreement is being renegotiated and could collapse.
That is Trump's way of fighting for Americans with every breath in
his body, as he pledged to do on inauguration day.
But Americans may have to be patient as they wait for him to fulfil
his other pledge that "America will start winning again, winning like
never before."