Donald Trump is set to be sworn in for a historic second term as US president on Monday, promising to usher in a “golden age” for America, while the world braces for the return of his unpredictable leadership.
Freezing temperatures have forced the 78-year-old’s inauguration indoors, but the first moments of this extraordinary political comeback are expected to be filled with action.
The Republican president has vowed to quickly reverse Joe Biden’s legacy with a flurry of executive orders and to launch immediate deportations of undocumented immigrants.
While Trump painted a grim picture of “American carnage” during his first inauguration in 2017, this time he is offering an optimistic vision of a “brand new day” for the United States.
“I will act with historic speed and strength to fix every single crisis facing our country,” Trump declared at a packed rally the night before, where he also shared a light-hearted moment by dancing with the Village People.
Yet the billionaire populist has also returned to some of the more divisive rhetoric that defined his first election campaign. Trump has pledged to “stop the invasion of our borders” and reverse “woke” policies, including what he calls “transgender insanity” in US schools.
Historic moment
Trump will make history by becoming the oldest president to be sworn in, replacing Joe Biden. He is only the second US president to return to power after being voted out of office, following Grover Cleveland in 1893.
Before the inauguration, Biden and First Lady Jill Biden will host Trump and his wife Melania for a private meeting at the White House, offering “tea and coffee” before they all travel together to the Capitol. The gesture of civility will stand in stark contrast to 2021, when Trump — who incited a mob that stormed the Capitol in an effort to overturn his election loss — boycotted Biden’s inauguration.
Trump’s triumphant mood has not been dampened by the need to relocate the swearing-in ceremony indoors due to the coldest predicted Inauguration Day in 40 years. Instead of taking the oath on the National Mall before a large crowd, Trump and Vice President-elect J.D. Vance will do so inside the Capitol Rotunda, just as Ronald Reagan did in 1985.
“As soon as President Trump places his hand on the Bible and swears the Oath to the United States Constitution, the Golden Age of America will begin,” said spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt.
Challenges ahead
Despite the excitement surrounding his return, many Americans are concerned by Trump’s more combative promises — including retribution against his political enemies and the media. Trump is returning to the Oval Office more powerful than ever, after defying assassination attempts and a criminal conviction to win re-election.
Once considered a political outsider, Trump has now become a defining force in US politics.
In a sign of his broad appeal, three of the world’s wealthiest men — tech moguls Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg, and Jeff Bezos — are expected to attend the inauguration. Musk, the head of Tesla, SpaceX, and X, has vowed to lead an effort to strengthen America’s position for “centuries.”
Executive orders and global impact
Trump has promised to sign around 100 executive orders within hours of taking office. Among them are plans to declare a national emergency on the southern border with Mexico and dismantle Biden’s policies on diversity and oil drilling. He has also pledged to pardon January 6th rioters, a move he said will “make supporters very happy.”
For the rest of the world, Trump’s return signals that more unpredictability lies ahead. From imposing sweeping tariffs to making territorial threats against Greenland and Panama, and questioning US aid to Ukraine, Trump is likely to shake up global diplomacy once again.
His victory has also emboldened right-wing politicians worldwide. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, a far-right leader, is set to attend the inauguration, despite foreign dignitaries typically not being invited.
AFP
