Trump Says ‘America’s Decline Is Over’ as He Returns to. Here’s what to know

 

Donald John Trump completed a remarkable return to power on Monday as he was sworn in as the 47th president of the United States, and laid out plans for an immediate blitz of orders and actions meant to dramatically change the course of the country.

“The golden age of America begins right now,” Mr. Trump declared as he began a 29-minute Inaugural Address, shortly after he and Vice President JD Vance took their oaths in the Capitol Rotunda. He added: “My recent election is a mandate to completely and totally reverse a horrible betrayal and all these many betrayals that have taken place and give people back their faith, their wealth, their democracy and indeed their freedom. From this moment on, America’s decline is over.”

Much as Mr. Trump did eight years ago, when he decried “American carnage” in his address, he painted a grim portrait of a country on its knees that only he can revive. But even more than in 2017, he largely dispensed with lofty themes and the broad unifying strokes favored by most presidents in their Inaugural Addresses, and outlined a series of often-divisive policies.

He vowed to immediately declare a national emergency at the border and send the military to guard it. He said he would end government programs promoting diversity, equity and inclusion. He said he would rename the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America and promised to seize the Panama Canal. “We’re taking it back,” he said.

After the ceremony, Mr. Trump addressed supporters in Emancipation Hall at the Capitol, and mentioned some issues that were left out of his remarks, including his supporters who attacked the building on Jan. 6, 2021, and his grievances over the subsequent investigation by a congressional panel. He also repeated the falsehood of a “totally rigged” 2020 election.

“I think this was a better speech than the one I made upstairs,” he told supporters.

Here’s what to know:

• Returning to Washington: The inauguration was not just a restoration of power for the former president. It was a return for his family, as well. Mr. Trump’s relatives return to Washington with more political and cultural support — and a far better understanding of how to wield their soft power. Read more ›

• A hot ticket: Mr. Trump decided to move his inauguration indoors to the Capitol Rotunda, which meant relegating many V.I.P.s with tickets to the event to an overflow room to watch the proceedings on video. Oksana Markarova, the Ukrainian ambassador to the United States, was among those who watched on video. Rudolph W. Giuliani, the former New York mayor who was disbarred over his lies about the 2020 election, had a seat in the Rotunda. Read more ›

• The guest list: The inauguration was attended by tech billionaires, foreign dignitaries including hard-right European leaders, former presidents and an assortment of performers and other celebrities.

• A historic start: Mr. Trump, 78, became the oldest person ever inaugurated as president, eclipsing Mr. Biden, who was five months younger when he took the oath four years ago. Mr. Vance, 40, by contrast, has become the third-youngest vice president in history. Mr. Trump also became only the second president since the founding of the republic to reclaim the White House after being defeated for re-election, joining Grover Cleveland, who served nonconsecutive terms in the 19th century.