On Monday, January 20th, Donald Trump was inaugurated as the 47th president of the United States. Due to the freezing temperatures, the ceremony was held inside the Capitol Rotunda, where prominent political figures, family members of Trump, and billionaires sat gathered together.
The day began when he attended a church service at St. John’s Episcopal Church across from the White House in the morning. Along with his wife Melania, he then met Joe and Jill Biden for tea in the White House, a tradition that is held to welcome in the new president (aljazeera.com). Following these events, Trump took the oath of office, and then the swearing-in ceremony began with musical preludes, anthems, and hymns. History teacher Mrs. Vander Molen comments, “The inauguration ceremony on January 20th, a cornerstone of the nation’s democratic tradition, reflected the resilience and continuity of the United States political system. Interestingly enough, the oath of office is the only component mandated by the U.S. Constitution; all other elements, such as the inaugural address, parade, and balls, have evolved as traditions over time. It’s always fascinating to see the different personal touches each president adds to the ceremony.”
In his inaugural address, Trump opened by stating America will not be “taken advantage of any longer” and he promised that every day under his administration, he will “put America first.” He mentioned the need for change in national emergencies–specifically the LA wildfires–as well as the public health system and the education system for children. He expressed his gratitude for the “powerful win in all seven swing states” and thanked African American and Hispanic communities for their support, adding that he “look[s] forward to working with them” in the coming years of his presidency (The White House).
During the speech, he listed some executive orders for his first day in his second term: he would declare a national emergency at the southern border, end the practice of catch and release, invoke the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 to use full power of federal and state law to eliminate foreign gangs and criminal networks, direct members of the cabinet to defeat the record-high inflation, end the Green New Deal, and place tariffs and tax on foreign countries through the External Revenue Service to enrich US citizens and bring back the American dream (The White House).
President Trump has also declared that it will immediately become the official policy of the United States to only acknowledge that there are two genders: male and female. Then, he spoke about reclaiming the Panama Canal from China. His speech ended with an uplifting message about the future of the country under his presidency: “We will stand bravely, we will live proudly, we will dream boldly, and nothing will stand in our way because we are Americans. The future is ours, and our golden age has just begun” (The White House).
One of the most notable parts of the ceremony, aside from the inaugural address, was when Carrie Underwood was welcomed to sing “America the Beautiful,” but suddenly the sound was cut out and she was left standing without any music. In a professional manner, the singer began the song a capella, saving the performance and the ceremony from failure. Many on the app X applauded her performance, mentioning her professionalism and resilience to work around the issue and deliver a beautiful performance.
Another highlight of the inauguration was, interestingly enough, the fashion. Melania and Ivanka Trump, in particular, shocked audiences with their outfits. While Melania went for a more concealed look with a hat that covered most of her eyes, Ivanka opted for more of a statement. In a gown designed by Oscar de la Renta, she reportedly wore diamond jewelry with a total value of $1.1 million (Business Insider). Senior Lucy Balaam comments, “I thought more people were dressed very well, given the fact that they were in the Rotunda for the Inauguration. I thought it was interesting how Jill Biden and Kamala Harris’ husband both wore purple for the peaceful transfer of power.” Mrs. Vander Molen also comments on this, stating that “A defining feature of American democracy is the peaceful transfer of power between presidents. Despite the tensions leading up to the election, the foundational principles of our Constitution ultimately prevailed.”
On the day of the inauguration, history advisor Mr. DelBuono posted a link to the ceremony on Schoology so that students could watch the event. He says, “I wanted people to have access to cspan because I find their coverage to be unique compared to other commercial companies.” He mentions that each year, he usually uses this platform in school so that students in his classes can view the inauguration without commercials and with full media coverage. He also thinks “The fact that [the inauguration] was inside was interesting. The he last and only time this had ever happened was when Ronald Regan had his 2nd inauguration.”
Overall, this presidential inauguration is one for the history books, considering all of the tension and high stakes building over the past few years and leading up to this moment. Despite political disagreements, it is safe to say that Americans should always want the best for those who are leading them, and we can all look forward to a hopeful future.
