More than once, I’ve heard Donald Trump described, as a “smart” political change-maker. After all, he has up-ended the American political establishment, mobilised a new segment of voters and re-asserted the US against China’s worst trade impulses.

Unchecked and uncontrolled: US President Donald Trump. Credit:AP

After being acquitted of the articles of impeachment in the Senate today, faith in Trump's wisdom will likely deepen. In a world of personality politics, what’s not to acknowledge - and even begrudgingly admire about Trump? “Trump is smarter than people give him credit for,” I’m told. “He couldn’t be elected if he weren’t smart.”

The wise man theory cast the impeachment of Trump as yet another test of wills in a political system shaped by strong personalities. Trump v Hillary Clinton. Clinton v Bernie Sanders. The view conforms to some degree to Australia’s personality-focused culture of political leadership. Tony Abbott v Malcolm Turnbull. Kevin Rudd v Julia Gillard.

The problem is, Trump may be too smart by half if his personal success hinges on the political destruction of constitutional order in the US. Even taking into account Trump's positives, his negatives – corruption, his reliance on lying, the numerous sexual assault allegations, his disregard for the spirit and letter of the law – are destructive for constitutional democracy.