Donald Trump took the oath of office for a second term as President of the United States in a ceremony held inside the U.S. Capitol rotunda. This marked a significant milestone in Trump’s journey, which began four years ago and has been met with both support and opposition from various quarters, including some Republicans who distanced themselves from him following the January 6 attack on the Capitol.
The inauguration ceremony was a culmination of Trump’s third campaign for the White House, which saw him emerge victorious in the November general election. Trump’s running mate, J.D. Vance of Ohio, was also sworn in as Vice President during the ceremony, marking a new chapter in their partnership.
In his inaugural speech, Trump outlined his plans to sign executive orders addressing various pressing issues, including immigration, energy, and more. He spent a significant portion of his speech detailing these plans, which are expected to have far-reaching implications for the country.
“Many people thought it was impossible for me to stage such a historic political comeback,” Trump said during his inaugural address following the swearing-in. “But as you see today, here I am — the American people have spoken.”
One of the key promises Trump made during his speech was to declare a national emergency at the southern border. This move is aimed at addressing the issue of illegal immigration, which has been a contentious topic throughout Trump’s presidency. He vowed to bring an immediate halt to all illegal entry into the United States, drawing a standing ovation from the audience in attendance.
“With these actions we will begin the complete restoration of America and the revolution of common sense,” he said.
Trump also pledged to begin the process of deporting millions of undocumented immigrants, a move that is likely to be met with significant opposition from various quarters. He emphasized his commitment to enforcing the country’s immigration laws and ensuring that the border is secure.
“As commander in chief, I have no higher responsibility than to defend our country from threats and invasions, and that is exactly what I am going to do,” Trump said.
The presidential inauguration ceremony was initially planned to take place outside the Capitol building on the terrace overlooking the National Mall. However, due to polar temperatures, Trump announced on Friday that the ceremony would be moved indoors to the Capitol rotunda. This marked the first time since former President Ronald Reagan’s inauguration that the ceremony was held in this location.
Former Vice President Kamala Harris, who lost to Trump in the November general election, attended the ceremony with her husband, Doug Emhoff. Her presence was seen as a gesture of goodwill and a demonstration of her commitment to the democratic process.
The inauguration ceremony was attended by various notable figures, including top government officials and billionaires Mark Zuckerberg, Jeff Bezos, and Elon Musk. These individuals looked on as Trump took the oath of office, marking the beginning of his second term as President.
The inauguration ceremony was also broadcast on large screens inside the Capitol Visitor Center and at the Capital One Arena in downtown Washington, D.C. This allowed those who could not attend the ceremony in person to participate in the event and witness the transfer of power.
The traditional inaugural parade, which was initially planned to take place outside, was moved indoors due to the cold weather. Trump was expected to participate in the parade, which was held at the Capital One Arena later in the day..
Trump’s First Speech
Trump’s inaugural address in the Capitol rotunda outlined his vision for the country, criticizing the current state of the United States. Former President Joe Biden was in attendance. Trump expressed his desire to be a “peacemaker” and a “unifier,” citing the recent hostage and ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas.
“The Golden Age of America begins right now,” Trump said, vowing to “put America first” during his next four years in the White House. “From this day forward, our country will flourish and be respected again all over the world,” he said, noting that the United States “will be the envy of every nation, and we will not allow ourselves to be taken advantage of any longer.”
He announced plans to declare a “national energy emergency” and reiterated his support for increased oil and gas production. Trump also proposed establishing an “External Revenue Service” to collect tariffs, duties, and revenues.In addition, Trump pledged to sign an executive order to end government censorship and promote free speech. He emphasized his goal of creating a “color-blind” and “merit-based” society, and stated that the U.S. government would officially recognize only two genders: male and female.
Furthermore, Trump reaffirmed his commitment to taking control of the Panama Canal, renaming the Gulf of Mexico to the “Gulf of America,” and reverting Alaska’s Mount Denali back to “Mount McKinley”.
More Campaign Speech
Trump bid farewell to outgoing President Joe Biden and former First Lady Jill Biden after the inaugural ceremony in the Capitol rotunda. The Bidens then departed on a helicopter, marking the beginning of their life after the White House.
The Bidens were scheduled to travel to California, where they would start their new life outside of Washington D.C. Trump, meanwhile, went on to deliver another speech to a different audience.
“I just want to say you’re a younger, far more beautiful audience than I just spoke to and I want to keep it off the record,” he said, later adding he gave them the “A+ treatment.”
Trump gave a 35-minute speech in the Capitol Visitor Center’s Emancipation Hall, which served as an overflow room for guests who couldn’t fit into the rotunda. The audience included governors, lawmakers’ spouses, and members of the diplomatic Corps. “I was going to talk about that. They said, ‘Please, don’t bring that up right now. You can bring it up tomorrow.’ I said how about now,” Trump said. “We’re giving you a little more information than we gave upstairs.”
In contrast to his earlier speech, Trump’s second address was more reminiscent of his campaign rallies. He reiterated false claims about his 2020 election loss to Biden and the January 6 attack on the Capitol.
“Then, when they said we have a group of people who are serious Trump fans, I said ‘This is the time to tell those stories,’” he said.
Trump explained that he intentionally kept his first speech “beautiful and unifying,” avoiding complicated topics. Instead, he saved those discussions for his second speech, where he addressed border security and immigration.
“I think it probably was the number one issue for me back in 2015, 2016,” Trump said. “This border is much worse. We fixed the border. It was totally fixed. There was nothing to talk about.”
Trump blamed Biden’s administration for the issues at the border, saying that immigration had become a significant problem during his predecessor’s term. He reiterated his commitment to strengthening border security and enforcing immigration laws.
After his speeches, Trump signed several documents in the President’s Room, located near the U.S. Senate chamber. One of the documents was a proclamation ordering the U.S. flag to be flown at full staff on inauguration days.
This move countered Biden’s earlier order to fly flags at half-staff until January 28 in memory of former President Jimmy Carter, who passed away in December. U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson and some Republican-led states had already ordered flags to be flown at full staff on Inauguration Day.
Source : https://scdailygazette.com/
