Inauguration Of Donald Trump As 47th President Of The United States

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President Donald Trump delivered his second inaugural address, painting a bleak picture of the nation. He then addressed supporters with an unscripted speech filled with grievances, boasts, and theatrical flourishes—a speech, he claimed, his aides had prevented him from giving in the official ceremony.

“I think this was a better speech than the one I made upstairs,” Trump remarked, concluding his impromptu remarks. “I gave you the A-plus treatment.”

Within the first hour of his second term, Trump’s unscripted comments reiterated his claims of winning the 2016 election, denied the events of January 6th, 2021, and attacked political adversaries Nancy Pelosi, Hillary Clinton, Liz Cheney, and Adam Kinzinger, calling the latter “a super-cryer. I never saw the guy not crying.”

Trump’s Washington is marked by a return to familiar patterns, yet the situation is arguably more hostile. All indications suggest a more aggressive and uncompromising approach.

Trump’s initial Washington arrival eight years prior featured a shocking inaugural address. This sequel shared its predecessor’s angry, pessimistic tone, but lacked the refinement some had hoped would signal a less contentious second term. This caustic demeanor made it clear that constraints would not limit his second term.

“From this moment on, America’s decline is over,” Trump stated in his official speech, as his predecessor observed.

Trump indicated that Vice President J.D. Vance and First Lady Melania Trump persuaded him to moderate his formal address. However, after the oath and President Biden’s departure, Trump delivered an uncensored, less polished version of his speech at the Capitol Visitors Center, echoing his remarks from a previous night’s rally.

“They said, ‘Please don’t bring that up right now. You can bring it up tomorrow.’ I said, ‘How ’bout now?’” Trump said, referring to potential pardons for those involved in the January 6th, 2021 Capitol attack.

This concluded a campaign season marked by four indictments, one conviction, and two assassination attempts.

The hype surrounding Trump is reaching a peak. Recent comments from Trump’s inner circle clearly signal an end to anything resembling business as usual.

“It’s goodbye, Joe Biden. Goodbye, Kamala Harris. Goodbye, Democrats. And hello to the golden age of America,” Trump deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller declared at a campaign rally.

Former Fox News anchor Megyn Kelly used her speaking opportunity to satirize Jennifer Lopez, Meryl Streep, and Oprah Winfrey.

“In America, we have the right to free speech, we have the right to offend, to provoke, to annoy, and to stand up for what we believe in even if you find it controversial,” she stated. “We have the right not to use the words you try to force on us, like your preferred pronouns, or words like anti-racist or chest-beating.”

This antagonistic tone permeated Trump’s welcome-home events. The assembled crowds in Washington demonstrated a powerful political movement ready to assume power. This combative spirit is poised to drastically reshape Washington in unforeseen ways.

Trump returned to office promising tax cuts, inflation control, price reductions, wage increases, and the revival of domestic factories. Internationally, he pledged to end the war in Ukraine, resolve Middle Eastern conflicts, and strengthen opposition to China. While some promises have been retracted, they effectively mobilized voters in his favor over Kamala Harris, who witnessed his victory from the front row as he vowed to plant an American flag on Mars.

“This is what victory feels like,” Elon Musk, the world’s richest man, told the crowd at a post-inauguration event. “I’m so excited for the future.”

The promise of retribution was also prominent, including for former health czar Anthony Fauci, who received a preemptive pardon from Biden.

“I never met anybody in prison who did as bad stuff as those people,” former Trump trade adviser Peter Navarro remarked, referring to Fauci and others. “Time for a little accountability perhaps.”

This strong message originated from Trump himself, boosting both himself and his supporters. “Here I am. The American people have spoken,” Trump declared in the Capitol Rotunda.

Now, Americans await the response.

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