DR MATTHEW WARD SENIOR HISTORY LECTURER DUNDEE UNIVERSITY

One year on from the inauguration of Donald Trump, Dr Ward predicts the second year of the Trump presidency promises to be “even more eventful” than the first.

Observers could be forgiven for thinking social media posturing and political leadership are one and the same, given the worldwide frenzy that accompanied every tweet by Donald Trump over the past year.

But for all the rhetoric, sabre-rattling and grandiose claims, very little in America has actually changed.

Attempts to repeal Obamacare and impose a travel ban on Muslims have been held up. The wall on the Mexican border remains unbuilt. Hillary remains at large.

Some of the poorest people in America were among Trump’s most fervent supporters but his biggest legislative success to date is a programme of massive tax cuts for his fellow billionaires and millionaires.

Some predicted Trump would become more statesmanlike the second he arrived in the White House, a temptation he has most emphatically resisted.

For all the threats fired out to countries and leaders via social media, the biggest deviation from past foreign policy is the decision to move the American embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, a largely symbolic decision that will cost the US a lot of support in Middle East.

For me, the most surprising aspect of Trump’s tumultuous first year is that a President elected with a minority vote remains so popular with his core supporters.

Trump’s renegade, shoot-from-the-hip brand clearly still appeals and the American economy is performing strongly.

With many career Republicans standing down due to their discontent with the Trump leadership, the President faces the very real possibility of losing both houses.

If the Democrats feel Trump is hobbling the Republicans, then keeping him in the Oval Office for the meantime is in their interest.

The second year of the Trump presidency promises to be even more eventful than the first.

Pictures: Getty Images. Clockwise from left: President Donald Trump speaks on the phone with Russian President Vladimir Putin in the Oval Office, with several of his colleagues; meeting with Prime Minister Theresa May and looking upwards, perhaps for inspiration?