WASHINGTON − Donald Trump was sworn in Monday as the 47th president of the United States, returning to the White House after overcoming four criminal indictments and two assassination attempts in one of the most remarkable political comebacks in U.S. history.
Trump recited the oath of office shortly after noon ET at an intimate inauguration ceremony inside the Capitol rotunda, the same building a mob of his supporters stormed four years ago to try to stop the certification of Trump’s 2020 election loss. The ceremony was moved indoors because of below-freezing temperatures in the nation’s capital.
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Trump, 78, raised his right hand and took the oath of office using a Bible his mother gave him in 1955 that was stacked on a second Bible used by President Abraham Lincoln for his swearing-in in 1861. JD Vance was sworn in as vice president right before Trump.
“The golden age of America begins right now,” Trump said in a roughly 30-minute inaugural address. “From this day forward, our country will flourish and be respected again all over the world. We will be the envy of every nation, and we will not allow ourselves to be taken advantage of any longer during every single day of the Trump administration.”
Trump arrived at the Capitol to applause and chants of “USA! USA! USA!” He replaces Joe Biden, who sat behind Trump as the new president railed against the “radical and corrupt” government he is inheriting.
Calling his inauguration “liberation day,” Trump declared “a tide of change is sweeping the country” as he painted a bleak picture of a nation overwhelmed by crime from an “invasion of our country.” He said the Biden administration “cannot manage even a simple crisis at home” and accused his predecessor of providing “sanctuary and protection for dangerous criminals” who have entered the country illegally.
“All of this changes starting today,” Trump said, adding that he has a mandate to reverse the “horrible betrayal” of the Biden administration.
In prime seating behind Trump on stage were Trump’s and Vance’s family members, the president’s Cabinet nominees and billionaire executives such as Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, Apple CEO Tim Cook and tech entrepreneur Elon Musk.
Opera singer Christopher Macchio sang “Oh, America!” before Trump took the stage. Country star Carrie Underwood sang “America the Beautiful” after Trump’s address.
Trump is just the second former president to return to office after losing an election, joining Grover Cleveland, who returned to the White House for his second term in 1893. Trump is the first impeached president to return to office, first convicted felon to serve as president and the oldest president on Inauguration Day.
Inauguration live updates:Follow for the latest on Donald Trump’s second inauguration
When the Trump Sec. of State walks into his newly confirmed office to clear acceptance by the professional staff, it says it all.
As a friend of mine who is a second generation of Mexican origin said, I could never understand why any Hispanic would vote for Democrats.
As the saying goes, God Speed.
Trump must not go so far overboard that his supporters turn against him. Pardoning ALL of the January 6 group, rather than leaving the ones who physically attacked police to serve their sentences, was a big political mistake. Trump did it to “reward” them for supporting him in his battles related to the voter fraud. Also, thinking he can immediately deport EVERY illegal migrant is a huge mistake. While 90% agree all the criminals should be deported, a majority believe that those who have worked and paid taxes in the US for many years,with spouse and kids and a place in their communities, should not be deported, but should be given a path to citizenship. The immigration issue elected Trump, and it could just as surely be turned against him. Trump should not be so quick to change the world on his first day–this was the fundamental error of the Democrats with their radical changes, Trump should carefully consider the necessary changes “back to normalcy” in a way that his base and most of the public will understand and agree with.
Carrie, consider that some people can only be pushed so far before they fight back. My take is that it was a “protest” against an obvious corrupt administration taking control over this Country to remake it in the image that a former potus (yes not capitalized on purpose)and his supporters envisioned.