Only if there's no mechanism for bad governments to be replaced, peacefully.

We'll see if we still have that mechanism in 4 or 8 years, but in the meantime, I'll remain cautiously optimistic. The U.S. has had terrible presidents & strong political leaders before, ones who drove the country down a terrible path, and they've usually been forced out of power and their policies reversed within a decade. That's the great strength of democracy: it's not that it governs efficiently (it doesn't), but it provides an escape hatch so if a government is seriously going down the wrong path and everyone realizes it, the government doesn't last long.

I meant full government, not head of state. I agree that most of Trump's acts will be neutered, and in a few years things will probably change.

I just don't think a government having a big impact is surprising.

I agree, but only with the 'breaks' part.

People are always diverse, culture is always adapting. The most immediate factor for change is the government.

On the longer term, other factors dictate the government, but they are still only indirectly linked to change.