Mon Jan 20 20:55:50 UTC 2025: ## Trump Returns to Power in Controversial Second Inauguration
WASHINGTON D.C. – Donald Trump was sworn in as the 47th President of the United States on Monday in a ceremony marked by frigid weather and highly divisive rhetoric. The inauguration, held indoors in the US Capitol Rotunda, saw Trump deliver a combative address attacking his predecessor, Joe Biden, and the “radical and corrupt establishment.”
Trump, who served a first term from 2017 to 2021, framed his election as a mandate to “completely and totally reverse” what he termed a national betrayal. He vowed to implement a series of executive actions, including a pro-business energy policy and a crackdown on illegal immigration, promising to “take back” the Panama Canal and potentially expand US borders. Despite this aggressive stance, he attempted to project a more optimistic tone than his first inaugural address, declaring the start of a “thrilling new era.”
Hours before the ceremony, outgoing President Biden issued preemptive pardons for several individuals who had been frequent targets of Trump’s ire. These included Dr. Anthony Fauci, General Mark Milley, and members of the House Select Committee investigating the January 6th Capitol attack. Biden’s action came in response to Trump’s repeated threats of imprisonment against his critics.
Trump’s speech touched on several controversial topics. He reiterated his pledge to declare a border emergency, deploying troops to halt illegal immigration and reimplement the “Remain in Mexico” policy. He also repeated false claims about foreign countries emptying prisons into the US and pledged to designate drug cartels as terrorist organizations. Further, he invoked the potential for using the Alien Enemies Act of 1798.
Trump’s ambitious vision included calls for territorial expansion, suggesting the annexation of Canada, claiming back the Panama Canal, renaming the Gulf of Mexico, and reverting the name of Denali mountain. He also vowed to end government censorship and eliminate what he called “woke” diversity initiatives.
While Trump portrayed himself as a unifier, his speech was widely seen as settling scores. His remarks were met with stony faces from Biden and Vice President Harris, who were present at the ceremony along with other dignitaries including former Presidents Clinton, Bush, and Obama. The event concluded amidst concerns about the divisiveness of Trump’s second term.
First Piper 