KEY POINTS
- Trump pledges to restore America through immediate executive orders.
- Officially declares only two genders—male and female—will be recognised.
- Declares a national emergency at the southern border to halt illegal entry and reinstate strict immigration policies.
- Vows to impose tariffs and taxes on foreign countries to boost the economy.
- Promises to build the strongest military and focus on peacekeeping.
WASHINGTON: Donald Trump, who overcame impeachments, criminal indictments and a pair of assassination attempts to win another term in the White House, was sworn in for a historic second term as 47th president on Monday, pledging a blitz of immediate orders on illegal immigration and the US culture wars as he caps his extraordinary comeback.
Trump will act swiftly after the ceremony, with executive orders already prepared for his signature to clamp down on border crossings, increase fossil fuel development and end diversity and inclusion programmes across the federal government.
The executive orders are the first step in what Trump will call “the complete restoration of America and the revolution of common sense.”
Beginning his inaugural speech, Trump thanked his predecessors and Vice President Kamala Harris, saying: “The golden age of America begins right now.” He said the US would flourish again and be respected all over the world from now on.
America first
Trump said the US would not allow itself to be taken advantage of, saying: “During every single day of the Trump administration, I will very simply put America first.”
He said his government would “reclaim” the sovereignty of the US, restore safety and “rebalance” the scales of justice.
Trump said his “top priority” was to create a free, proud and prosperous nation. “America will soon be greater, stronger and far more exceptional than ever before.”
He said he returned to the presidency confident and optimistic that “we are at the start of a thrilling new era of national success”, adding that a “tide of change is sweeping the country and sunlight is pouring over the entire world and America has the chance to seize this opportunity like never before”.
Challenges
Trump said there were “plentiful” challenges facing his administration but they would be “annihilated by this great momentum that the world is now witnessing in the US”.
Going on the attack, he said: “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.”
He criticised the prior government for failing to protect American citizens while “providing sanctuary and protection to dangerous criminals … that have illegally entered our country from all over the world”.
Trump criticised the US public health system for not delivering in times of disaster and still consuming resources, along with the education system.
“All of this will change starting today.”
He said that over the past eight years, “I have been tested and challenged more than any president in our 250-year history, and I’ve learned a lot along the way.”
Recounting his Pennysylvania assassination attempt, Trump said: “I was saved by God to make America great again,” prompting a standing ovation from those in attendance.
Trump said his administration of “American patriots” would bring hope, prosperity and safety to citizens of every “race, religion, colour and creed”. “January 20th, 2025 is Liberation Day,” he added.
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Paying tribute to his voters from the African-American and Hispanic communities, he said: “National unity is now returning to America.”
Laying out his plans for the executive orders he intends to sign, Trump said he would begin the “complete restoration of America and the revolution of common sense”.
National emergency
Trump said he would announce a “national emergency” at the southern border with all illegal entry halted and kicking off the process of returning “millions of criminal aliens back to the places from which they came”.
He said he would reinstate his “remain in Mexico” policy and end the practice of “catch and release”. “I will send troops to the southern border to repel the disastrous invasion of our country,” he said, adding that cartels would also be designated as foreign terrorist organisations.
Economic policies
Regarding the economy, he said: “I will direct all members of my cabinet to marshall the vast powers at their disposal to defeat what was record inflation and rapidly bring down costs and prices. The inflation crisis was caused by massive overspending and escalating energy prices, and that is why today I will also declare a national energy emergency.”
Trump said the US would drill and exploit its substantial fossil fuel reserves.
“We will drill baby, drill you. America will be a manufacturing nation once again.”
He continued: “We will bring prices down, fill our strategic reserves up again, right to the top, and export American energy all over the world. We will be a rich nation again, and it is that liquid gold under our feet that will help to do it with my actions today, we will end the green New Deal, and we will revoke the electric vehicle mandate, saving our auto industry and keeping my sacred pledge to our great American auto workers.”
Tariffs on foreign countries
Trump said that instead of taxing US citizens, his administration would apply tariffs and tax foreign countries.
“For this purpose, we are establishing the external revenue service to collect all tariffs, duties and revenues that will be massive amounts of money pouring into our treasury coming from foreign sources. The American dream will soon be back and thriving like never before to restore competence and effectiveness to our federal government.”
Free speech
Regarding free speech and censorship, he said that “after years and years of illegal and unconstitutional federal efforts to restrict free expression”, he would sign an executive order to immediately stop all government censorship and bring back free speech to the US.
“Never again will the immense power of the state be weaponised to persecute political opponents, something I know something about. We will not allow that to happen. It will not happen again. Under my leadership. We will restore fair, equal and impartial justice under the constitutional rule of law, and we are going to bring law and order back to our cities.
Only two genders
“This week, I will also end the government policy of trying to socially engineer race and gender into every aspect of public and private life. We will forge a society that is colour-blind and merit-based. As of today, it will henceforth be the official policy of the United States government that there are only two genders, male and female.”
Continuing regarding his social policies, he said he would reinstate service members expelled from the military for objecting to the Covid-19 vaccine mandate.
“I will sign an order to stop our warriors from being subjected to radical political theories and social experiments while on duty, it’s going to end immediately. Our armed forces will be freed to focus on their sole mission, defeating America’s enemies.”
Strongest military
He vowed the build the “strongest military the world has ever seen”.
Trump said his administration would measure its success “not only by the battles we win, but also by the wars that we end, and perhaps most importantly, the wars we never get into.
“My legacy will be that of a peacemaker and unifier. That’s what I want to be, a peacemaker and a unifier. I’m pleased to say that as of yesterday, one day before I assumed office, the hostages in the Middle East are coming back home to their families.”
Gulf of Mexico and Panama Canal
Regarding foreign policy, Trump said the Gulf of Mexico would be renamed to the Gulf of America and the Panama Canal would be reclaimed.
“We will pursue our manifest destiny into the stars launching American astronauts to plant the stars and stripes on the planet Mars.”
