Will Trump’s second term be any better than his first?

All opinions expressed in this article are solely the opinions of the contributors.

Many Americans remain unsure of what to expect from a second Trump presidency. President-elect Donald Trump has increased his attacks against the free press and rival politicians, nominated controversial loyalists for top posts in the intelligence and military enforcement sectors, and continues to push a range of conspiracy theories.

On the other hand, it is possible that Trump has grown from any number of potentially transformative experiences — including surviving one very close assassination attempt. In an interview with NBC, Trump stated that, if elected, he intends to unify the nation rather than divide it — a criticism he faced widely during his first term.

Watch the above video as Straight Arrow News contributor Ruben Navarrette reviews Trump’s political history and offers his take on how a second Trump term may or may not differ from his first.

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The following is an excerpt from the above video:

Did Trump learn anything from his first tour of duty in the Oval Office, or did he learn anything after leaving office from being hounded, indicted, tried, convicted and nearly assassinated? If he did, now is the time to show it off.

Sure, the incoming president could take the win and be a bigger man than his critics expect him to be, but that’s a long shot. A safer bet is that the 47th president, who bears a striking resemblance to the 45th president, will be every bit as vindictive and petty as some political observers fear.

Trump is massively insecure, haunted by ghosts and tied down by past lives. He never forgets a slight and he enjoys nothing more than humiliating his opponents by making them grovel and beg for his approval. Yet, is it really that simple and predictable? Will Trump 2.0 just be meaner and more embittered than the original, is that all there is to it?

Let’s hope not. I, for one, think it’s possible that Trump has grown up quite a bit, and the experience of having been president before could help him become a better president this time around.