On January 20, 2025, Donald Trump was sworn in as the 47th President of the United States, marking a historic return to the White House after his previous presidency from 2017 to 2021. When delivering his inaugural speech, Trump announced, "Today is the beginning of the golden age. God saved my life, so America must be great again. From this moment on, the American decline is over".
The Context of the Victory
Trump's success was especially noteworthy, in that he was only the second US president to win back the White House after losing a term. The pioneer of this was Grover Cleveland in 1892. Trump won the race against the Democratic nominee for president, Kamala Harris (who stepped into the race after Joe Biden exited the campaign).
The Inauguration Ceremony
The inauguration ceremony took place in the Rotunda of the Capitol, with limited attendance due to space restrictions. Some 700 people were in attendance when Trump took the oath of office, with a further 1,800 seats set up in the Emancipation Hall to watch the ceremony take place. Trump took the oath of office in the hands of Chief Justice John Roberts, officially becoming the oldest president to assume the role at 78 years old.
Initial Measures
Right from the swearing-in, trump signed a set of executive orders, including pardons of 1,500 people who participated in the 2021 January 6th Capitol riot. Further, he launched a mass expulsion policy and a trade war against Canada and Mexico, applying tariffs and protectionist stances.
International Reactions
Trump's re-election sparked mixed reactions internationally. A number of world leaders expressed worries about what kind of protectionist and isolationist policies presidential candidate Trump would implement, as a contrast to many which described his victory as an opportunity to further improve bilateral relations.
Future Challenges
Despite the enthusiasm for his return to the White House, Trump will face numerous challenges, including managing trade tensions, reforming immigration, and promoting economic growth. Besides, he will have to deal with the internal country splits, still very polarized consequent to the elections.
In summary, the inauguration of Donald Trump as the 47th President of the United States represents a historic moment, filled with expectations and challenges. His return to the White House signals a new political epoch, which is of obvious domestic and foreign policy significance.
