India, Feb. 27 -- It's been just over one month since Donald J Trump returned to Washington to create a state of chaos and consternation. Each day has brought a fresh shock, whether in gutting the federal bureaucracy, undermining international institutions, alienating key allies, or upending long-established norms. Even Trump's congressional allies have been caught off guard by the scale and speed of the disruptions. His campaign promises, bold as they were, have been eclipsed by the sheer force of his political and policy blitz, leaving critics as well as some supporters of the president scrambling to assess the long-term consequences, both domestically and internationally.

Even before taking office, Trump sparked controversy with his c...