Mick Clifford: The Donald living the lie in the Trump world

Whether America and all it purports to represent can outlive this individual will be the story of the coming years

President Donald Trump signs an executive order relating to cryptocurrency in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington. Picture: AP Photo/Ben Curtis

And so, the chaos begins. Last Monday Donald Trump was inaugurated as the 47th president of the United States. This role is still largely cast as leader of the free world. To that extent, the free world might want to hide under a rock for the next four years.

A hint of the pathology of Trump was evident in one of the flurry of executive orders he issued within hours of taking office. The headlines captured his orders on targeting illegal immigrants, removing state security from personnel he deems his enemies, and, particularly, pardoning the violent offenders from January 6. Another, lesser observed, order really sums up the man, his state of mind, and how he intends to use power.