Donald Trump Historic Comeback, Vows to Reshape U.S. Institutions

Donald Trump was sworn in as the 47th president of the United States on Monday, marking an unprecedented return to the White House with a pledge to reverse his predecessor’s policies and restore what he called America’s lost strength.

Overcoming multiple impeachments, legal battles, and two assassination attempts, Trump reclaimed office with a series of executive orders ready to be signed immediately. His first actions will focus on restricting border crossings, expanding fossil fuel production, and dismantling diversity and inclusion programs across federal agencies.

In his inaugural address, Trump emphasized a “crisis of trust” in the government, vowing to reclaim national sovereignty and restore safety. He declared a mandate to “completely and totally reverse a horrible betrayal,” promising to restore public faith, economic prosperity, and democracy.

The inauguration, originally set to take place outdoors, was moved inside the Capitol Rotunda due to extreme weather—marking the first time in 40 years that the ceremony was held indoors. Trump’s supporters, who had gathered at the National Mall, had to seek alternative viewing arrangements as the traditional inaugural parade was replaced with a downtown arena event.

Vice President JD Vance took the oath first, using a Bible from his great-grandmother, administered by Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh. Trump followed at noon, swearing on both his family Bible and the Lincoln Bible, with Chief Justice John Roberts overseeing the oath.

Among the notable attendees were tech leaders such as Mark Zuckerberg, Jeff Bezos, Tim Cook, and Sundar Pichai, who mingled with Trump’s incoming team before the ceremony. Billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk was also present and is expected to play a role in Trump’s efforts to cut government spending and reduce federal employment.

Breaking from his stance four years ago, Trump participated in the customary White House tea and coffee reception with outgoing President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden. As Trump stepped out of his vehicle at the White House North Portico, Biden greeted him with, “Welcome home.” The two political rivals even shared a limousine ride to the Capitol.

After the ceremony, Trump accompanied Biden to the east side of the Capitol, where the outgoing president departed via helicopter, officially beginning his post-presidential life.

Following Biden’s departure, Trump addressed a crowd of supporters in a speech that extended beyond his inaugural remarks. He revisited long-standing grievances, including allegations of voter fraud, and criticized political opponents, notably calling former Republican Rep. Liz Cheney “a crying lunatic.” He even quipped that his second speech of the day was “better than the one upstairs.”

Trump’s return to office is unlike anything in American history. After being voted out in 2020 amid the economic turmoil of the COVID-19 pandemic, he refused to concede, attempted to challenge the election results, and was impeached for his role in the January 6th Capitol riot. Despite these challenges, he maintained dominance over the Republican Party and capitalized on voter frustrations over inflation and border security to secure another term.

In his address, Trump repeated claims that he had been unfairly targeted by political prosecutions and promised to ensure a system of “fair, equal, and impartial justice.” Acknowledging that his inauguration coincided with Martin Luther King Jr. Day, he pledged to continue working toward the civil rights leader’s vision, stating, “We will strive together to make his dream a reality.”