Donald Trump has officially been sworn in as the 47th President of the United States, making a rare political comeback four years after his defeat to Joe Biden.
The 78-year-old former president vowed to take immediate action on key issues such as immigration and cultural policies as part of his return to power.
Trump’s inauguration on Monday marked a stark contrast to his 2017 ceremony, with the billionaire now surrounded by powerful figures from America’s elite, including tech moguls like Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg, Jeff Bezos, and Sundar Pichai, who all attended the event.
Musk, a significant financial backer of Trump’s campaign, has also been tasked with leading efforts to reduce government spending in the new administration.
In a departure from tradition, President Biden attended the inauguration alongside other former presidents, including Barack Obama, George W. Bush, and Bill Clinton, while some former first ladies also made an appearance. However, Michelle Obama notably skipped the ceremony.
Notably, foreign leaders were also present for Trump’s second term, including Argentina’s far-right president Javier Milei and Italy’s right-wing Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.
Due to cold weather, the inauguration was moved indoors for the first time since Ronald Reagan’s 1985 ceremony, limiting the traditional outdoor crowds on the National Mall.
Behind the spectacle, Trump wasted no time in beginning his right-wing, nationalist agenda.
He announced plans for over 100 executive orders aimed at reversing much of President Biden’s policies.
Among his first actions, Trump is set to declare a national emergency at the Mexico border, increase military involvement in border security, and end birthright citizenship.
He also plans to target undocumented immigration with immediate deportations.
Trump is also expected to sign an order recognizing only two biological sexes and work to dismantle federal diversity programs as part of his first days in office.
