America has taken a turn for the worst. The great delusion of Donald Trump's presidency is that we can thrive by embracing nationalism even though major economic and political events are increasingly driven by international forces. Trump is an isolationist in an era of globalism. It won't work.
Let us assume — for the sake of argument — that Trump is everything that he isn't: thoughtful, considerate, open-minded, kind, generous, civil, truthful and respectful of his adversaries. Let us further assume that this imaginary Trump is such a nice guy that his character is widely admired.
Still, a big problem would remain: his policies. It's inaccurate to say that Trump doesn't have an agenda. In many ways, his agenda resonates with his campaign promises. "Make America Great Again" is a brilliant slogan that captures a nostalgic urge to resurrect an allegedly more glorious past.