On Jan. 20, Donald J. Trump was sworn in as the 47th president of the United States of America, becoming the second U.S. president to serve two non-consecutive terms, joining only Grover Cleveland to have done so.
Every four years, the United States holds inauguration day on Jan. 20 to allow for the swearing in of a new or re-elected president. Per tradition, the swearing in occurs at noon regardless of weather conditions. After previously winning his first term in 2016 and losing re-election in 2020, Trump was able to win back the White House and will serve one more four-year term. The inauguration was moved indoors due to cold weather, with the 2025 inauguration being the coldest inauguration day since 1985.
For his second term, Trump picked a different Vice President than his selection in 2016, selecting Senator JD Vance (R-OH). Vance’s wife, Usha Chilukuri, has also become the first ever Asian and Hindu American to serve as the second lady of the United States.
Additionally, at least 14 House Democrats did not attend the inauguration, most notably former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY). Ocasio-Cortez said, “Let me make myself clear, I don’t celebrate rapists. So no, I’m not going to the inauguration.” Former first lady Michelle Obama and former second lady Karen Pence were also absent.
Trump gave his inauguration address. He gave a broad vision for the future of the nation with an optimistic tone for his supporters. He said, “From this day forward, our country will flourish and be respected again all over the world. We will be the envy of every nation, and we will not allow ourselves to be taken advantage of any longer. During every single day of the Trump administration, I will, very simply, put America first.” After giving the official inauguration address in the Capitol building’s rotunda, Trump gave an informal inaugural address to his supporters after being sworn in.
The second inaugural address took jabs at policies concerning immigration, the Green New Deal, inflation, and weaponization of the Department of Justice claiming they targeted him in the last administration. He also mentioned intentions of buying Greenland from Denmark and renaming the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America. Multiple international politicians have made fun of these ideas from Trump, such as Anders Vistisen, representing Denmark within the European Parliament. At a parliament meeting on Thursday Vistisen said, “Dear President Trump, listen very carefully. Greenland has been part of the Danish kingdom for 800 years. It is an integrated part of our country.” Prior to the inauguration, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said to the proposal to rename the Gulf of Mexico, suggesting the United States should be renamed to “America Mexicana.”
Following the inauguration, Trump signed various executive orders that he promised to sign during the campaign trail such as reversing over 78 executive orders from the Biden administration. Such as withdrawing from the Paris Climate Accords, pausing the TikTok ban, declaring a national emergency at the U.S.-Mexico border and withdrawing from the World Health Organization. He also gave pardons to over 1,500 defendants convicted for the Jan. 6 Capitol Insurrection. The most notable executive order he signed was to end birthright citizenship, which is granted to all people born in the United States of America, as stated in the 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. Due to this, a federal judge from Washington state has already blocked this executive order from going into effect.