The best thing we can hope for is a future in which Trump continues with his present course on foreign policy and trade. He should continue to disregard the advice of the congressional Republican leadership, which cannot pass bills for him anyway, and that of the wider conservative movement. He ought to consider making some outré hires — Jim Webb for secretary of defense, for example. He should revert back to his 2015-era views in support of single-payer health care in some form, and use it as a wedge issue against the leadership of both political parties. A press conference in which Trump stands shoulder to shoulder with incoming Congresswoman Democratic Alexandria Ocasio Cortez and Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) against incoming House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) to announce his plan for diamond-plated universal TrumpCare “like you wouldn’t believe” would be glorious. He should also work out an infrastructure bill capable of passing the House and the Senate.

I do not expect all of these things to happen, but if even a few of them do, Trump will be the least bad president America has elected in my lifetime.