On January 20, 2025, Donald Trump was sworn in as the 47th president of the United States in a ceremony attended by billionaires and tech titans such as Mark Zuckerberg, Jeff Bezos, and Elon Musk. This event marked a milestone in American history, as Republicans took unified control of Washington with the intention of reshaping the country's institutions.
Trump's day began with a prayer service at St. John's Episcopal Church, being received by outgoing President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden. Trump is poised to act quickly after the inauguration, with executive orders ready to tackle border crossings, increase fossil fuel development, and eliminate diversity and inclusion programs in the federal government.
In his inaugural speech, Trump promised to initiate "a new and exciting era of national success" and declared that he wants to reverse an alleged betrayal and restore faith, wealth, democracy, and freedom to the American people. Despite facing political trials, criminal accusations, and assassination attempts, Trump never lost his grip on the Republican Party.
Trump has vowed to "preserve, protect, and defend" the Constitution from the very place invaded by his supporters on January 6, 2021, and hinted that one of his first acts will be to pardon many involved in those events. His executive orders, which advocate for a "complete restoration of America," seek to declare a "national emergency" at the southern border and designate Mexican cartels as terrorist organizations.
Due to the warm weather, the ceremony had to be moved indoors to the Capitol Rotunda, marking the first time in 40 years that this has happened. The inaugural parade was replaced by an event in a downtown stadium, leaving Trump's supporters searching for another place to witness the festivities.
Following the inauguration, Trump is expected to issue a series of executive orders related to issues ranging from energy to immigration. More than 100 orders and directives are anticipated to be issued in what is being internally referred to as "the shock and awe effort." Trump, in his speech, called for a revolution based on the ability to think and act reasonably and make sound decisions, asserting that it is time to work with courage and strength to make America great once again.
