America has welcomed a new president. President Donald Trump took the oath of office on Monday. His upbeat speech was one of promise and change. Will he be able to deliver?
After months of planning, President Trump decided on Friday to hold his January 20 inauguration indoors. He wanted to protect attendees from cold and snow. After all, Washington, D.C., temps were expected to stay well below freezing all day. The official proceedings took place inside the Capitol Rotunda.
Changing the venue to indoors has happened before. In 1985, former President Ronald Reagan moved inside due to frigid weather.
High-level attendees for the event included tech moguls Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos, Italian Prime Minister Georgia Miloni, and Argentinian President Javier Milei. Former Presidents Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, and Barack Obama attended along with former Vice-President Dan Quayle.
Capitol One Arena livestreamed the service for the public. The venue also hosted the inauguration parade.
During his speech, President Trump received multiple standing ovations. These came as he unveiled his plans for the next four years. His theme was clear: “I will very simply put America first,” he declared.
Instead of the usual broad statements and ideas of incoming leaders, the new President talked specifics about a series of executive orders to “reinstate common sense.” President Trump says he intends to declare a national emergency at the Mexico border and revoke the electric vehicle mandate. He also promised to drill for natural resources on American soil. He also mentioned changing the names of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America and Denali back to Mount McKinley.
After the new President’s address to the nation, military cannons fired a 21-gun salute.
Perhaps the biggest surprise came during the ceremony. Many broadcast viewers saw an announcement flash across their screens. Apparently, outgoing President Biden had in his final moments pardoned four family members—other than his son, whom he had pardoned previously.
Five different religious leaders offered various types of prayers at the beginning and end of the event. Franklin Graham reminded listeners that “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord.” (Psalm 33:12)
Like many politicians, President Trump has made big promises. “From this moment on, America’s decline is over,” he said during his speech.
“I want to be a peacemaker and unifier,” President Trump says. Let us pray that is the case.
