Trump Sworn in for Second Term, Vows to Restore America's Greatness

President Trump took the oath of office for the second time on Monday, expressing his ambition to build a nation that is "greater, stronger, and far more exceptional than ever before." In a speech that lasted about 30 minutes, he began by declaring that "the golden age of America begins right now," and expressed his confidence in a prosperous future for the country. Trump emphasized the end of what he termed America’s decline, reiterating themes from his previous inauguration speech, which portrayed him as a savior for the nation.

During his address, Trump painted a dire picture of the current state of governance in the U.S., attributing a "crisis of trust" to a "radical and corrupt establishment." He claimed that the federal government is failing to provide essential services and stated that the crisis at the southern border is out of control. To combat this, he pledged to declare a national emergency on the border and halt all illegal immigration immediately. Furthermore, he promised to initiate deportations of undocumented immigrants with criminal records and designate drug cartels as foreign terrorist organizations.

In addition to border security measures, Trump outlined plans to restore military service members who were discharged for refusing vaccine mandates, change the name of the Gulf of Mexico to "Gulf of America," and assert that there will only be "two genders" under his administration. On his first day, he is expected to sign several executive orders to roll back mandates made by the Biden administration and implement his own policies.

One of his first actions as president included an order to fly flags at full-staff for presidential inaugurations, reversing Biden's directive to lower flags in honor of former President Jimmy Carter. Despite being a convicted felon, Trump referenced his legal challenges during his inauguration speech, vowing that the power of the state would not be used to persecute political opponents again.

The inauguration took place in a rarely used indoor ceremony at the Capitol, with notable absences including former first lady Michelle Obama. Trump was accompanied by his wife Melania and his five children, and was sworn in by Chief Justice John Roberts. Following the ceremony, the outgoing President Joe Biden and First Lady were seen departing the Capitol, as Biden remarked to his staff, "We have a lot more to do.