Donald Trump was sworn in on Monday for a historic second term as the 47th President of the United States, pledging to swiftly implement a series of executive orders targeting immigration and the US culture wars, marking the culmination of his extraordinary political comeback.
Standing beneath the Rotunda of the US Capitol, Trump, 78, took the oath of office with one hand on a Bible given to him by his mother. The ceremony, held indoors for the first time in decades due to severe cold, was attended by a select group of political elites and global figures.
Outgoing President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden welcomed Trump and his wife, Melania, to the White House for a traditional tea before accompanying them by motorcade to the Capitol. Greeting Trump at the door, Biden said, “Welcome home,” signifying an attempt to restore the tradition that Trump had broken in 2021 when he refused to attend Biden’s inauguration.
In attendance were former presidents Barack Obama, George W. Bush, and Bill Clinton, alongside their respective first ladies, except Michelle Obama, who was notably absent. Foreign dignitaries, including Argentina’s right-wing President Javier Milei and Italy’s far-right Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, were present, an unusual addition to an event typically reserved for domestic leaders.
Trump wasted no time outlining his aggressive agenda, promising a “brand new day” for America during an inauguration-eve rally. He declared plans to issue approximately 100 executive orders, reversing many of Biden’s policies.
Among the most significant:
– Declaring a national emergency at the Mexico border.
– Assigning the military a key role in border enforcement.
– Ending birthright citizenship.
– Instituting immediate deportations of undocumented migrants.
– Mandating federal recognition of only two biological sexes.
– Eliminating federal diversity programs.
“I will act with historic speed and strength and fix every single crisis facing our country,” Trump vowed at the rally, where he danced to the Village People’s music.
Minutes before leaving office, Biden issued pre-emptive pardons for his siblings, former Covid-19 advisor Anthony Fauci, retired General Mark Milley, and members of the House committee that investigated the January 6 Capitol riot.
Biden said he had also left a letter for Trump, describing its contents as private.
Trump’s inauguration was attended by some of America’s most influential figures, including Elon Musk, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, Amazon’s Jeff Bezos, and Google’s Sundar Pichai. Musk, who contributed $250 million to Trump’s campaign, is set to spearhead a cost-cutting initiative in the new administration.
The world braces for the uncertainty that Trump’s return brings. His proposed sweeping tariffs, territorial assertions involving Greenland and Panama, and questioning of US aid to Ukraine have already sparked international concern.
Russian President Vladimir Putin extended congratulations to Trump, expressing a willingness to discuss a settlement in the Ukraine conflict to ensure “lasting peace.”
Trump’s second term cements his place in history as the oldest president to be inaugurated and the second to regain office after losing re-election, following Grover Cleveland in 1893.
As the day began, an empty National Mall reflected the move indoors due to freezing weather. For supporters like Barb Fairchild, who traveled from Michigan, the shift was viewed as “to protect our president.”
Trump’s presidency promises a radical departure, with sweeping changes at home and unpredictable moves on the global stage. “Ecstatic” was how many of his supporters described their mood as they witnessed the beginning of what Trump has called a new “golden era” for America.