Donald Trump used the presidential backdrop of the White House’s East Room, the conspiratorial allure of declassified intelligence and a familiar bogeyman in China to make Americans fear that they could not trust their own democracy.Less than a fortnight after boasting of American exceptionalism in a speech to celebrate 250 years of independence from the British Empire, the president evoked a much bleaker picture during his evening address on Thursday (Friday AEST).Subscribe to gift this articleGift 5 articles to anyone you choose each month when you subscribe.Subscribe nowAlready a subscriber? Fetching latest articles