Trump vowed an immediate onslaught of directives targeting immigration and cultural debates, marking a dramatic return to power.
Donald Trump was inaugurated for a remarkable second tenure as president on Monday, pledging swift and transformative action on immigration and cultural issues, solidifying his extraordinary political resurgence.
With his right hand elevated and his left hand resting on a Bible gifted by his mother, Trump solemnly took the presidential oath beneath the grandeur of the U.S. Capitol’s massive Rotunda.
Earlier in the day, Republican Trump and outgoing Democratic President Joe Biden traveled together by motorcade to the Capitol, where the ceremony took place indoors—a rare deviation from tradition—owing to the freezing weather. Prior to the ceremony, both leaders, along with their spouses, participated in a customary tea gathering at the White House.
“Welcome back,” Biden remarked warmly as he and First Lady Jill Biden welcomed the incoming president and First Lady Melania Trump at the entrance to the executive mansion.
In a departure from the contentious 2021 inauguration, where Trump boycotted the proceedings over unsubstantiated claims of electoral fraud, Biden actively sought to uphold a sense of ceremonial continuity.
Biden was joined by former presidents Barack Obama, George W. Bush, and Bill Clinton at the Capitol. Notably, former First Ladies Hillary Clinton and Laura Bush were also in attendance, though Michelle Obama conspicuously abstained from the occasion.
Trump, now 78, who once entered the presidency in 2017 as an outsider, returned to the Capitol encircled by America’s elite and influential. The front rows were occupied by luminaries such as Elon Musk, the wealthiest man on the planet; Mark Zuckerberg, the head of Meta; Jeff Bezos, the Amazon magnate; and Sundar Pichai, the CEO of Google. These industry leaders, alongside Trump’s family and administration officials, added gravitas to the historic event.
Musk, a key financier of Trump’s campaign with an investment of $250 million, is slated to spearhead an aggressive fiscal reform initiative within the new administration.
— A Chilling Yet Historic Ceremony —
For the first time since Ronald Reagan’s 1985 inauguration, bitterly cold weather necessitated an indoor swearing-in, foregoing the expansive gatherings typically seen on the National Mall.
Amidst the pageantry, Trump wasted no time in initiating his agenda, preparing to issue approximately 100 executive orders designed to dismantle his predecessor’s policies.
He intends to declare a national emergency at the southern border, assign military personnel to enforce border security, and eliminate birthright citizenship as part of his hardline stance on undocumented immigration. Additionally, Trump plans to formalize government recognition of only two biological sexes and dismantle federal diversity initiatives, according to an official from his new administration.
These moves were unveiled just a day after Trump proclaimed his vision of a “new dawn” while denouncing what he termed “four years of America’s decline.”
“I will act with unparalleled urgency and resolve, addressing every crisis that burdens our nation,” Trump declared to an exuberant crowd during a pre-inauguration rally, punctuated by a performance by the Village People.
— Controversial Guests and Policies —
Breaking with convention, Trump’s inauguration included foreign dignitaries, such as Argentina’s far-right President Javier Milei and Italy’s right-wing Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.
The ceremony also reflected Trump’s often polarizing rhetoric. During his victorious campaign against Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris, he portrayed the nation in stark, dystopian terms while promising a “golden era.”
On Monday morning, the National Mall remained eerily empty except for a few supporters, such as the Fairchild family from Michigan, who braved the chill to honor Trump.
“We’re overjoyed,” said family matriarch Barb, emphasizing that the indoor event was likely a protective measure for the president.
In the final moments of his presidency, Biden issued sweeping pardons, including to family members and key allies, shielding them from potential legal scrutiny. Among those pardoned were Anthony Fauci, former COVID-19 advisor, and General Mark Milley, as well as individuals tied to the investigation into the January 6 Capitol riots.
Biden noted he had revived the tradition of leaving a letter for his successor, though he refrained from disclosing its contents.
— A Return Fraught with Uncertainty —
Trump’s comeback carries historic weight as he becomes the oldest individual ever inaugurated and the first president since Grover Cleveland in 1893 to reclaim the White House after being ousted.
However, his tenure begins under a cloud of legal challenges, including a criminal record linked to hush money payments and more severe investigations that were dropped following his electoral victory.
For the global community, Trump’s presidency signals a new era of unpredictability. From proposing sweeping tariffs and issuing territorial warnings to Greenland and Panama to casting doubts on U.S. aid to Ukraine, Trump appears poised to disrupt international norms once more.
Russian President Vladimir Putin extended early congratulations to Trump, expressing openness to dialogue over the Ukraine conflict and emphasizing the desire for a resolution that ensures lasting peace.
