Trump number 45

Richard Fulton

Today the United States gets its 45th president. America has elected a conservative businessman who has a colorful personality and communicates his straightforward thoughts without concern for political correctness.

He will be, indeed has been, a significant contrast to recent presidents. That’s as it may be, he is our president and we should approach his presidency as we do all others: with support where we agree and challenges when we do not.

President Trump faces a long list of challenges in foreign policy and in domestic policy arenas. It will not be an easy presidency.

Political and military challenges abound in the international arena. Russia presents a significant challenge. Its economy is a mess so it has turned to foreign and military affairs to establish its credibility. Its nuclear missiles are aimed at European nations as well as the U.S..

Oil is crucial to what economy the Russians have and its expansion is threatened by the U.S. embargo on the modern equipment and investment needed to make its arctic fields viable. This is why Putin is so enamored of Trump, since he is a businessman and can understand economic projects.

This is why the choice of Rex Tillerson is so interesting since he was CEO of Exxon-Mobile which has the contract to exploit the Russian arctic fields. We’ll have to see if Trump’s administration withdraws the sanctions.

Trade is a key international issue. NAFTA is threatened by the Trump Commerce Secretary and Mexico is against Trump’s border fence. Mexico is not happy with Trump.

Nor is China which has become more aggressive in its anti-Trump rhetoric over threats of trade sanctions against China. Their aggressive policies in adjacent waters could test Trump fairly quickly.

Europe is wary of Trump as well given his anti NATO threats and his incipient trade policy statements. Trump is use to economic deals and feels he can negotiate what he perceives to be better trade deals. Trump disagrees with our European allies over dealing with Iran as well.

Trump’s U.N. Ambassador has no international experience and thinks the U.N is useless. This does not make the many smaller, poorer countries happy since the U.N is often their main diplomatic outlet.

Domestically as well as internationally, global warming has become a central issue. Trump has deniers in his cabinet Maybe news of the third straight year of record global temperatures will gain his attention. Also, his support for fossil fuels, the major danger, leaves him vulnerable to worldwide push-back on the issue.

Jobs is the central issue for Trump on the American economy. He is lucky since he will inherit a growing economy with 11.5 million jobs created since the Bush administration (some economists say we are close to full employment). Also, many large businesses have begun to invest and to expand.

Equality in income and living conditions remains a significant problem for the American economy and its people. Continuing problems with the full integration of minorities and women into an equitable America remains a central domestic problem.

Immigration is part of this equity problem.

Trump’s rhetoric during the campaign has left a sour taste in the mouth of many of these folks. Whether he can soften his views on the key issues involved will go far in gaging the success of his administration.They have led to his lack of popularity.

It is not clear whether President Trump will meet these problems with a more modulated approach; he is new not only to politics and administration but also to the continual spotlight within which the president lives.

We can only hope that the brighter angels of his personality will emerge to expose a rational, compromising approach to governance. He has much challenging his presidency. We need to at least give him some room to grow into the job.

The problem is, the press of events means he doesn’t have much time.