Donald Trump has returned to the White House on Monday, Jan. 20 for a non-consecutive second term, becoming only the second president in U.S. history after Grover Cleveland to achieve such a political comeback. Prior to 1937, inaugurations were held on March 4. Since then, Jan. 20 has been the official date for the transfer of presidential power.
The Associated Press livestreamed the presidential inauguration on YouTube, providing millions of viewers nationwide with real-time access to the historic transfer of power. Trump’s 2025 inauguration drew notable attendees, including tech billionaires Mark Zuckerberg and Jeff Bezos, former presidents Barack Obama and Bill Clinton, and Hillary Clinton. While Michelle Obama chose not to attend, former Vice President Mike Pence, Joe Biden and Kamala Harris were present.
Two Supreme Court justices played an important role in this upcoming election. Chief Justice John Roberts administered the presidential oath to Trump, while Justice Brett Kavanaugh swore in Vice President JD Vance.
Opera tenor Christopher Macchio performed the national anthem prior to Trump’s oath of office. Upon entry, Trump was seen shaking hands with Biden and others while the crowd cheered, shouting “USA! USA! USA!”
Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) welcomed everyone and introduced Trump and Vance, expressing hope for “the peaceful transfer of power at the heart of our democracy.” She thanked the committee for their hard work and stressed that the theme of “enduring democracy” should remain central, especially with many former presidents in attendance.
“Through war and peace, through adversity and prosperity, we hold this inauguration every four years, and today it falls on Martin Luther King Day,” Klobuchar added, emphasizing the importance of recognizing the values enshrined in the Constitution.
Klobuchar further remarked that every citizen, regardless of political affiliation, “is in a position of responsibility as a citizen, which comes with the obligation not to seek out malice, as President Lincoln once reminded us, but to view others with the generosity of spirit, despite our differences.” Klobuchar ended her speech by saying that every citizen, not just politicians, has a say in democracy.
First, JD Vance took his oath, administered by Kavanaugh, with his wife Usha Vance and children by his side. Shortly after, Trump took his oath of office with his wife Melania Trump, holding a bible, and children by his side.
After a choir performance, Trump took the stage to deliver a speech where he pledged to “put America first” and build a nation that is “proud, prosperous and free.” He assured the audience that “America will be greater, stronger and more exceptional than ever before,” emphasizing his commitment to prioritizing hardworking Americans.
Trump also acknowledged the difficulties faced by those enduring disasters in states like California and North Carolina. He additionally claimed that the U.S. spends “more money on [public health] than any country anywhere in the world” and criticized the education system for teaching children to “be ashamed of themselves and, in many cases, to hate our own country.”
He vowed to change the education system quickly and promised to restore the American people’s “faith, wealth, democracy and freedom.” Trump further declared that “from this moment on, America’s decline is over,” and vowed to “immediately restore the integrity, competency and loyalty of America’s government.” Despite assassination attempts, Trump said he believes his life was saved for a reason, which was “by God, to make America great again.”
During his speech, Trump made various promises during his presidency, including pledging to end the practice of catch and release and to send troops to the southern border to combat what he described as an invasion of the country. Additionally, he proposed designating cartels as foreign terrorist organizations to enhance law enforcement efforts against them.
“American dream will soon be back and thriving like never before,” Trump stated at the inauguration. He implemented a new Department of Government Efficiency which hopes to “restore competence and effectiveness to our federal government.” Trump said he hopes to implement free speech and ensure that race and gender are not a part of everyday life.
Trump’s speech emphasized themes of unity, resilience and ambition. He urged Americans “to act with courage, vigor and the vitality of history’s greatest civilization,” calling for national harmony as a “peacemaker and a unifier.”
Highlighting the power of determination, Trump stated, “I stand before you now as proof that you should never believe that something is impossible to do. In America, the impossible is what we do best.” Trump concluded his speech by assuring citizens that nothing will stand in their way and declaring that, according to him, the U.S.’s golden age has just begun.
After his speech, the Armed Forces Chorus and Carrie Underwood, a Grammy-winning country music superstar, performed “America the Beautiful.” Shortly after, Reverend Franklin Graham, Rabbi Ari Berman and Reverend Lorenzo Sewell led prayers, emphasizing unity and shared values.
The inaugural address concluded with a rendition of the national anthem, performed once again by Macchio.
Had to switch to the online version because unless I missed something the article was unceremoniously cut off in the physical paper. It was frustrating reading an article titled “A closer look” that then proceeded to be entirely uncritical of the inauguration speeches and proceedings