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Inauguration Day: Trump, Vance sworn into office

Trump: 'I will very simply put America first'

By CJ HADDAD 7 min read

At the Capitol Building Monday morning, Donald J. Trump was sworn in to the office of the President of the United States for a second time, officially commencing his tenure as the 47th President.

Trump, along with Vice President JD Vance, recited the oath signifying the transfer of power from previous president Joe Biden.

During his inaugural address, Trump forecasted his presidency to be the “golden age of America.”

From the U.S. Capitol Rotunda, where the inauguration took place due to cold temps in Washington D.C., Trump said, “From this day forward, our country will flourish and be respected again all over the world. We will be the envy of every nation, and we will not allow ourselves to be taken advantage of any longer. During every single day of the Trump administration, I will very simply put America first.

“Our sovereignty will be reclaimed. Our safety will be restored. The scales of justice will be rebalanced. The viscous, violent, and unfair weaponization of the Justice Department and our government will end.”

Trump said he returns to the presidency optimistic of the success for America moving forward. He said a “tide of change” is sweeping the country, and that it’s time to seize the opportunity.

Trump said while there are challenges ahead, he is confident they will be “annihilated” by the momentum of his presidency.

He spoke to his viewpoint of the current state of the U.S. government, stating there is 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,” Trump said.

He said he believes the government fails to protect U.S. citizens, and provides sanctuary for “dangerous criminals.” That funding goes to foreign borders, and not to its own people.

Trump said the country has issues with its healthcare system and education.

“All of this will change starting today. And it will change very quickly,” he said.

Trump said he has been challenged and tested more than any other president in history over the past eight years, pointing to his legal battles and assassination attempt.

“And I’ve learned a lot along the way,” he said. “The journey to reclaim our republic has not been as easy one. That I can tell you.”

Trump also called Jan. 20, 2025, “liberation day.”

“It is my hope that our recent presidential election will be remembered as the greatest and most consequential election in the history of our country,” he said.

Trump’s inauguration also coincided with Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

“In his honor we will strive together to make his dream a reality,” Trump said.

Following the ceremonies, Trump said he will sign a series of executive orders.

“With these actions, we will begin the complete restoration of America, and the revolution of common sense,” he said.

Trump said he will declare a national emergency at the southern border.

“All illegal entry will be immediately halted, and we will begin the process of returning millions and millions of criminal aliens back to the places from which they came. We will reinstate my ‘Remain in Mexico’ policy. I will end the practice of ‘catch and release.’ And I will send troops to the southern border to repel the disastrous invasion of our county.”

Trump said under the executive orders to be signed, cartels will be designated as foreign terrorist organizations. He said he will also use the power of federal and state law enforcement to eliminate the presence of all foreign gags and criminal networks.

“As commander in chief, I have no higher responsibility than to defend our country from threats and invasions, and that’s exactly what I am going to do,” Trump said.

Trump then touched on how he will direct his cabinet to address “record inflation” and bring down costs and prices.

Trump said the inflation crisis was caused by massive overspending and escalating energy prices, and that he will declare a “national energy emergency.”

“We will drill, baby, drill,” he said. “America will be a manufacturing nation yet again.”

Trump said he will also revoke the Green New Deal, and revoke the electric vehicle mandate.

“The American dream will soon be back and thriving like never before,” Trump said. “To restore confidence and effectiveness to our federal government.”

Trump added that his administration will establish the brand new “Department of Government Efficiency.”

He also noted that after what he called years of unconstitutional efforts to suppress free expression, he will sign an executive order “to immediately stop all government censorship and bring back free speech to America.”

Trump said during his first week back in office, he 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 colorblind, and merit-based.”

Trump made a polarizing statement when it comes to gender identification.

“It will henceforth be the policy of the United States government that there are only two genders -- male and female,” he said.

Trump continued to say he will reinstate any military that were expelled for objecting to the COVID-19 vaccine mandate with full back pay.

“And 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,” Trump said.

Trump said he wants 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,” Trump said.

Other changes Trump proclaimed are on the horizon, is that the Gulf of Mexico will be renamed to the “Gulf of America,” and that Denali will change back to Mount McKinley.

Trump said also he plans to take back the Panama Canal, and to plant the American flag on Mars.

“Above all, my message to Americans today is that it is time for us to once again act with courage, vigor, and the vitality of history’s greatest civilization,” Trump said. “As we liberate our nation, we will lead it to new heights of victory and success. We will not be deterred.”

Many members of the Lee GOP traveled to Washington D.C. for the inauguration, taking in watch parties with like-minded individuals.

There were also various watch parties around Lee County and Southwest Florida to see Trump take office once more.

Republican State Committeewoman for Lee County, Tara Jenner, made the trip north to the nation’s capital.

“The energy and enthusiasm in D.C. is palpable and as intense as the weather is cold,” Jenner told The Breeze. “The people at the Capitol are hopeful and optimistic as the 47th President Donald J. Trump retakes the helm of this great Republic.

“While the venue changes have limited participation at in-person viewing of the inauguration, there has been no dampening of the spirit of those who traveled to D.C. to be a part of this historic event.”

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and Congressman Byron Donalds, who represents Southwest Florida, were also in Washington D.C. for the inauguration.

In a post on “X” Monday afternoon, DeSantis wrote, “There’s no time to waste. Perhaps the strongest part of (Trump’s) inaugural address was about the necessity of immediately tackling immigration and border security. As the President pointed out, states and localities must work with federal immigration and law enforcement personnel to carry out immigration enforcement. We need to get to work. We must seize this moment.”

Starting at /week.