President Donald Trump delivered a critical critique of his predecessor’s tenure while outlining the urgent measures he intends to take on the first day of his second term in office, declaring in his inaugural speech, “America’s decline is over.”
Trump alternated between portraying a bleak picture of the country during Biden’s administration and touting himself as a “peacemaker and unifier” and declaring that the country’s “Golden Age” had begun.
During his roughly 30-minute address following the oath of office in the United States Capitol Rotunda, he also mentioned his personal legal challenges and historic political comeback to the White House.
Here are some major takeaways from his inaugural address as the 47th President of the United States.
Reversing ‘a dreadful betrayal’
Trump quickly criticized Joe Biden’s leadership while the former president sat in the rotunda, but he did not mention his predecessor by name.
Trump was particularly focused on immigration and recent natural catastrophes, such as the storm in North Carolina and the wildfires in Los Angeles.
“My recent election is a mandate to completely and totally reverse a horrible betrayal, and all of these many betrayals that have taken place, and to give the people back their faith, their wealth, their democracy and indeed, their freedom,” stated President Donald Trump.
Trump, like he did on the 2024 campaign road, gave a bleak image of the current status of the United States.
“From this moment on, America’s decline is over,” he said. “Our liberties and our nation’s glorious destiny will no longer be denied, and we will immediately restore the integrity, competency, and loyalty of America’s government.”
Immediate Executive Orders
Trump announced some of the executive steps he intends to take on Day 1, such as declaring a national emergency at the southern border and a national energy emergency to “drill, baby, drill.”
He stated that he would send troops to the US-Mexico border to “repel the disastrous invasion of our country,” resume his “Remain in Mexico” policy, and cease the practice of “catch and release,” among other measures.
“With these actions, we will begin the complete restoration of America and the revolution of common sense,” he told reporters. “It’s all about common sense.”
Attack against DEI policies
Trump stated that he intends to abolish federal diversity, equality, and inclusion (DEI) projects and “end the government policy of trying to socially engineer race and gender into every aspect of public and private life.”
“We will forge a society that is colorblind and merit-based,” he promised.
Trump plunged farther into the cultural wars, announcing that starting of Monday, the official doctrine of the United States government would be that there are only two genders: male and female.
Legacy as ‘peacemaker and unifier’
The inauguration took place a day after Israel and Hamas reached a cease-fire and hostage agreement, for which Trump has taken credit.
“My proudest legacy will be that of a peacemaker and unifier,” according to him, stressing that “one day before I assumed office, the hostages in the Middle East are coming back home to their families.”
He stated that he intends to assess success by the conflicts that the United States ends and, “perhaps most importantly, the wars we never get into.”
Expansionist Vision
Trump continued to lay out his expansionist agenda for the United States, including a proposal to take control of the Panama Canal.
“American ships are being severely overcharged and not treated fairly in any way, shape or form, and that includes the United States Navy,” he told CNN. “Above all, China operates the Panama Canal. And we did not give it to China. We gave it to Panama. And we are taking it back.”
He also restated his intention to rename the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America.
Personal challenges.
Trump, who was condemned by a jury of his peers and indicted four times following his first term, mentioned his legal difficulties throughout his speech.
“Never again will the immense power of the state be weaponized to persecute political opponents — something I know about,” Trump claimed, claiming he was politically persecuted. “We will not allow this to happen. This will not happen again. Under my leadership, we will restore fair, equitable, and impartial justice based on the constitutional rule of law.”