Even if just a transitional figure, Trump promises havoc

DONALD Trump's inauguration on Jan 20 as the 45th US president was a defining moment in American history, as the United States turns inward, discarding the mantle of leadership that it has assumed over the past 75 years.

Having run as a populist candidate, it is not surprising that the bulk of his inaugural address was devoted to the domestic scene, which he painted in sombre hues. But he also spoke on foreign affairs - not about America's commitment to global leadership but about how America's foreign entanglements have led to the weakening of American industry, the depletion of America's military and the decay of its infrastructure.

Instead of a post-war international order created and led by the US, Mr Trump sees a world in which the US is a victim where other countries take advantage of its generosity. The US, it seems, should now turn its back on the world.