Come January, Donald Trump will be sworn in as the 45th president of the United States.

This newspaper, along with many Americans both liberal and conservative, had hoped never to write that sentence. But the time for arguing about who should lead this country for the next four years is over.

When Trump takes the oath of office in January, he will become the only president this great nation has. He will be our president, and yours, too, no matter how you voted or even if you voted.

Enhancing his clout is the fact that he will be joined by fellow Republicans in control of both houses of Congress.

Accepting all of this is going to be painful for Hillary Clinton supporters. But it’s a necessary step if America is to heal the divisiveness that has plagued its politics for so many years.

Those who voted against Trump, or who oppose his policies in the future, must find ways to work with him, even as they find the courage and creativity to draw lines around those principles and policies that mean the most to them. These wounds will not heal quickly, and the fear of what a Trump presidency will mean for America will not evaporate over night.

But they can heal eventually, and Trump himself can help that happen. Much depends on how he governs. Will he seek to exploit the vulnerable among us? Or will victory bring an unexpected grace?