Donald Trump took the oath of office as the 47th President of the United States on Monday, January 20, 2025, during an inaugural ceremony at the White House in Washington, D.C. The 78-year-old Republican leader returned to the Oval Office with a renewed commitment to his strongman vision of “making America great again.”
Trump outlined an extensive policy agenda that resembled a State of the Union address more than a traditional Inauguration Day speech. However, the overarching themes reflected his signature approach, positioning himself as the nation’s savior. Administered oath by US Chief Justice John Roberts, Trump pledged to aggressively reset US policies across various domains, including immigration, tariffs, energy, and healthcare.
“The golden age of America begins right now,” Trump declared after extending the customary acknowledgments to former presidents and dignitaries. He went on to make a series of sweeping but vague promises, describing the moment as the “start of a thrilling new era” and envisioning a nation “greater, stronger and far more exceptional than ever before.”
In his first address, Trump criticised the current state of the government. He stated, “Today our government confronts a crisis of trust.” He went on to say that for many years, a radical and corrupt establishment has extracted power and wealth from citizens, while the pillars of society remain broken and in disrepair.
Trump also emphasised that the government “cannot manage even a simple crisis at home,” while continuously facing catastrophic events abroad. He accused the government of failing to protect law-abiding American citizens, while providing sanctuary and protection for dangerous criminals, including those who had illegally entered the country from all over the world.
The 60th Presidential Inauguration Ceremony — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump)
President Donald Trump vowed to create a society that is “color-blind and merit-based.”
Trump accused the Biden administration of providing sanctuary to “dangerous criminals” who entered the country illegally. He declared his intention to crack down on illegal immigration and announced plans to impose an emergency at the southern border.
“We will again build the strongest military the world has ever seen,” Trump said, adding that success will be measured “not only by the battles we win but also by the wars we end and perhaps the wars we never get into.”
Trump pointed out that the government has allocated unlimited funding to defend foreign borders but refuses to protect American borders or, more importantly, its own people.
Trump recounted the assassination attempt on him in Butler, Pennsylvania, describing his survival with striking language. “I was saved by God to make America great again,” Trump said, prompting applause from the crowd. The shooter, a 20-year-old local man, appeared to be disturbed. Trump unfoundedly suggested the attack was part of a conspiracy aimed at preventing his return to office.
Trump also expressed disbelief at the ongoing fires near Los Angeles, claiming they were still burning “without a token defence.” According to the Associated Press, this statement is inaccurate as the Eaton fire is 87% contained, and the Palisades fire is 59% contained, as per CalFire.
Trump gave his speech to a crowd of approximately 600 people in the Capitol Rotunda, which included members of Congress, Cabinet nominees, his family, business leaders, and political figures. Trump’s wife, Melania Trump, his daughter Ivanka, her husband Jared Kushner, and prominent billionaires Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, and Tim Cook graced the event. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar was also attending the event as India’s special envoy.
The inauguration ceremony was moved indoors to the Capitol Rotunda due to freezing temperatures in Washington, DC, instead of the originally planned outdoor venue.
On his first day in office, Trump is expected to sign several executive orders, including initiating steps to end birthright citizenship.
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