This time, at least, Donald Trump won fair and square. But the people have spoken, placing trust in a person who might be the least ethical and the most self-interested U.S. politician in many years.
Perfectly legal? Although the election appears to be sufficiently legal, the people have selected someone does not care about the rule of law, democratic governance, or even the norms of a civilized society.
It remains to be seen if a dominant GOP in DC can restore faith in the U.S. system of democratic capitalism. Given the President-elect’s hateful rhetoric, his desire to exact “retribution” from his perceived “enemies,” and the warnings about his fascist leanings from those close to him in his first administration, it’s difficult to imagine that Trump and his party can do that.
We can always hope and pray that they can, but, even more, that a revitalized Democratic Party can manage to define itself in a way that “the people” can trust. Will Trump’s authoritarian style even allow for a loyal opposition? If it cannot, then what becomes “legal” will surely be very, very wrong.