Mr. Trump’s Speech

President Trump’s inaugural address sounded, unfortunately, like one of his campaign speeches.

It was workmanlike. It was competent. But it did not contain any soaring rhetoric — any vision — for the nation. Mr. Trump did not promise to try to unite our deeply divided country and did not acknowledge that there are political wounds to heal.

None of this is surprising, because Donald Trump is not one to reach out to his critics or to those who disagree with him. It’s his way or the highway. That’s how he campaigned, and that appears to be how he will try to govern.

Mr. Trump told us that we are engaged in a great national effort to rebuild our nation. He said we will face challenges and confront hardships. He said that America will start winning again. He promised to build new roads and highways and get people off welfare and back to work.

He said that we would never be ignored again and that we must think big and dream bigger. He said that this moment belongs to us, and that from this day forward, it’s going to be America first.

All well and good, but none of it new or visionary or inspiring. It was vintage Trump — exactly what his supporters wanted to hear and exactly what his detractors feared they would hear. His address broke no new ground and created no new converts. Those who love Trump and voted for him enjoyed his address. Those who hate Trump and voted for someone else hated it.

And that’s truly a shame. This country is so bitterly divided politically that it appears nothing and no one can bring us together. Mr. Trump’s speech changed none of that, and perhaps no one’s speech could have.

I wish Mr. Trump well and hope his presidency is successful because if it is, we all will succeed.

But his inaugural address gave us no new clues as to whether any of that is possible.