Surrounded by his family, a serious Donald Trump placed his hand on two Bibles and took the oath of office. Just before, JD Vance was solemnly installed as Vice President.
From now on, the USA will be respected and envied throughout the world, claimed the new President shortly afterwards from the podium in the Capitol's rotunda, where the inauguration had been moved due to the cold outside. He promised that the USA's "decline" would cease, that the homeland would become "proud, prosperous, and free".
Criticized Biden
The tech billionaires, foreign heads of state, and congressmen in the audience were treated to scathing criticism of predecessor Joe Biden's administration. Trump claimed that Biden had failed to protect the USA from a range of crises, including the fires in Los Angeles, the floods in North Carolina, and wars around the world.
Former President Joe Biden listened with his head bowed.
The Trump administration had prepared hundreds of presidential decrees for the first day, but the inauguration speech did not contain many details. Trump did not mention Greenland or the Ukraine war. However, he promised that the US flag, "Stars and Stripes", would be planted on Mars, which made his adviser, super-entrepreneur and SpaceX founder Elon Musk, smile broadly.
The President also claimed that the Gulf of Mexico would be renamed the American Gulf and promised to retake the Panama Canal.
China controls the Panama Canal, but we didn't give it to China, we gave it to Panama and we'll take it back.
As expected, Trump declared a state of emergency at the country's southern border to be able to send soldiers there, and promised to deport "millions and millions of criminal migrants". He also repealed the law that grants automatic citizenship to children born in the USA.
Jubilation at the Arena
When Trump took the stage, the crowd at the giant Capitol One arena erupted in cheers, where the President had referred supporters who had originally wanted to follow the ceremony outside the Congress building.
"We love Trump", chanted Trump supporters in unison.
This is a historic moment, said Adrian Garranzuay from Texas to TT's correspondent at the queue.
So many of the problems we've had over the past four years will be solved, and we'll get a more sensible and transparent government.
The audience in the Capitol was not equally enthusiastic, but Trump received standing ovations when he claimed that God had saved him from an assassination attempt last summer – and that it had happened so that he could make the USA great again.
Out of the Paris Agreement – Again
The new President also declared a state of emergency in the energy sector and promised to utilize the USA's energy resources and drill for oil. Joe Biden's "Green Deal", investments in electric cars, and a range of other climate measures were scrapped by Trump, who during his previous term called climate change a "hoax".
As the speech was held, the White House sent out an email stating that Trump intends to withdraw the USA from the Paris Agreement on climate.
Trump also promised tariffs against "other countries", without going into details or percentages. However, he established a new authority, the External Revenue Service, to collect the tariffs.
The American dream is soon back, like we've never seen it.
Donald Trump enters his second term with relatively strong opinion polls. 48 percent of Americans have a positive view of him, and 47.7 percent a negative one, according to Real Clear Politics' compilation of surveys. 51 percent also give a thumbs-up to his transition work. During Trump's first term, 2017–2021, his popularity fluctuated between around 40 and 45 percent.
It is clear that Americans have voted for change. Only 27.9 percent believe that the country is developing in the right direction, and 39.3 percent think that outgoing President Joe Biden is doing a good job.
