Donald J. Trump took the oath of office as the 47th President of the United States on Monday, witnessed by Chief Justice of the United States John Roberts. Trump was sworn in on the steps of the US Capitol under the fanfare of the presidential fanfare “Hail to the Chief”.
Moments earlier, Vice President J.D. Vance had relinquished the oath, which was administered by Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh.
The event was relocated indoors due to the sub-freezing temperatures in Washington, DC, and also due to security concerns, as Trump had narrowly escaped an attack on his campaign trail in July last year.
Just a week prior, President Joe Biden had dropped out of the re-election race in favor of Vice President Kamala Harris. Trump won the Electoral College, the popular vote, and all seven swing states in the November elections.
Trump is the second US President to be inaugurated for a non-consecutive term, after Grover Cleveland, the 22nd and 24th President of the United States.
In his inaugural address, Trump reiterated his “America first” mantra, vowing that every day will count as President. He promised, “Every nation will envy us, and we will not allow ourselves to be taken advantage of.”
Trump also stated that his election is a mandate to “completely and totally” undo the “many wrongs that have been done in the last four years.” He referenced his attempted assassination in Butler, Pennsylvania, last year, saying he believes he was “saved by God to make America great again.”
He also announced plans to declare a state of emergency at the US-Mexico border, vowing to end the “catastrophic conditions” he referred to as the migration crisis.
Additionally, Trump said he would immediately end the Green Deal and that from now on, there would only be two genders in the US, male and female. His administration would return the faith, wealth, democracy, and freedom of the American people.
“From this moment on, America’s decline is over” Trump declared.
More information to come..