On January 20, 2025, Donald Trump was inaugurated as the 47th President of the United States, marking the commencement of his second, non-consecutive term. The ceremony, initially planned for the Capitol steps, was moved indoors to the U.S. Capitol Rotunda due to freezing temperatures and high winds. The event was attended by prominent figures, including tech billionaires Jeff Bezos, Elon Musk, and Sundar Pichai, alongside former presidents and senior political leaders.
In his inaugural speech, Trump, 78, struck an assertive tone, targeting his predecessor Joe Biden and denouncing what he described as a “radical and corrupt establishment.” He framed his return as a mandate to reverse the country’s perceived decline, declaring, “From this moment on, America’s decline is over.” Unlike his 2017 “American carnage” speech, Trump adopted a more optimistic outlook, promising a “thrilling new era of national success” and a “golden age” for the United States.
Trump began his second term with a flurry of executive orders, including pardoning approximately 1,500 individuals convicted in connection to the January 6, 2021, Capitol riots, describing them as “hostages.” He commuted sentences of key figures in the Oath Keepers and Proud Boys and was greeted by cheering supporters outside a Washington, D.C., jail upon their release. Additional executive actions included bolstering border security, designating drug cartels as terrorist organizations, limiting birthright citizenship, freezing new federal regulations, and establishing a task force to reduce the size of the federal government. He also reversed several Biden-era policies related to climate change and diversity initiatives.
The day featured both solemn and celebratory moments. Trump emphasized his commitment to advancing a pro-business energy policy and hinted at expanding U.S. borders, even mentioning a plan to “take back” the Panama Canal. His inauguration was followed by an indoor parade at Capital One Arena, replacing the traditional outdoor procession, and concluded with a series of inaugural balls.
Trump described stepping into the remodeled Oval Office as “one of the better feelings I’ve ever had.” Notable changes included replacing a portrait of Franklin Delano Roosevelt with one of George Washington. Confident and emboldened, Trump promised swift action to fulfill his vision for the country, vowing to lead with what he called “common sense.”
