THE inauguration of the 45th president of the United States of America, and the resulting weekend protest marches are over.

It has been quite an extraordinary few days with the numbers turning out to protest against Donald Trump more than a match for the numbers who turned out to support him on the day of his inauguration.

We would like to say that things can now get back to normal. But we fear that is hardly going to be the case.

This is just the beginning of a tumultuous year not just for the USA but for Britain.

If the tone of Mr Trump’s robust speech was was anything to go by, he is stating as he means to go on and America is in for a very bumpy ride.

There is no doubt in our view that the ripples will be felt across the world.We will not be immune.

And while our Prime Minister may be revelling in the fact that she is the first world leader to meet the new president, this is no guarantee that Mr Trump is going to do all he can to help ease our exit from the EU.

Mr Trump’s speech made it all too clear that his priority is to put America first come what may.

And we have doubt that whatever special relationship we may currently have with the United States will not be allowed to stand in the way of that.

With our own Brexit negotiations fast approaching the, definition of normal in political and public life may well have to change for good.