..
Noisy political theater is in full swing: protest marches over President-elect Donald Trump’s victory have warranted considerable coverage by the media. But does the nation as a whole share in the protesters’ angry insistence that Mr. Trump is “not my president?” Well, maybe not.
“Now that Trump has been declared the winner and will be inaugurated in January, will you accept him as the legitimate president, or not?” asks a new Gallup poll.
The numbers: 84 percent of Americans said they accept Mr. Trump; that number includes 76 percent of those who supported Hillary Clinton. The pollster had similar findings when it asked the same question during the 2000 election, which ultimately relied on Supreme Court decision to pronounce George W. Bush the victor over Al Gore.“Americans rated the campaign more negatively than any in recent memory. Even so, the majority, 58 percent, say the 2016 election process has not caused permanent harm to the U.S., although 38 percent say it has,” writes Gallup analyst Jeffrey Jones.
The nation may be calming down already, perhaps. The poll also found that the prevailing reaction among Americans following Mr. Trump’s win was simply surprise; only 29 percent were “angry.”
67 DAYS AND COUNTINGThe Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies has rumbled to life, hammering out the complicated schedule for President-elect Donald Trump’s big moment, now 67 days off. There’s a morning worship service, a procession to the U.S. Capitol, swearing-in ceremonies, Mr. Trump’s inaugural address, a formal luncheon, a parade and of course the evening’s galas — typically 14 official inaugural balls......
continued ..