NEW YORK — President Donald Trump’s second inaugural address bore striking similarities to his initial one, featuring a comprehensive critique of the nation he leads alongside grand aspirations for change.
During his first address eight years prior, Trump painted a grim picture of “American carnage,” promising a swift end to the nation’s troubles. In his latest speech, he professed that the country is entering a period of decline that will quickly be rectified, heralding “the golden age of America.”
Trump presented an extensive agenda that felt more suited to a State of the Union address than an inaugural ceremony, yet the overarching message was distinctly Trumpian as he positioned himself as a potential savior of the nation. In a deviation from tradition, the Republican president spoke from the Capitol Rotunda, opting for indoor comfort due to frigid temperatures outside. His audience comprised several hundred elected officials and prominent pro-Trump supporters, including notable tech entrepreneur Elon Musk.
A defining promise made by Trump in his speech was the birth of an American “golden age.” From the onset, he employed the same rhetorical style he used during campaign rallies, making grand pledges for the nation’s triumphs under his leadership while critiquing the existing state of affairs.
“The golden age of America begins right now,” he stated, after recognizing former presidents and honored guests. Trump further pledged a “thrilling new era,” declaring the nation would become “greater, stronger, and far more exceptional than ever before.” He asserted, “Our sovereignty will be reclaimed. Our safety will be restored. The scales of justice will be rebalanced,” emphasizing that creating a proud, prosperous, and free nation would be his top priority.
Implicit in his remarks was the notion that Trump is assuming control of what he has lamented throughout the 2024 campaign as “a failed nation.” In his address, he committed to deploying troops to the U.S.-Mexico border, increasing domestic oil production, and levying tariffs to “enrich our citizens.”
Trump’s address also included a scathing critique of America’s leadership over the past four years, describing it as both incompetent and corrupt, reminiscent of some of the somber rhetoric he frequently employed during his campaign. While he refrained from mentioning former President Joe Biden or Democrats specifically, it was clear to whom he was referring.
“We now have a government that cannot manage even a simple crisis at home, while at the same time stumbling into a continuing catalog of catastrophic events abroad,” charged Trump. He claimed that the current administration prioritizes the protection of dangerous immigrants instead of law-abiding citizens and neglects American borders while safeguarding foreign ones. “All of this will change starting today, and it will change very quickly,” he asserted, noting that Republicans now control all three branches of the federal government.
Before Trump addressed the audience, a key supporter and religious figure, Rev. Franklin Graham, highlighted a prevalent theme in Trump’s narrative—his alleged persecution by shadowy adversities. Graham alluded to Trump’s “enemies” and the “darkness” that dominated the recent past for him.
During his speech, Trump wove in his own narrative of victimhood, relating the legal challenges he faces concerning his attempts to counter his electoral defeat to Biden, to what he termed the “weaponization” of the Justice Department. Trump also connected these legal struggles to an attempted assassination against him in Butler, Pennsylvania, last July.
“The journey to reclaim our republic has not been an easy one, that I can tell you,” he remarked, comparing his circumstances to a battle for survival. “I was saved by God to make America great again,” he declared, earning applause from the crowd.
In addressing national issues, Trump expressed his incredulity at the ongoing wildfires near Los Angeles, claiming they were being allowed to burn with “no token defense.” However, reports from CalFire indicated that firefighters were actively engaged, with significant containment measures in place.
Simultaneously, Trump proclaimed his intention to end foreign wars while celebrating his contributions to a ceasefire in Gaza. “A peacemaker and a unifier, that’s what I want to be,” he stated, before making an unexpected vow to reclaim the Panama Canal, asserting, “We’re taking it back!” Alluding to the potential use of military force, he also expressed ambitions to expand U.S. territory and send astronauts to Mars, comments which likely resonated with Musk, an ardent supporter.
This juxtaposition of roles—both as a peace-promoter and a warrior—underscores a fundamental contradiction within Trump’s political identity. His confrontational style has energised younger male voters, yet he also frames himself as a reconciliator focused on peace and unity.
Among the attendees in the Capitol Rotunda were some of the leading figures in the tech industry who have rallied around Trump following his victory. The audience included Musk, Google CEO Sundar Pichai, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg, and Apple CEO Tim Cook, all of whom were seated strategically close to Trump’s family and cabinet nominees. While business leaders were permitted to bring their spouses, members of Congress were not, while thousands of Trump supporters viewed the swearing-in from a public venue nearby.
Responses from the audience varied significantly, with those aligned with Trump enthusiastically applauding and cheering throughout the address. However, a notable section consisting of former presidents, first ladies, and vice presidents remained largely silent, including Biden and former Vice President Kamala Harris, who appeared unresponsive during the speech.
The inaugural speech, typically delivered on the National Mall to a vast crowd of enthusiastic supporters, was instead made to a limited audience of approximately 600 within the Capitol Rotunda—invitation-only attendees comprising Congress members, cabinet nominees, Trump’s family, business figures, and political dignitaries. Remarkably, just four years earlier, loyalists to Trump had stormed the Capitol Rotunda while Congress members were huddled in fear for their safety.
After witnessing Biden depart from the Capitol, Trump expressed relief at the decision to hold the ceremony indoors, stating, “We were freezing. You would have been very unhappy.”
Following the address, Trump described the speech as somewhat controversial, noting it could have contained even more provocative remarks. He moved to the Capitol Visitor Center to greet supporters who had watched the inauguration on screens, delivering a longer, less structured talk.
Trump mentioned his desire to discuss support for individuals arrested during the January 6, 2021, Capitol incident, but he refrained at the request of his wife and Vice President JD Vance. “I decided I’m not going to make this speech complicated. I’m going to make it beautiful. I’m going to make it a unifying speech,” he explained.
Nevertheless, he affirmed his commitment to assist those arrested, labeling them “hostages” and asserting that his actions would be more significant than his words. The fallout from the Capitol riot has led to over 1,230 individuals facing federal charges, from minor infractions like trespassing to serious felonies such as assaulting law enforcement and seditious conspiracy.
Trump also took the opportunity to criticize Biden’s pardons for family members and others involved in the January 6 congressional committee and specifically called out former Republican representatives Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger by name.
