P R E S I D E N T
T R U M P
By
Editorial Board
November
9 at 2:35 AM
Source:
The Washington Post
DONALD
TRUMP was elected the 45th president of the United States on Tuesday. Those are
words we hoped never to write. But Mr. Trump shocked the pollsters, riding a
wave propelled in part by rural and Rust Belt voters who felt the political
establishment had cast them aside. While Mr. Trump might not have done the same
for his rival, Hillary Clinton, had she won, all Americans must accept the
voters’ judgment, and work for the best possible outcome for our country and
the world.
What
does that mean in practice? First, to hope that Mr. Trump will be a better
president than we fear, and to support him when he does the right thing. Mr.
Trump will soon command a sprawling federal bureaucracy, sophisticated law
enforcement and intelligence agencies, and the world’s most powerful military.
We have every wish that he will understand that the U.S. system of government
is not for or about one person. He alone cannot fix it. The powers of the Oval
Office do not exist to punish his enemies, about which he mused as the campaign
drew to a close, according to a recent New York Times article.
The
new president will face immense and unrelenting challenges from Day One. He
inherits a world in which liberal democracy is in retreat and U.S. leadership
is doubted. The Middle East is in turmoil, North Korea’s nuclear arsenal is
growing, Russia and China are flexing their muscles. At home, President Obama
bequeaths an economy in generally good health but facing problems: slow growth,
stubborn inequality, long-term stress on the federal budget.
We
can’t pretend to optimism that Mr. Trump will suddenly shape more rational
responses to these problems than he offered on the campaign trail, nor that he
will discover a discipline or wisdom he has yet to display. Over the course of
his campaign, Mr. Trump spoke about jailing Ms. Clinton, suing women who accused
him of unwanted sexual advances, neutering the speaker of the House and
revoking press freedoms. Per the Times article, he has spoken of creating a
super PAC dedicated to political vengeance. He has promised to deport millions,
rip up trade agreements, apply religious tests and sabotage international
efforts to fight climate change, each of which would hurt many people.
If
he attempts to act on these goals and inclinations, others must rally to the
defense of constitutional principles and sound government. Republican leaders
in Congress endorsed Mr. Trump on the bet that he would back their legislative
agenda and respect their authority. They will be put to the test. Law
enforcement agencies must guard against any attempt to use them unlawfully. The
judiciary, the civil service, the media and civil society more broadly will
have important roles to play.
Americans
are not and have never been united by blood or creed, but by allegiance to a
democratic system of government that shares power, cherishes the rule of law
and respects the dignity of individuals. We hope our newly elected president
will show respect for that system. Americans must stand ready to support him if
he does, and to support the system whether he does or does not.
