Trump taps back in
The second inauguration of President Donald Trump signals the start of a chapter in American history many thought the justice system wouldn’t allow- but here we go again
‘Our golden age has just begun’
That is what President Trump said during his inauguration speech on January 20. He has been sworn back into the Oval Office for the second time, marking the beginning of a term many thought would not or could not happen. After victory in November’s election at the expense of Democrat Kamala Harris, Trump will move back into the White House ahead of a second term that will no doubt be one that few can take their eyes off- either in a good or bad way.
The start of this term sees the USA as fractured as ever. Swathes of people were against having a convicted felon in the most powerful role in Western politics, but plenty more people wanted this over a Democratic candidate who failed to do what Trump has an oddly impressive ability to do- grab the spotlight.
As a member of the public in England, the view of the outside looking in is one of knowing what will happen in terms of press coverage. In Trump’s first term, it felt as though almost every other day the President was in the news for one reason or another. His movements and words were analysed in depth by the press here across the Atlantic. This was in stark contrast to the Joe Biden years, where people in the UK would sometimes go weeks without seeing the President filling column inches.
The next Trump administration was doing things differently even before the former Home Alone 2 star moved into the White House. For the first time in 40 years, the inauguration took place on the steps of Capitol Hill. President Trump took the oath from within the rotunda inside the Capitol Building, becoming the first person since Ronald Reagan in his second term to do so.
This was due to icy weather being forecast for Washington DC ahead of inauguration day. An arctic blast forced the inauguration indoors, and some Democrats saw their chance to have a pop at Trump’s decision to move the speech. Governor of Minnesota Tim Walz, who was Kamala Harris’ running mate in the Democrats’ losing 2024 campaign, posted a photo of himself standing in a snowstorm with the caption, “There’s no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothing.”
The oath read out by Trump comes from Article II in Section I of the US Constitution. In hindsight given what some of his predecessors have done, you can only have a wry laugh at the wording.
It reads: “I do solemnly swear that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.”
Plenty of Presidents have uttered these famous words, with more than a few found to have abused their position. We don’t know exactly what Trump 2.0 will look like, but with a list of issues both domestic and overseas affecting the USA, we know for a fact it won’t be without intrigue.
The speech itself was filled with statements and hints at legislation that became familiar during the first Trump term. Progression on trans rights will be scaled back, and Trump is to ban trans athletes from taking part in women’s sports. He also wants to rename the Gulf of Mexico and make life much harder for non-Americans to make a life for themselves in the USA. Tough times are coming for many groups within the USA, but sadly they’ve probably seen it coming.
With all of the usual issues surrounding the USA, plus a few new ones (Tiktok ban, anyone?) — the coming months and years will have plenty of events that will hit news headlines, good or bad.
