PD Editorial: What America needs to hear from Donald Trump

At 9 a.m. Pacific Standard Time today, the nation will witness the swearing-in of the nation's 45th president, an occasion that has more than a few Americans holding their breath — if not their tongues.

There's no shortage of opinions about the president-elect, a man who has spared no expense or protocol to help Americans develop one. And today and Saturday many will let those opinions be heard in protests planned across the nation, the largest being the Women's March on Washington. Other women's marches are planned in Santa Rosa, Sonoma, Napa, Ukiah and Fort Bragg, but the nerve center of this discourse will be in the nation's capital where, according to the New York Times, at least 23 groups plan to demonstrate in favor of or against Trump.

Many members of Congress have chosen to skip the inauguration to attend protests scheduled across the country. These will be days of many words.

But only one voice will stand out in historic importance — that of Donald John Trump, the man who defied all odds and, for many, all incredulity, to become commander in chief. For that reason, after the chief justice of the U.S. Supreme Court administers the oath of office and Trump steps to the podium to offer his inaugural words as president, what he has to say will be of critical importance. This will be one of the most important inaugural addresses of the modern era.

The nation is in uncharted territory — and so is Trump. He has never before held elected office. He has never served in the military. And he has never managed large sums of public funds. Beginning today, he will be commander in chief of the armed forces, responsible for federal spending of more than $4.2 trillion a year and in charge of the execution and enforcement of all laws created by Congress.

Given all of that, America needs to hear and see Trump be presidential — to rise above the petty squabbles of the campaign and offer words of unification and hope. Those concerned about his experience, no doubt desire to hear a willingness to learn and show deference to those with greater understanding of the challenges ahead. Those concerned about his policies desire to hear that his decisions will be more measured than his tweets and that his administration will be responsive to needs rather than reactive to perceived slights.

Most of all, America, needs to hear words of assurance that Trump will be president to all, not just to those who supported him on his path to victory. Yes, to the victor go the spoils. But victory also comes with the obligation to look after the nation's best interests. America needs to be assured he understands that and will be willing to be held accountable by a public and a press that cannot be kept in the dark — or on the street — in order for our system of government to function.

Of course, what the people would like to hear and what they are likely to hear are two different things. Trump has shown himself more capable of burning bridges than building them and has demonstrated little inclination of being anything other than who he is. Given that, the nation is just as likely to find out that the man on the campaign trail is no different from the one, beginning today, who will be serving in the Oval Office. Whether this is in the best interests of the nation, history will decide.

Given that, we would like to wish the president success during his term, but much still depends on what his definition of success will be. We're about to find out.