ABSTRACT
Donald Trump, a real estate mogul and reality-TV star who had never served in government, defied both norms and expectations in his march to the Republican nomination. The drama of the election escalated even further after the election, when it was revealed that Russia had undertaken social media campaigns to manipulate voters, sow discord, and elect Trump. Trump’s popularity with the Republican base had much to do with his populist attacks on politicians and his willingness to defy “political correctness.” The success of Trump’s economic nationalism was a remarkable development given that free trade had long been a pillar in the party’s platform. The populist ring of Trump’s protectionism was also significant. Many of his regulations will be implemented, and, given the scope and boldness of that agenda, his regulatory policy legacy is likely to rival that of 2009–2010, when a unified Democratic government passed Dodd–Frank and Obamacare.
