On January 20, 2025, the elected American president, Donald Trump, took the oath of office, becoming the 47th president of the United States. It’s important to note that inauguration day is a celebration marking the beginning of a new four-year term for the President of the United States. This ceremony is held for every new presidential term, even if the president is continuing in office for a second term.
Distinctive Features:
The inauguration ceremony of the new American president, Donald Trump, featured several noteworthy aspects, which can be highlighted as follows:
Ceremony Inside the Capitol Building: Since President Ronald Reagan’s inauguration in 1981, the ceremony has typically been held on the west front of the U.S. Capitol facing the National Mall, with the famous Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial in view. However, Trump’s second inauguration ceremony was held inside the Congress due to extreme cold, marking the first time in 40 years that a presidential inauguration took place indoors. Trump had recently announced on his “Truth Social” account that a polar storm was sweeping across the country, and he did not want people to suffer or get hurt in any way. He added that he ordered the inauguration speech, along with other prayers and speeches, to take place in the Capitol Hall.
Relatively Modest Ceremony: According to CNBC, the inauguration was relatively modest and small compared to previous ceremonies such as those of former presidents Barack Obama and Bill Clinton, despite the Trump inauguration committee announcing they raised $170 million.
Oversight by a Democratic Senator: Planning for the inauguration ceremony of the elected president and vice president was carried out by the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies, led this year by Democratic Senator Amy Klobuchar from Minnesota. The committee oversees several events on inauguration day, including the parade to the Capitol, the vice president’s oath-taking ceremony, the president’s oath ceremony, the inaugural address, the departure of the outgoing president and vice president, the signing ceremony (where the new president signs appointments or executive orders), the luncheon, the military review (where the president and vice president inspect military troops), and finally, the presidential parade, which will take place in Capital One Plaza in downtown Washington.
Heightened Security Measures: Generally, the inauguration is classified as a “special national security event,” allowing for additional funding and coordination among agencies, including the Secret Service, Homeland Security, and the U.S. Capitol Police. However, the event was exceptional, as Trump returned to the Oval Office under unusual circumstances after facing multiple threats during his campaign, including two obvious assassination attempts, an attack in New Orleans, and an explosion in Las Vegas, which heightened security alertness. Estimates indicate that 25,000 National Guard troops were deployed in Washington, D.C., along with the use of drones, snipers, and barbed wire stretching 48 kilometers around the White House and the Capitol itself, with some roads closed and checkpoints increased, and concrete barriers in place.
Presence of Foreign Leaders: Unprecedentedly, Trump invited several foreign leaders to attend the inauguration. Historically, no foreign leader has previously attended the transfer of power in the United States; only diplomats were typically sent. However, this ceremony featured high-level international attendance, beginning with Argentine President Javier Milei, a strong supporter of Trump, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, and Chinese Vice President Han Zheng, representing President Xi Jinping.
Strong Presence of the Tech Community: Reflecting the growing role of technology companies in American political life, Trump’s inauguration saw a notable attendance of prominent figures in the tech world, including Mark Zuckerberg (founder and CEO of Meta), Jeff Bezos (executive chairman of Amazon), Elon Musk (CEO of Tesla and SpaceX), Tim Cook (CEO of Apple), Sundar Pichai (CEO of Google), and Shou Zi Chew (CEO of TikTok), who returned the app to service two days after it was shut down in the U.S.
Key Points from the Address:
Trump set a new record for the longest inaugural address in modern history. According to Axios, Trump’s first inaugural address in 2017 was the shortest in modern history, while the address on January 20, 2025, was the longest, being nearly double the length of his 2017 speech. This address marked Trump as the second president in U.S. history, after Grover Cleveland, to deliver a second non-consecutive inaugural address. Here are some highlights from Trump’s speech:
Restoring the American Dream: President Donald Trump pledged to put “America first,” stating at the beginning of his speech, “The golden age of America begins now.” He added, “From this day forward, our country will thrive and be respected again throughout the world, and we will be the envy of every nation. We will no longer allow ourselves to be exploited.” Trump reaffirmed his commitment to serve America first and declared it would become greater, stronger, and more exceptional than ever before, stressing that he would not tolerate neglect and corruption in government, declaring that “the decline in the United States is over.” He remarked on returning as the 47th president and expressed confidence and optimism that Americans were at the dawn of an exciting new era of national success, adding: “Sunlight is streaming across the entire world, and America has the chance to seize this opportunity like never before.”
Energy at the Forefront of Priorities: Trump believes that the inflation crisis was caused by excessive spending and rising energy prices. For this reason, he announced during his inaugural speech a national energy emergency, under which he would announce the resumption of drilling permits, reminding Americans of the slogan “Drill, baby, drill,” as he believes energy, including oil and natural gas, can make the United States wealthy again. He pledged to eliminate the “electric vehicle mandate,” which grants tax exemptions when purchasing these cars, expressing his intention to rescue the “traditional auto industry.” In this regard, he stated: “You will be able to buy the car of your choice. We will make cars in America again at a rate that no one would have dreamed of just a few years ago.”
Criticism of the Biden Administration: Trump criticized Joe Biden’s administration, despite Biden attending the inauguration and sitting just steps away from him. In this context, Trump stated that the Biden administration failed to manage domestic crises while simultaneously stumbling in handling catastrophic events abroad. He addressed the immigration dilemma, stating, “Biden’s government has failed to protect our wonderful law-abiding citizens while providing refuge and protection for dangerous criminals,” adding: “We have a government that has provided unlimited funding to defend foreign borders but refuses to defend our border or, more importantly, its people.”
Priority for Change in Health and Education: President Donald Trump indicated that the country is currently in a state of decline, criticizing the education and healthcare systems and pledging to bring about change “very quickly” in these sectors. He stated, “We have a public healthcare system that does not perform well in times of disaster, yet more money is spent on it than any country anywhere in the world. And we have an education system that teaches our children to be ashamed of themselves, and in many cases, to hate our country, despite the love we try hard to give them. All of this will change, starting today, and it will change very quickly.”
Ending Diversity Policies: Trump stated that he would make it U.S. policy to recognize only two genders: “male and female,” pledging to end attempts at race and gender engineering. It is worth mentioning that after winning the U.S. elections, Trump promised to issue executive orders aimed at scaling back diversity, equity, and inclusion programs, announcing that federal funds would not be used to support what he called “gender ideology.”
Imposing Tariffs on Nations: Trump announced that he would impose tariffs and taxes on countries, pledging to reform the trade system. He stated that his administration would create what he called an “External Revenue Service,” explaining that the role of this new agency would be “to collect all tariffs, fees, and revenues,” adding that these revenues would be significant amounts flowing into the U.S. Treasury for the country’s benefit.
Stopping Immigration and Ensuring Border Security: Trump stated that he would declare “a national emergency on the southern border of the United States,” stop immigration, and deport “criminal immigrants,” as he described them. He plans to classify drug cartels as terrorist organizations that need to be confronted, concurrently issuing orders for the U.S. military to build a new section of the barrier wall on the border with Mexico and granting emergency powers to suspend the entry of illegal immigrants across the southwestern border, allowing for the swift deportation of individuals apprehended back to their home countries.
Issuing More than 200 Executive Orders: Trump is set to sign more than 200 executive orders on the first day of his second term concerning border security, energy, and reducing the cost of living for American families. Estimates indicate that he will announce withdrawal from the Paris Climate Agreement and declare a national emergency on the border, directing the U.S. military to work with the Department of Homeland Security to fully secure the country’s southern border.
Ambiguity in Trump’s Foreign Policy: Foreign policy did not hold a prominent position in Trump’s speech. All statements regarding foreign policy were brief and ambiguous. On one hand, Trump did not provide an integrated vision for his foreign policy directions, while on the other hand, he seemed determined in his previously troubling remarks about neighboring nations in the Americas. He reiterated his commitment to renaming the Gulf of Mexico to “America’s Gulf,” stating, “America will reclaim its rightful place as the greatest, strongest, and most respected nation on earth.” He addressed the importance of the Panama Canal to the United States, clarifying that the U.S. has spent more money than ever on the Panama Canal project, with the loss of 38,000 American lives during its construction; hence, it could not be handed over to China for control, adding: “We gave it back to Panama, and we are reclaiming it. U.S. ships are charged exorbitant rates, and they are not treated fairly.” Additionally, Trump spoke very briefly about the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas, stating: “Those held in Gaza are returning to their homes and families.”
Mars Dominance: Trump stated, “We will continue our quest to fulfill our destiny among the stars, and we will send American astronauts to plant the American flag on Mars.” Observers interpret this statement not only as an assertion of American ambition in outer space but also as a warning message to both China and Russia, who are seen as strong competitors to the U.S. in the space race. Some believe it also serves as a signal for his friend Elon Musk to increase investments in this advanced field, noting that Musk applauded enthusiastically when Trump mentioned this.
In conclusion, it can be said that despite the passionate tone of Trump’s speech, it does not negate that he starts from where his predecessor Biden left off, which is inherent in the American political system.
It is likely that many policies from the Biden era will continue under Trump, whether concerning Middle Eastern issues or dealing with China and Washington’s allies in South, Southeast, and East Asia, albeit with different tactics, characterized by varying levels of hostility and friendship.
What may be new is the expectation regarding the imposition of pressure policies on allies, as well as the potential for resorting to what is described as “peace through strength” to resolve certain crises both in the Middle East and around the world.
