On Monday, Donald Trump will be inaugurated as the 47th president of the United States, making a remarkable political comeback. This ceremony marks a significant moment as Republicans gain unified control over Washington, poised to influence the nation’s institutions dramatically.
Trump is anticipated to take immediate action following the inauguration, with an array of executive orders ready for his signature. These directives aim to revive deportations, bolster fossil fuel production, and diminish civil service protections for federal employees. He has expressed that his presidency will signal “a brand new day of American strength and prosperity, dignity and pride.”
However, chilly weather has necessitated changes to the day’s traditional festivities. For the first time in four decades, Trump’s swearing-in will occur indoors at the Capitol Rotunda. The inaugural parade has been substituted with an event in a downtown arena. Supporters who traveled to the National Mall to witness the ceremony from the West Front will need to find alternative viewing locations.
Supporter Terry Barber from Georgia expressed faith in the day, regardless of the weather changes, saying, “God has a plan.”
As Trump takes the oath at noon, he will accomplish a rare feat in American politics. Four years earlier, he was ousted from the presidency amidst a COVID-19-induced economic crisis. Despite claiming to have been cheated, he incited his followers to confront Congress during the certification of electoral votes, which resulted in a violent breach of the Capitol.
Throughout these challenges, Trump maintained considerable influence over the Republican Party. His resilience against legal troubles and previous assassination attempts has only enabled him to gauge voter frustration surrounding inflation and immigration. As a historic first, Trump will be the first convicted felon to serve as president, having pleaded guilty to falsifying business records linked to hush money payments. He plans to affirm his commitment to the Constitution from the very place where his supporters erupted into chaos on January 6, 2021, and has suggested pardoning many involved in the incident.
Eight years after his initial entry into the White House as a political outsider, Trump has become much more familiar with the dynamics of federal government, emboldened to navigate it according to his directives. He has signaled intentions for retaliation against critics, prioritizing personal loyalty in appointments to his administration.
Trump has signified a desire to accelerate and amplify his agenda compared to his first term, drawing attention from political, business, and tech leaders who are reassessing their positions to align with him. The once-unified Democratic “resistance” is now fractured, divided on whether to collaborate with the new administration or oppose it. Wealthy individuals have started to connect with Trump, acknowledging his influence and capacity to affect their interests.
His agenda emphasizes rapid alterations to national policy through measures such as limiting immigration, imposing tariffs, and scaling back the climate and social programs initiated by Democrats.
His “America First” foreign policy evokes caution as geopolitical tensions rise, especially with Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine entering its third year and a tenuous ceasefire in Gaza after a relentless conflict between Israel and Hamas.
On Monday, Trump will commence his day with a prayer service at St. John’s Episcopal Church before arriving at the White House. There, he and Melania Trump will meet President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden for a traditional tea, a stark contrast to the previous inauguration where Trump declined to participate.
The two presidents and their wives will make their way to the Capitol for the swearing-in ceremony via a joint motorcade. First, Vice President-elect JD Vance will be sworn in, administering his oath on a family bible with Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh officiating. Following that, Trump will take the oath, using both a family bible and the one utilized by President Abraham Lincoln, administered by Chief Justice John Roberts.
The inaugural festivities kicked off on Saturday, with Trump arriving in Washington on a government aircraft and observing fireworks at his golf club in Virginia. On Sunday, he honored veterans at Arlington National Cemetery and energized his base in a rally at the Capital One Arena.
Prominent billionaires and tech leaders, including Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg, and Jeff Bezos, have offered significant donations to support Trump’s inaugural events and will be among the attendees. Additionally, the head of TikTok will also be present, as Trump has signaled intentions to lift an effective ban on the popular app through forthcoming executive orders.
During his rally, Trump hinted at numerous upcoming executive actions, asserting that by the day’s end, he would have already signed orders related to immigration enforcement, including a revival of his first-term strategy known as Title 42, aimed at restricting new entries into the U.S.
Additional executive actions are likely to increase oil and gas drilling by reversing Biden-era policies on domestic production and to annul recent directives regarding artificial intelligence. Changes are also anticipated in the federal workforce as he intends to dismantle diversity, equity, and inclusion programs, mandate employees to return to physical offices, and initiate staff reductions.
“Expect shock and awe,” stated Senator Ted Cruz from Texas, indicating a hefty agenda. He further urged the administration to maintain focus on fulfilling campaign promises.
With control of Congress, Republicans are collaborating closely with Trump’s administration on legislation aimed at reversing Biden’s policies and advancing their own objectives. House Speaker Mike Johnson predicted a swift series of executive orders as the new president settles in.
