But here’s the reality. The numbers don’t add up for Trump. He won the election but not a majority of the votes cast. Most Americans oppose him. The GOP margin in the Senate is thin and Senators have already flexed their muscles to some degree to assert their independence. (Not enough. But more than Trump expected to be sure.) The margin in the House is even slimmer and Mike Johnson may be a MAGA supplicant but he is not a strong Speaker nor is his job secure.

Further, the math of foreign policy is not likely to go the new administration’s way as enemies and allies alike chart their own course and do not behave as Trump might hope. Don’t expect Putin to do his bidding even as Trump may do Putin’s. Expect our allies to try sweet talk only as long as that works and the minute it does not, count on them getting tough.