The size of the audience in Washington aside, the vision of the inaugural speech of Donald J. Trump, 45th president of the United States, was definitely small.
He may have had his hand on the Lincoln Bible, but there’s nothing Lincoln-esque about Trump 45.
Trump was actually more like King Donald, issuing what he called “a new decree.”
“From this day forward, a new vision will govern our land,” Trump said. “From this moment, it’s going to be America First. Every decision on trade, taxes, on immigration, on foreign affairs, will be made to benefit American workers and families.”
Far from the grandiose uplifting poetic oratory one expects in inaugural rhetoric, the Trump speech was plain and direct, with all the eloquence of a campaign sledge hammer.
From the man who lost the popular vote and enters office with the lowest approval ratings in 20 years, I’d expected to hear a far more gracious call for unity.
Instead we get what may be the only Trump there is, the campaign Trump, always running, fighting against challenges to his legitimacy.
