In his victory speech, Donald Trump pledged to be a president for all Americans, urging them to “come together as one united people”.
But two and a half months on from the US election, America remains a deeply divided nation.
The rifts, which widened over the course of the campaign, have not gone away.
And in Washington DC they seem heightened by the imminent inauguration.
Many of those who voted for Hillary Clinton, like Elizabeth Holtan, are giving the city a wide berth today.
The 29-year-old Scottish country dancing enthusiast, who is communications manager at a non-profit organisation, has flown to Paris for the weekend.
She even considered moving abroad longer-term, but ultimately came to the conclusion her work here is now more crucial than ever.
“The work that I do with my non-profit to support the international affairs budget is extremely important,” she said.
“The administration, we learned, has just sent questions to the state department and to a few other organisations questioning the value of global health programmes and US involvement in things like humanitarian aid.
“I don’t want to say that the value has never been questioned before, but to even think that we wouldn’t be engaged in supporting our allies abroad or being there to support people around the world climbing out of poverty after natural disasters is just unthinkable.”
But David White, an account executive at a marketing and advertising company in Michigan, is much more optimistic about the prospects of the Trump presidency.
He is based in Macomb County, which was very important in the race for the state that – up to last year – hadn’t voted for a Republican presidential candidate since 1988.
In contrast, for him Mr Trump is a “very hands-on president-elect’, who has already stopped jobs from going overseas and brought many back.
“I rate his prospects as very high,” Mr White said. “He is a leader and looking out for America first as other leaders do around the world.
“I believe change and prosperity have already begun to take effect. Positive people are already much more motivated for success.”
Another bone of contention across the divide is Barack Obama’s legacy.
Ms Holtan, whose farmer ancestors emigrated from Helmsdale in Sutherland in the 1600s and 1700s, personally benefited from the Affordable Care Act, known as Obamacare.
“I think it’s extremely irresponsible to work at repealing instead of improving a system that has lifted 20 million people out of potential harm’s way, has saved I don’t know how many lives,” she added.
“To repeal something just because it was Obama’s idea, instead of working to fix it to lower health care premiums, is really irresponsible.
“I’m trying to keep an open mind but I think we are going to have a lot of work to do to climb out of the hole we are digging ourselves into as a country.”
Mr White is less than impressed with the outgoing president, however.
“Trump will be a results-oriented president,” he insisted. “Many say he has already done more for the country than President Obama.”
The pair’s contrasting views illustrate the width of the gulf the new president finds himself straddling.
His stated quest to “bind the wounds of division” will undoubtedly be an uphill struggle.
