Time to reflect on Trump's first anniversary

United States President Donald Trump has lasted a year in office, much longer than many hoped or expected, judging from the vitriol poured out in the past few days.

One writer seemed surprised how quickly the year had gone, saying time flies when you are living in constant fear of a nuclear apocalypse.

Others wrote it has been a year since the US election and President Trump has done nothing.

It did come as a surprise to many when Mr Trump defeated Democrat Hillary Clinton. Mrs Clinton was supposed to be a shoo-in to win. Recent revelations about how determined she was to win have sparked more controversy about the controversial Clinton family. Mrs Clinton had the Democratic National Committee in her pocket, and under her control, if a new book is to be believed.

What Mr Trump did was extraordinary. He went to places the Democrats had relied on for unconditional support and promised them something different. He wanted to return jobs to the US and the ``Rust Belt'', which large companies had deserted for cheaper overseas manufacturing sites, was his key target.

Those people voted in their millions for Mr Trump, surprising all but a few political analysts.

Mr Trump removed the US from the Trans Pacific Partnership, leaving 11 countries to try to resurrect a deal, something New Zealand's Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern is preparing to deal with this weekend.

The North American Free Trade Agreement (Nafta) is also in Mr Trump's sights. He wants better access to Canada's markets, less car manufacturing in Mexico and is prepared to double down on his demands, all for the sake of protecting US jobs.

Mr Trump has been described as a clueless megalomaniac who has sailed past a gaggle of dedicated career politicians and someone who was foolishly handed the keys to the most powerful office on the planet.

It is very easy to write Mr Trump off as a buffoon who is taking the world to the brink of nuclear war, particularly with North Korea. There is an unnerving sense of showmanship between Mr Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, who is every bit as unstable as how Mr Trump is portrayed.

One of the most concerning images seen from outside of the US is the revolving door of advisers Mr Trump has hired and fired. There are now allegations some of his campaign team, possibly even his family, had close and financial ties with Russia during the election campaign.

People have been arrested and confessed. More arrests seem likely.

Through all of this swirling quagmire, Mr Trump acts like he is immune. Calls are made about impeachment but so far nothing has emerged even close to getting across the start line.

The election phrase of ``drain the swamp'' has not quite happened and to be frank, it appears as though the President is creating more, not removing, bureaucracy from Washington DC.

Most recently, it has been claimed Mr Trump has not delivered on a single campaign promise. If another election was held right now, Mr Trump would be thrown out of office, apparently. His polling is the lowest of any US president in a first term.

The US economy is in the strongest period of growth for many years. While that is not solely due to Mr Trump, the last year of growth on the US sharemarkets is down to his determination to keep jobs from disappearing to Mexico and Asia. US unemployment is falling, interest rates are slowly starting to rise after years of near zero.

If his tax package gets passed, and signs are it will, US corporate tax will be competitively low and more US companies will elect to stay at home.

Taking Mr Trump at face value is not the best option. A careful, deeper approach is wisest.