Donald Trump was inaugurated as the 47th U.S. president on Monday, marking a historic second term with immediate plans to enact executive orders on immigration and cultural policies.
The swearing-in ceremony took place beneath the Capitol Rotunda due to freezing temperatures, a departure from traditional outdoor inaugurations. Trump, 78, took the oath of office on a Bible given to him by his mother. Outgoing President Joe Biden accompanied Trump to the Capitol, restoring a tradition disrupted in 2021. “Welcome home,” Biden said as he and First Lady Jill Biden greeted Trump and Melania Trump at the White House.
Trump’s return to the White House comes with the backing of America’s elite, including tech leaders Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg, Jeff Bezos, and Sundar Pichai, who were present at the ceremony alongside Trump’s family and cabinet. Musk, a $250 million donor to Trump’s campaign, is expected to play a significant role in cost-cutting measures under the new administration.
Biden aimed to reinforce bipartisan traditions during the ceremony, joined by former Presidents Barack Obama, George W. Bush, and Bill Clinton. Former First Ladies Hillary Clinton and Laura Bush attended, while Michelle Obama was absent. The event also saw the presence of international figures, including Argentina’s President Javier Milei and Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.
Immediately after taking office, Trump signed approximately 100 executive orders reversing key Biden-era policies. These included declaring a national emergency at the Mexico border, empowering the military to enforce immigration laws, and ending birthright citizenship. Deportations of undocumented migrants are set to commence immediately.
Other orders included eliminating federal diversity programs and mandating the government to recognize only two biological sexes. Trump declared the start of a “brand new day” for America, vowing to end “four years of decline.”
In his final hours, Biden issued preemptive pardons for his siblings and former officials, including Anthony Fauci and General Mark Milley. He also reinstated the tradition of leaving a letter for his successor, though its contents remain undisclosed.
At 78, Trump replaces Biden as the oldest U.S. president to be sworn in. He also becomes the second president in history, after Grover Cleveland, to regain the presidency after losing re-election. However, Trump is the first to return with a criminal record stemming from hush money payments during his 2016 campaign.
Trump’s second term has already sparked global reactions, with expectations of sweeping tariffs, shifts in international policy, and a reassessment of U.S. support for Ukraine. Russian President Vladimir Putin congratulated Trump ahead of the inauguration, expressing hope for talks on the Ukraine conflict and a resolution ensuring “lasting peace.”
