A terribly anxious world watches as Donald Trump prepares to become the 45th president of the United States, the sole, undisputed, supreme global power. His own people are hopelessly polarised. His statements and conduct since his victory have not allayed that half of the electorate that did not vote for him.

The unprecedented protests in numerous cities post-elections are testament to the fear of ordinary, decent Americans of what is to come following the hate driven campaign he designed and carried out so effectively.

So how would Donald Trump actually exercise his immense powers? Even if there is an established convention in the United States that a president is judged by his election manifesto, like other conventions they do not apply to Trump: a sui generis, maverick candidate par excellence.

Throughout the very long campaign, first, to secure the Republican nomination, then the presidency, Trump never cared for truth or facts. Outrageous, extraordinary statements, without regard to any evidence, were the hallmark of his campaign. Modern society does not seem to lay down markers for lying politicians, and they do not seem to suffer any consequences.

But even by the low standards expected of politicians, there are few politicians in recent times who are so duplicitous, devious and deceitful as Trump. Despite his remarks being on record in today’s Twitter, online world of instant newsfeed, he is prepared to blatantly lie or spin the most incredible yarn. This seems to be a severe character trait. So why should anyone expect him to act on his promises or place any weight on any of his campaign statements?

It is a cardinal rule of politics that one does not know how a president or prime minister will actually discharge his duties until he is appointed to the office. His true character and personality only emerges after he is secure in office, and it is then too late to remove him.

Margaret Thatcher was a terribly unimpressive, quiet education minister in the Edward Heath administration. No one expected her to turn into the controlling, dominant personality that she became as prime minister.

Ask Dr Mahathir Mohamad about how Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and Najib Abdul Razak transformed beyond belief after becoming prime minister. He would describe their changes as unrecognisable. With that important caveat, what will his administration be like?

There are at least two possible scenarios. First, that Trump governs without any regard to his past statements. In other words, President Trump will be very different from campaign/candidate Trump. Alternatively, he may act on some of the issues consistent with his campaign positions, particularly, when they resonate with his hard core Rust Belt electorate. Three areas are discussed - economy, foreign affairs and treatment of minorities.

In the event, Trump feels confident that he has an absolutely free hand to govern without being constrained by his remarks, a ‘carte blanche’ indeed. I suspect he is first, and foremost, a deal maker and a free market businessman.

Two different colliding interests would come to play - the Trump family business and the nation’s economy. Since he has never been concerned about ‘conflict of interest’, a subject that is inconvenient and therefore does not apply to him, he will not draw any line between the two.

National, business interests will merge

The national interest and his business interests will merge. Trump will use the presidency to strengthen and expand the family business. The catchword will be ‘Trump is Open for Business’, in every sense of the word. Thus, the criticism that he levelled at the Clinton Foundation because Hillary Clinton met foreign leaders in exchange for donations will be ignored, and he will do exactly that.