Staff Reporter
Donald Trump declared the beginning of a “golden age” for the United States after taking the oath of office for a historic second term on Monday. In his inaugural speech, he outlined his vision for revitalizing what he described as a “broken” society.
“The golden age of America begins right now,” Trump declared at the U.S. Capitol, where the ceremony was held indoors due to cold weather. “From this day forward, our country will flourish and earn respect around the globe once again.”
While expressing optimism for renewal, Trump criticized what he termed the “betrayal” of the American people by a “radical and corrupt establishment.” He asserted, “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.”
He concluded with a strong promise: “From this moment on, America’s decline is over.”
Donald Trump, the oldest person to ever take the presidential oath at 78, is poised to launch his new term with a flurry of executive orders aimed at immigration and the U.S. culture wars.
“I will declare a national emergency at our southern border,” Trump announced to loud cheers in the ornate Rotunda hall, promising to deport “millions and millions” of illegal immigrants.
As he took the oath of office, Trump raised one hand and used a Bible given to him by his mother, officially becoming the nation’s 47th president.
In a break from tradition, Trump traveled to the Capitol with outgoing Democratic President Joe Biden, who welcomed him with tea at the White House. “Welcome home,” Biden said as he and First Lady Jill Biden greeted Trump and his wife, Melania.
Unlike his first inauguration in 2017, where he was seen as a political outsider, this time Trump is surrounded by some of America’s wealthiest and most influential figures.
Notable attendees included Elon Musk, Meta’s Mark Zuckerberg, Amazon’s Jeff Bezos, and Google CEO Sundar Pichai, all seated prominently in the Capitol alongside Trump’s family and cabinet members.
Musk, who contributed a staggering quarter of a billion dollars to Trump’s election campaign, is set to spearhead a cost-cutting initiative in the new administration.
