We the People: I, Donald

Donald Trump will become our 45th president after a stunning victory over Hillary Clinton on Election Day.

How did a businessman with no political experience and a checkered celebrity reputation handily defeat a former lawmaker with vast experience? The result was a verdict on the dysfunction of establishment politics and on Hillary Clinton’s deep unpopularity.

Now that the contest has concluded, the result will raise issues due to the election of a reality televison star and real estate tycoon to the most powerful office in the world. How Mr. Trump will balance his personal and public business after January 20 will generate intense scrutiny. There will be endless entanglements and conflicts of interest once he takes office.

Mr. Trump has not agreed to turn over his businesses to an independent manager or a trust so it will be impossible to avoid situations where the exercise of public power as chief executive will give the appearance of impropriety. With a business empire that spans the globe, there will be ethical questions raised that will interfere with his ability to deal with individuals and organizations at home and abroad.

Mr. Trump’s relentless appeal to the disillusioned middle class during the brutal and divisive campaign rewarded him with the White House. Now he must become the president to all citizens.

Mr. Trump unabashedly concentrated on white and white male voters and his success with them gave him victory. This demonstrated that no group of voters can be overlooked without consequence but success at election does not assure success in governance.

Now it is time to put division and rancor aside. The office of the president must be respected and Mr. Trump should get support from all citizens after he assumes office.

If Mr. Trump is able to live up to only half of the economic promises made during the campaign, he could be a great president. Republicans control the House and the Senate and shall control the Supreme Court of the United States. Under these circumstances, Mr. Trump should have no problem delivering on his campaign promise to repeal the Affordable Care Act, withdraw from the TPP, renegotiate NAFTA and build a border wall that will be paid for by Mexico.

However, he will then need to figure out how to provide and pay for medical care for the 20 million Americans who will lose health insurance and provide for the children of undocumented residents after their parents are deported.

Perhaps Mr. Trump played the part of an extreme and unsympathetic demagogue because it was necessary to win the election but now that the campaign is over, he will adjust his rhetoric and promises to suit the reality of governing. In real life, nothing gets done without respect and moderation and compromise.

When Mr. Trump takes office, he will need support and help from Democrats and Independents to accomplish anything of substance in his term.

The true strength of America rests not in its elected representatives but within its people. All presidents are elected to serve the people and to provide for the security and welfare of all citizens. Mr. Trump needs a chance to do that and he should get support and an opportunity to serve on January 20.