- Donald Trump was inaugurated as the 47th US President, marking an unprecedented return for a second, non-consecutive term
- The swearing-in ceremony took place indoors due to extreme cold, with a limited audience of 700 guests
- Trump outlined ambitious second-term agenda, focusing on immigration, tariffs, and economic growth
Donald Trump has been officially inaugurated as the 47th President of the United States, marking an unprecedented return to the White House for a second, non-consecutive term. This follows his first term as the 45th president, which spanned from 2017 to 2021.
The swearing-in ceremony, which took place indoors at the US Capitol, was a departure from tradition, prompted by the extremely cold weather conditions.
The event saw JD Vance, the Vice President-elect, take his oath of office before Chief Justice John Roberts administered the presidential oath to Trump at 12 p.m. ET. First Lady Melania Trump stood by his side during the ceremony, which was streamed live on CNN by TheRadar.
Due to the indoor setting, the ceremony was attended by a limited audience, with approximately 700 guests present—far fewer than the 250,000 initially anticipated for the outdoor event.
Trump took the oath with his left hand on a Bible held by Melania and his right hand raised, affirming: “I do solemnly swear that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States and will, to the best of my ability, preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States, so help my God.”
Trump’s vision for America's future
Following his swearing-in, Trump delivered his first speech as president, thanking the crowd, Vice President JD Vance, and various politicians and justices in attendance.
He declared that “the golden age of America begins right now,” promising that America would become “the envy of every nation.”
"We will not allow ourselves to be taken advantage of any longer. I will, very simply, put America first,” Trump asserted in his address, setting the tone for his second term.
Trump's agenda for second term
In his inaugural address, Trump outlined an ambitious agenda, focusing on tightening immigration policies, reversing previous border measures, and imposing new tariffs.
He emphasised the importance of securing US borders, growing the economy, strengthening the military, and protecting citizens' rights.
“Our mission is clear: to secure our borders, grow our economy, strengthen our military, and protect the rights of every citizen,” Trump stated.
As part of his agenda, his administration has signalled plans to issue a series of executive orders on his first day in office, addressing immigration, energy policies, and economic reforms. Trump's speech also called for a “revolution of common sense,” a theme that will likely define the early days of his presidency.
Trump’s inauguration marks the beginning of what promises to be a transformative second term, as the new president aims to fulfil his campaign promises and reshape US policies on key domestic and international issues.
Nigerians take sides in US election as Trump, Harris go head to head for presidency
Meanwhile, TheRadar earlier reported that the US election presented a historic opportunity for Donald Trump’s potential comeback, which could break records despite numerous legal challenges and controversies.
Nigerians were divided in their support for Harris and Trump.
