By New York Post (Politics) | Created at 2025-01-20 17:36:13 | Updated at 2025-01-20 21:55:23
4 hours ago
WASHINGTON — President Trump declared it was “liberation day” moments after being sworn in as president Monday — vowing “the golden age of America begins right now” with a ‘revolution of common sense.”
Trump, 78, began his second non-consecutive term at a pared-down event in the Capitol Rotunda with about 600 guests due to dangerously cold weather outside, with a wind chill of about 16 degrees.
“I have been tested and challenged more than any president in our 250 year history, and I’ve learned a lot along the way. The journey to reclaim our republic has not been an easy one, that I can tell you,” Trump said.
“Those who wish to stop our cause have tried to take my freedom, and indeed, to take my life. Just a few months ago, in a beautiful Pennsylvania field, an assassin’s bullet ripped through my ear, but I felt then and believe even more so now that my life was saved for a reason. I was saved by God to make America great again.”
Trump was sworn in by Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts, shaking outgoing President Biden’s hand immediately after doing so.
“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,” Trump said.
Biden, 82, stood beside Trump after the men traveled together by car from the White House, where they privately met beforehand. Vice President Kamala Harris, whom Trump defeated to win his second non-consecutive term, also attended, as did Biden and Harris’s spouses.
“Our sovereignty will be reclaimed. Our safety will be restored. The scales of justice will be rebalanced. The vicious, violent and unfair weaponization of the Justice Department and our government will end,” he said.
“Our top priority will be to create a nation that is proud, prosperous and free. America will soon be greater, stronger, and far more exceptional than ever before. America will soon be greater, stronger and far more exceptional than ever before.”
Trump confirmed plans for a sweeping series of executive orders on his first day to curb illegal immigration, including restoring his “Remain in Mexico” policy for asylum seekers, while boosting domestic energy production and barring government censorship of political speech.
“I return to the presidency confident and optimistic that we are at the start of a thrilling new era of national success. A tide of change is sweeping the country. Sunlight is pouring over the entire world, And America has the chance to seize this opportunity, like never before,” Trump said.
“But first, we must be honest about the challenges we face. While they are plentiful, they will be annihilated by this great momentum that the world is now witnessing in the United States of America. As we gather today, our government confronts a crisis of trust. For many years, a radical and corrupt establishment has extracted power and wealth from our citizens while the pillars of our society lay broken and seemingly in complete disrepair.”
Arrayed behind Trump were some of America’s wealthiest tech titans — many of whom were perceived as opposing the Republican during his first term before rushing to cozy up to him following his Nov. 5 election victory.
The guests of honor included Google CEO Sundar Pichai, Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos, TikTok CEO Show Chew and Elon Musk, the CEO of SpaceX and Tesla and owner of X. Musk is leading Trump’s newly created Department of Government Efficiency.
Also present were former Presidents Barack Obama, George W. Bush and Bill Clinton, as well as former first lady Hillary Clinton, whom Trump defeated in 2016 to win his first term. Former Vice President Mike Pence, like Obama, arrived without his wife.
“We now have a government that cannot manage even a simple crisis at home, while at the same time stumbling into a continuing catalog of catastrophic events abroad. It fails to protect our magnificent law-abiding American citizens, but provides sanctuary and protection for dangerous criminals, many from prisons and mental institutions that have illegally entered our country from all over the world,” Trump said.
“We have a government that has given unlimited funding to the defense of foreign borders, but refuses to defend American borders, or, more importantly, its own people. Our country can no longer deliver basic services in times of emergency. As recently shown by the wonderful people of North Carolina — been treated so badly — and other states who are still suffering from a hurricane that took place many months ago.”
“Or more recently,” he went on, “Los Angeles, where we’re watching fires still tragically burn from weeks ago without even a token of defense, they’re raging through the houses and communities, even affecting some of the wealthiest and most powerful individuals in our country, some of whom are sitting here right now. They don’t have a home any longer. That’s interesting. We can’t let this happen. Everyone is unable to do anything about it, that’s going to change.”
Trump declared that “my recent election is a mandate to completely and totally reverse a horrible betrayal and all of these many betrayals that have taken place and to give the people back their faith, their wealth, their democracy. And indeed, their freedom. From this moment on, America’s decline is over.”
The inaugural crowd included Trump’s Cabinet secretary nominees and incoming officials, including White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, members of Congress from both parties and members of the Trump family.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams, podcaster Joe Rogan and Rupert Murdoch, the chairman emeritus of Fox Corporation and CEO of New Corp, which includes The Post, also attended — as did Argentinian President Javier Milei.
Trump will attend an indoor parade-style event at the nearby Capitol One Arena before going to the White House Monday afternoon — after hosting a victory rally at the same venue Sunday night featuring a live performance of “Y.M.C.A.” by the Village People.
