Donald Trump was sworn in on Monday as the 47th president of the United States, marking a historic political comeback.
Chief Justice John Roberts administered the oath of office inside the Capitol Rotunda at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C.
This inauguration, the 60th in U.S. history, is also Trump’s second, making him only the second president to serve non-consecutive terms.
His return to power follows a tumultuous period that included felony convictions, further underscoring the significance of his resurgence on the political stage.
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JD Vance, Trump’s running mate and the new vice president, was sworn in by Justice Brett Kavanaugh during the ceremony.
Speaking after his inauguration, Trump wasted no time in launching his administration’s sweeping agenda.
Trump declared a “national energy emergency” to address rising costs, a cornerstone of his campaign promises.
“We will drill, baby, drill,” Trump proclaimed to applause, vowing to lower energy prices and tackle inflation.
He blamed the nation’s economic struggles on “massive overspending and escalating energy prices” and directed his Cabinet to use “the vast powers at their disposal” to reduce the cost of goods.
In another major announcement, he pledged to dismantle clean energy policies, including revoking the electric vehicle mandate and ending the Green New Deal.
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“With my actions today, we’ll save the auto industry and let Americans buy the cars of their choice,” he declared, emphasising his commitment to American auto workers.
Furthermore, the White House website was updated to reflect Trump’s return to power, featuring the slogan “AMERICA IS BACK” alongside images of his previous presidency.
Visitors to the site were greeted with a video montage of military flyovers, Marine One, and Trump saluting, reinforcing his campaign’s patriotic themes.
The website also laid out the administration’s priorities, including “ending inflation,” “securing borders,” and “making American cities safe again.”
Trump promised swift action on these issues, with executive orders expected in the coming days.
The President also announced plans to overhaul the nation’s trade policies, establishing an “External Revenue Service” to collect tariffs and duties.
He argued this would generate “massive amounts of money” from foreign nations to benefit American families.
Trump also referred to his election as “liberation day,” calling it the most consequential election in U.S. history.
He thanked Black and Hispanic voters for their record-breaking support, pledging to work closely with them during his term.
In a surprising move, Trump further announced plans to rename the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America, symbolizing his administration’s vision of reclaiming national strength and global respect.
He also vowed to end what he described as the “vicious weaponization” of the Justice Department, promising a rebalancing of justice.
The President described a “tide of change sweeping the country”, pledging to reverse America’s decline and usher in a “golden age” of prosperity and freedom. “From this moment on, America’s decline is over,” he declared.
