Photo // Morry Gash for APFirst lady Melania Trump holds a pair of Bibles as President Donald Trump takes the oath of office.
By: Shashank MuraliAdvertising Co-Manager, staff writer
On Jan. 20, also the day that the U.S. observed Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, President Donald Trump took the oath of office as the 47th president of the nation.
President Trump did not appear to place his hand on the Bibles held before him during the swearing-in, but this is not a Constitutional requirement.
The inauguration ceremony was held inside the US Capitol Rotunda because of the extremely low temperatures forecasted for the nation’s capital, making it the first indoor inauguration since the second swearing-in of Ronald Reagan in 1985.
“We are one nation, and their pain is our pain. Their dreams are our dreams, and their success will be our success,” President Trump said, emphasizing the importance of togetherness and love for our country.
The speech also embraced a hopeful outlook for the future by marking a new era in the history of the United States.
“The establishment safeguarded its own interests, but failed to protect the citizens of our nation,” President Trump asserted. “Their triumphs do not equate to your triumphs. Their victories have not been your victories. And while they celebrated in our nation’s capital, there was little to celebrate for struggling families across our land.”
The public has followed news on immigration and border security closely following President Trump’s emphasis on securing the southern border and conducting immigration raids during his campaign.
“Protection will lead to great prosperity and strength,” he stated.
He mentioned that he would address border issues along with what he called a dysfunctional immigration system that Americans are no longer obligated to accept.
“We will reinforce old alliances and form new ones, and unite the civilized world against radical Islamic terrorism, which we will eradicate from the face of the Earth,” he asserted, emphasizing his unwavering position on terrorism and his dedication to U.S. national security.
Despite the contentious nature of his remarks and the aggressive delivery, the address indicated that the Trump administration would prioritize action and upheaval. Regardless of personal opinions on his policies, the unmistakable message he conveyed was that America’s future would be defined by a bold, unapologetic populist style of governance.
His speech in the rotunda was 29 minutes long, about twice as long as his 2017 address. Afterward, he spent over 30 minutes speaking to an overflow crowd of colleagues and supporters at Emancipation Hall in the Capitol building, delivering a more impassioned and less scripted address in which he discussed his predecessor’s pardons, the Jan. 16, 2021 attack on the Capitol, election fraud, inflation, the 2016 election and more.