Donald Trump was inaugurated for a historic second term as U.S. president on Monday, pledging immediate action on immigration and cultural issues as he capped a remarkable political comeback.
With one hand on a Bible gifted by his mother, the 47th president took the oath of office under the Capitol’s Rotunda, marking the first indoor inauguration in decades due to freezing temperatures.
In a rare display of bipartisan tradition, outgoing Democratic President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden greeted Trump and his wife at the White House before traveling together to the ceremony. Biden, who did not attend Trump’s first inauguration in 2021 amid electoral fraud claims, emphasized the importance of restoring tradition, joining former presidents Barack Obama, George W. Bush, and Bill Clinton at the event.
The ceremony saw an array of high-profile attendees, including tech titans Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg, Jeff Bezos, and Sundar Pichai. Musk, a major campaign donor and supporter of Trump’s policies, is set to lead a cost-cutting initiative within the administration.
Policy Agenda and Executive Orders
Behind the pageantry, Trump wasted no time outlining his hardline nationalist agenda. His administration announced a wave of executive orders targeting undocumented immigration, diversity programs, and gender recognition policies. Trump plans to declare a national emergency at the Mexico border, involve the military in border security, and eliminate birthright citizenship.
“We are beginning a brand new day for America,” Trump proclaimed at a pre-inauguration rally. “I will act with historic speed and strength to fix every crisis facing our country.”
A Unique Ceremony
The inauguration diverged from tradition in several ways. Attendance was limited, and foreign leaders, usually absent, were present, including Argentina’s President Javier Milei and Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, both of whom share Trump’s right-wing ideology.
The day was not without controversy. As Biden’s presidency ended, he issued pardons for family members, key officials, and individuals linked to investigations of his administration. He also left a private letter for Trump, a gesture of continuity between administrations.
Global Implications
Trump’s return has already reverberated globally. Russian President Vladimir Putin congratulated him, expressing openness to talks on Ukraine. Meanwhile, Trump’s proposals, from imposing tariffs to questioning U.S. aid to Ukraine, signal potential disruptions to the international order.
At 78, Trump becomes the oldest president to take office and only the second in U.S. history to reclaim the presidency after losing it. Despite his legal controversies, including a criminal record, Trump’s second term promises to be as transformative and polarizing as his first.
