Will President Trump surprise us all?

Today Donald Trump will be inaugurated as the President of the United States. It’s no secret that I’m not a fan of Mr. Trump, but the fact is that he will be the new president in a matter of hours. He will change from president elect to President Trump. We all have to accept that fact, like it or not.

Why I don’t think he’s suitable for the job

I don’t think Trump has the qualities necessary to fill the position of president. He is not diplomatic, he is not thoughtful, he is quick to respond without weighing up the situation, he is way too fond of using Twitter to make hurried announcements … I could go on and on. But he’s about to be sworn in, so none of that matters anymore.

All that matters is that he does a good job. And we have to give him a chance to do just that, and to prove me (and many others) wrong.

What I hope President Trump will do

I hope he realises that he is taking on probably the most important position of power anywhere in the world. And with it comes great responsibility.

I hope he spends at least a little time thinking of the great changes brought about by great former presidents, the likes of George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, Dwight D. Eisenhower, and John F. Kennedy. These were men who put their country first, and dedicated themselves to improving it in any way they could. They had their faults, of course, as we all do, but they are still revered today because they committed themselves to the greater good.

I hope he puts down his phone and stops using Twitter.

I hope he fully realises that being in charge of a nation like the USA is very different from being in charge of a company. The business world may well be a good training ground for a future president, but taking on the role of Commander-in-Chief is vastly different from being the CEO of any business in the world.

I hope he starts to control the way he speaks. He needs to calm down and be less impulsive. He would do well to stop for a few moments any time things get a little heated, count to ten, take a deep breath, and carefully consider what words are going to come out of his mouth. Because those words matter. They matter a great deal.

I hope he acts in a more statesmanlike manner. Not easy for him, I suspect, since he is hardly the most naturally diplomatic of men. But if he just says to himself “How would someone like Lincoln or Kennedy act in this situation?” it might well provide him with the guidance he needs.

I hope he does all he can for the people. Not just the people who voted for him, but all the people. Yes, even immigrants. Even women. Even the disabled. Even those who so easily slip through the cracks of society, such as the sick and the homeless.

I hope he nurtures a habit of spending a few minutes each morning on his own, in silence, giving thanks for the wonderful opportunity that’s been given to him, and asking for guidance so that he can prove all his critics wrong and become a great president.

And I hope he listens. Listens to the people, and what they need. Listens to his critics, instead of immediately firing off a retaliatory tweet. Listens to his advisors. No president is acting alone, ever. He is backed by a team of highly skilled advisors and he needs to learn from them and take their advice into account.

President Trump: a new chapter

Today is the first day of a new chapter for the United States. It could turn out to be disastrous. It could turn out to be a circus. It could surprise us and turn out to be a shining new dawn for the country, and the world.

We have to give Donald Trump a chance to prove himself. He was outstandingly successful in the business world, and he chose to move into politics. Now he holds the glittering prize in his hands, the highest position of power imaginable. And now it all comes down to not what he says, but what he actually does.

Let’s hope he acts sensibly and thoughtfully. Let’s hope he makes all his critics feel a bit foolish for doubting him. And let’s hope that, in four years time, the people of America are seriously considering voting him in for a second term, after such an amazing first term.

Maybe that’s just being blindly optimistic and childishly naive, but we can hope. Right now, maybe it’s all we can do.