Shropshire Star

Donald Trump Inauguration: 'America steps into the unknown'

As Donald Trump prepares to be inaugurated as the 45th president of the US, Salopian Chris Smith, now living in Florida, has given us his views on the new leader.

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Here is the full letter from Mr Smith in America:

Today, the United States of America moves into unknown territory as Donald J Trump is sworn in as the 45th President. Never has such an unconventional, unpredictable individual uttered the oath of office.

As such, even seasoned observers have little sense of how the reality TV star will choose to govern. This week, outgoing vice-President Joe Biden said: "We have no freakin' idea what he is going to do." You and me both, Joe!

Will Trump attempt to follow through on his most extreme campaign pledges? What is the true extent of this relationship with Russia and Vladimir Putin, whom he often praises? Will he continue to oppose the scientific consensus on climate change? Will he finally be able to keep his forked tongue in check when delicate diplomacy must supersede the personal slights that have previously provoked his ire?

I have no freakin' idea, but we're about to find out.

Bluster and boycotts

There was hope the brash rhetoric would end with the campaign season – that Trump would finally start behaving in a manner deemed "presidential". That hasn't happened. Instead he has ratcheted up the childish outbursts and insults.

He has waged a damaging war of words with the US intelligence community over Russia's meddling in the election. He has dismissed respected news outlets and reporters as peddling "fake news". He lashed out at Meryl Streep following her critical speech at the Golden Globes and even sank to denigrating civil rights hero Congressman John Lewis, on the eve of Martin Luther King Day.

Donald, you won mate. Get with the programme!

The latter affront has led more than 60 congressional democrats to follow Lewis' lead and boycott the inauguration completely. While lawmakers remonstrate through absenteeism, record numbers of protesters will be in attendance. Tens of thousands of them will descend upon Washington and those scenes could make to make the ugly Bush inauguration of 2001 seem like a peaceful afternoon in Shrewsbury's Dingle.

Yet it would be unfair and inaccurate to define this historic event solely as some sort of national tragedy. More than 62 million people voted for Trump. For so many of those supporters, today will be a celebration. To the people in places like Michigan, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania, he is the president who will finally speak to their concerns.

Plenty of folks still believe he'll 'Make America Great Again'. To do that he'll need to unite all Americans, not just his supporters, but how do you unite people by firing insults at anyone who dares to question you?

The unqualified Cabinet

Trump's ever-evolving positions make his actions difficult to predict, but there are plenty of clues from the merry band of billionaires and bankers he has selected for senior roles in his administration.

Rex Tillerson, outgoing president and CEO of the world's biggest oil company, ExxonMobil, has been asked to carry out US foreign policy as Secretary of State. Because oil-centric foreign policy has worked so well this century, hasn't it? Betsy DeVos, an advocate of allowing guns in school zones and who critics say wants to privatise public schools, is the education pick. Scott Pruitt has close ties to the fossil fuel industry and a history of denying humanity's role in climate change. Believe it or not, he'll lead the Environmental Protection Agency. And you thought Boris as Foreign Secretary was a strange pick!

Potential positives?

Amid this despair from liberals, is there any hope that this may actually turn out OK? That Trump will exceed expectations and do a good job? Well, perhaps.

Since winning, Trump has aggressively pursued his pledge to halt vast foreign outsourcing of manufacturing with a measure of success.

The big early marker Trump hopes to lay down is to "repeal and replace" Obamacare (the Affordable Care Act). That would be a backward step potentially robbing an estimated 20 million Americans of coverage. Yet, it's clear the landmark bill is in need of a drastic shake-up. Outside the US there's a misconception Obamacare cured the great American health insurance injustice, when it really just shifted it. For the average family (including my own), monthly insurance premiums continue to rise exponentially and sky-high deductibles make the coverage close to worthless.

Whether Trump's as-yet-undefined alternative will improve the situation remains to be seen. I also keep hearing, Trump is "a pragmatist" rather than a crusader. That he'll listen to the best business case for the United States, rather than carry out an idealist's agenda. For, example, a group of UK scientists recently asserted that if shown evidence green energy is the best way forward for growth and prosperity, Trump would take that route.

How 'special' are we?

What does this all mean for the United Kingdom? With Theresa May pushing Britain towards a clean break from the EU, the need for a "special relationship" with the US is perhaps at its greatest since World War Two.

In an interview with a sycophantic Michael Gove in The Times last weekend, Trump made positive noises about agreeing a post-Brexit trade deal "very quickly". Obama, of course, sparked anger by vowing the UK would be at the "back of the queue" on trade if it quit Europe. So that's progress, I guess.

Like many Brexit voters, Trump also believes the EU is a "vehicle for Germany," so at least there's contemptuous common ground to explore. I jest… sort of.

While kowtowing to Trump might seem advantageous, my hope would be the UK government learns from Tony Blair's fatal mistake of supporting controversial policies like the Iraq War, in exchange for a pat on the head from Washington.

Dilemma

While the UK's relationship with Trump will develop over time, the dilemma for Americans opposed to his election is whether to glove-up and fight his policies every step of the way, or to accept and support the new President.

Personally, I'm worried. Worried about the international incidents those late night Twitter tantrums could spark. I'm concerned for minority communities fearing mass deportations and facing bigotry, and for the continued freedom of the press.

Yet I also see hope. I believe this is a brief flirtation with America's ugliest face. I'm convinced it will emerge from this experiment stronger, wiser and more resolute. All around me I see efforts to rally around those who may be vulnerable and a determination that progression on issues like gay marriage and women's health won't be eroded. Already, there's a realisation "we're better than this".

Indeed, it is in this arena that Barack Obama, the great inspirer and uplifter of our time, will be greatly needed moving forward.

The good news is Trump's route in is also America's way out. Mid-term elections next year will provide an early referendum on his performance and the chance to limit his power by returning the House and Senate to Democratic control. Beyond that, there are just 1,383 days remaining until Americans have the opportunity to send him back to the gilded halls of Trump Tower.

The political reaction here at home to Trump’s appointment

Politicians in Shropshire and Mid Wales acknowledged today's inauguration of Donald Trump with something akin to a reluctant grunt of acceptance.

Mr Trump was being installed as the 45th President of the United States and will tonight spend his first night in the White House.

Washington has spent many days preparing for today's inauguration, with Barack Obama hastily moving out following his farewell press conference.

The change has also meant work elsewhere, with London's Madame Tussauds working overnight to put the finishing touches to the new Trump display.

But while the circus around his inauguration continued, politicians here voiced their reservations.

His election victory was met with dismay by many back in November.

Wrekin MP Mark Pritchard's response was to urge people to "pray for America".

Today he took a more measured approach, saying he hoped the new President would work towards uniting his country, as well as building relationships with his country's allies.

Mr Pritchard said he hoped the new Presidency would pave the way for a closer trading relationship with the UK in the wake of the Brexit vote.

He said: "I hope the new President works towards uniting America, and surrounds himself with experienced and wise advisers.

"President of the United States is a serious job and requires a serious mind. I also hope he will move quickly to a bilateral trade deal with the UK.

"He should also support Nato, not talk it down. It may be a flawed alliance, but it has kept the peace for decades."

Montgomeryshire MP Glyn Davies today said he thought Donald Trump had been an "awful" candidate, and nothing that had happened since the election had changed his view.

Glyn Davies MP

But Mr Davies said President Trump had been elected by a democratic process, and the choice of the American people had to be respected.

But he said he hoped the responsibilities of office would have a moderating effect on the President, and said it was now up to Britain to work at building a good relationship and seizing on the positives.

"Ever since he was elected, I thought he was the worst candidate I have seen in any election ever, and nothing has changed since," said Mr Davies.

"However, the American people elected him, and we have got to give him a chance.

"He did say some terrible things, but he struck a chord with a lot of the American people.

"The responsibilities of office may well change him, but I don't think it will change him that much in terms of his style. But it is obviously a style that the American people like."

He said the British government must now look to working on the positive aspects of a Trump presidency.

"He has got a very positive outlook towards Britain, and we have got to work with that."

Mr Davies added that British governments throughout the ages have had to work with people they do not necessarily agree with.

"There are plenty of people around the world who are worse than Donald Trump," he added.

North Shropshire MP Owen Paterson and his Shrewsbury and Atcham colleague Daniel Kawczynski were more hopeful about the Trump presidency, saying it created exciting opportunities.

Owen Paterson MP

Mr Paterson said the past weeks had demonstrated that Mr Trump had a great desire to build relations with the UK, and it was up to the Government to make the most of this.

"I think people need to put to one side their personal views and some of the extraordinary things Trump has said, and be hard-faced about the opportunities for the UK from the most pro-UK administration for decades.

"There are people like (General James) Mattis who is vastly experienced and has worked with UK forces in Afghanistan and Iraq.

"He also supports an independent UK, in total contrast to Clinton and Obama who totally bought into the European Union.

"It puts us ahead of the game with Theresa May apparently going to be one of the first foreign visitors to the new President, before Germany and France, where Merkel and Hollande have been off-hand and critical of the President.

"We have got to be hard-faced about this opportunity for the UK, and grab it with both hands."

Mr Kawczynski said he was hopeful that Mr Trump's election would lead to a thawing in relations between the US and Russia.

Daniel Kawczynski

"I passionately believe that some of the world's insoluble problems in terms of regional conflicts and human suffering are protracted to some extent by the lack of understanding and trust between the world's two superpowers.

"Syria is a case in point, it's been going on for five years because of a lack of understanding between Russia and America, and the personal chemistry between Putin and Obama has been terrible.

"If there is any possibility that Trump and Putin can recalibrate that relationship, it will bring hope for all of us."

Ludlow MP Philip Dunne said the inauguration was a chance to renew Britain's relationship with its old ally.

"A new President is always a time to reflect on our relationship with the US, which continues to be pivotal for both countries in terms of trade, defence and security," he said.

"I look forward to continuing that close relationship."

He declined to be drawn on whether the relationship was likely to be different to that under the Obama administration.

"I don't think it would be right to be drawn into comparing the two," said Mr Dunne.

"I look forward to visiting the US during the course of the year, and meeting our counterparts who share our countries' interest in the health of our people."

Madame Tussauds will be unveiling President Trump to coincide with today's inauguration.

The figure is one of four made in London. Three other lifelike waxworks of The Donald have been transported to Washington DC, New York and Orlando to mark today's event. Artists used a combination of real hair and yak hair for Mr Trump's hair.

Standing in a characteristically confident pose in a trademark navy suit the London waxwork stands in the museum's Oval Office exhibit, alongside German Chancellor Angela Merkel, the Dalai Lama and Mahatma Gandhi.

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