For all of you who were hoping Donald J Trump would say something shocking and ridiculous after being voted in as the President of the United States of America, we have bad news. Not only did Trump look distinctly less orange, he sounded normal and even gracious.

There were no faux pas, no mention of the infamous wall, no justifications for molestation, and no fabulous terms like “braggadocious” or “bigly”. Neither were there any comments about Hillary Clinton’s stamina. Instead, for the first time since Trump entered the presidential race, there was a statesman at the podium.

At Trump headquarters in New York City, the man of the moment spoke extempore and began his speech by tipping his hat to Clinton. “I just received a call from Secretary Clinton,” said Trump. Around the world, spines tingled in anticipation of what he’d say about her. “She congratulated us on our victory,” he said, “and I congratulated her on a very, very hard-fought campaign.” That wasn’t all: he went on to say that Clinton has “worked very long and very hard” and that “we owe her a major debt of gratitude”.

There was more grace where that came from. Trump made it very clear that despite his reputation for divisive politics, as a president, he intended to be different. “Now, it’s time for America,” he said (which makes you wonder what the rest of the campaign was for, but never mind those details). “I will be president for all Americans,” he promised and then went one better. “For those who have chosen not to support to me in the past … I am reaching out to you for your guidance and your help.”

He described his campaign as a movement to bring justice and rebuild America. “The forgotten men and women of our country will be forgotten no longer.”

Trump also admitted to vulnerability, which was a first. “This political stuff is nasty and it’s tough,” said the billionaire businessman. There is no record of how Clinton reacted to him using the word “nasty”, which he had previously used to describe her, to talk about the campaign.

Although Trump’s may not have been quite as inventive as it has been during the campaign, but some of his favourite superlatives and phrases were there for all to appreciate. Of his presidency, Trump said, “It’s gonna be a beautiful thing.” He also dropped a hint that perhaps he would serve two terms instead of just one.

He reminded everyone that “we have a great economic plan”, though the specifics of this remain unclear. “We will double our growth and have the strongest economy anywhere in the world.” The Wall Street Journal doesn’t seem to think so and neither does Nobel Prize-winning economist Paul Krugman who predicts “a global recession, with no end in sight” brought on by Trump’s presidency. But for such doubting Thomases, Trump had three words: “It’s gonna happen.”

Speaking of America’s foreign policy with him at the helm, Trump promised, “We will have great, great relationships.” He promised that the world will see America’s greatness and that “America will no longer settle for anything less than the best”. He also promised to support those who support America, which is only polite arguably.

“We will not let you down,” Trump said to the gathered crowd. “We will do a great job.”

Trump’s campaign – dogged as it was by scandals and controversies – was hardly dignified. Today’s address, however, was the most presidential the world has seen Trump be, ever since he announced he would run for office. Whether this was just rhetoric or a conscious effort to be less polarising and more conciliatory, will be clear soon after January 20, 2017, when he is inaugurated as the new President of the USA.