The driving rationale behind Donald Trump’s astounding victory – more powerful even than his supporters’ loathing of Hillary Clinton, or their pain at lost jobs and dwindling economic opportunities – was disgust with Washington and the political status quo, and the utter failure of both parties to address their plight.

The talk, as always at such moments, is of unity and a new beginning. Alas, even the biggest upset in American political history is unlikely to bring the “forgotten America” much comfort, beyond the satisfaction of revenge.

You can paint a cheery scenario that the sheer shock of what happened on Tuesday, November 8, will bang sense into heads on all sides. But in Washington, only a void beckons on the day after.

Round-up: Donald Trump wins US presidential election

The reckoning has been a long time coming. However, if an old order has been upturned, no-one knows what will replace it. Trump is untested. He has never been elected to any office. He promises to use his business skills to fix America. But beyond sweeping generalisations, what he will do, whom he will choose for his cabinet, whether he will even partly make good on the blood-curdling promises of the campaign, remains mysteries.

Adding to the confusion is the extraordinary role reversal of the last 24 hours. The election was supposed to end with a resounding Trump defeat and Republican civil war. And the party is indeed split. But to its own amazement, it has emerged with total control of Washington. There is no more effective healer than victory, especially since Trump’s coat-tails proved strong enough to preserve the Republican majority in the Senate. Whatever else he lacks, he has a mandate.

Instead it’s the Democrats who are in existential turmoil. Clinton’s defeat has ended an era, sweeping away the party’s dominant political machine, leaving a cupboard that is disturbingly bare. Most of its Congressional leaders are old. Republicans constitute an overwhelming majority of governors, a traditional presidential talent pool. A measure of the vacuum is that many Democrats see their best hope as the new senator Kamala Harris, California’s attorney general but a virtual unknown on the national stage.

President Trump protests Show all 20 1 /20 President Trump protests President Trump protests Patrons hold a sign as people march by while protesting the election of Republican Donald Trump as the president of the United States in downtown Los Angeles, California Reuters President Trump protests Demonstrators rally following the election of Republican Donald Trump as President of the United States, in Oakland, California Reuters President Trump protests Demonstrators march following the election of Donald Trump as President of the United States Reuters President Trump protests Thousands of protesters rallied across the United States expressing shock and anger over Donald Trump's election, vowing to oppose divisive views they say helped the Republican billionaire win the presidency AFP/Getty Images President Trump protests Demonstrators protest outside the Chicago Theatre in Chicago, Illinois Getty President Trump protests A police officer aims a launcher after demonstrators threw projectiles toward a line of officers during a demonstration in Oakland, California Reuters President Trump protests An officer examines a vandalized police vehicle as demonstrators riot in Oakland, California Reuters President Trump protests Demonstrators take over the Hollywood 101 Freeway just north of Los Angeles City Hall in protest against the election of Republican Donald Trump as President of the United States Reuters President Trump protests A woman holds up a sign reading 'Trump you are an Idiot' as demonstrators gather during a protest against President-elect Donald Trump outside the City Hall building in Los Angeles, California EPA President Trump protests A masked demonstrator gestures toward a police line during a demonstration in Oakland, California Reuters President Trump protests Demonstrators protest against the election of Republican Donald Trump as President of the United States, near the Trump International Hotel & Tower in Las Vegas, Nevada Reuters President Trump protests Musician Lagy Gaga stages a protest against Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump on a sanitation truck outside Trump Tower in New York City Getty President Trump protests A woman yells as she takes part in a protest against President-elect Donald Trump in Seattle's Capitol Hill neighborhood AP President Trump protests A man dressed in red-white-and-blue sits on the curb during a protest against President-elect Donald Trump in Seattle's Capitol Hill neighborhood AP President Trump protests A protester sets off fireworks during a protest against President-elect Donald Trumpin Seattle's Capitol Hill neighborhood AP President Trump protests University of California, Davis students protest on campus in Davis, California, U.S. following the election of Donald Trump as President of the United States Reuters President Trump protests An Oakland police officer checks out damage after a window was broken by protesters at a car dealership in downtown Oakland, Calif AP President Trump protests A protester faces a police line in downtown Oakland, Calif AP President Trump protests President-elect Donald Trumpís victory set off multiple protests AP President Trump protests A fire burns during protests in Oakland, Calif AP

For the time being the initiative will surely shift to the liberal, more confrontational wing of the party – led by Bernie Sanders, 74 years old but who in the primaries struck a populist chord Clinton never could, and Elizabeth Warren, the anti-Wall Street crusader who also thrilled crowds on the campaign trail.

A familiar post-election ritual is unfolding. Trump in his victory speech early Wednesday set the pattern, urging a divided country to come together, and pledging to be the president of all Americans. In her formal concession speech, Clinton was expected to be equally gracious. There will be a truce, born in part out of sheer exhaustion after a brutal campaign. But after that?

Bitterness runs deep. Throughout the eight years of the Obama presidency, Republicans have sought to thwart him at every turn, refusing every compromise. Democrats would not be human if they did not seek to respond in kind, using the Senate, where Republicans are far short of a guillotine-proof majority, as their weapon.

The American constitution is a deliberate mix of checks and balances, reflecting the founders’ fear of enabling a populist demagogue that Democrats see in Trump. At stake is the entire Obama legacy, most notably Obamacare and the post-crash financial regulations on Wall Street, both of which Trump has promised to dismantle.

Maybe he will extend an olive branch by naming a Democrat to his cabinet. Maybe he will even seek an improbable populist front with Sanders – something he mischievously called for more than once on the campaign trail. More probable however is a resumption of trench warfare. And opportunities will abound.