To Fanfare and Outcry, Donald Trump Returns to the Presidency

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US President Donald Trump and his Vice President, JD Vance, were both sworn into office on January 21st, 2025, marking the official end of now-former President Biden’s term and Trump’s resumption of the powers the Oval Office entails. In his 29-minute-long inaugural address, Trump declared that “the decline of America is over” and railed against various aspects of Biden’s administration and the “many betrayals [of the American people] that have taken place.”

The ceremony, which took place inside the US Capitol’s Rotunda due to severe cold temperatures and snow outside, marked the second time in history that a President had returned to the Oval Office after having previously been voted out of it. The last time was in the late 1800s when Grover Cleveland served non-consecutive terms as the 22nd and 24th President respectively. Trump’s return to office culminates a very controversial election campaign, with Trump’s felony conviction, then-President Biden’s dropping out, and much strife and hatred that left many Americans feeling stressed, anxious, and scared about last November’s election.

Yet, the post-election process has been very smooth and hiccup-free, a sharp distinction from the chaos and violence that occurred following Trump’s defeat in the last election. While Trump’s speech reflected some vitriol reminiscent of the campaign, the ceremony also had some elements of America’s more civil political past. Unlike the Trumps four years ago, President Biden and his wife Jill were present at the ceremony where their predecessors took office, and several Democrats participated in the ceremony in a variety of ways, including Senator Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota, who led the committee that organized the event. 

Of notable participation were also a number of billionaires and other members of the super-rich, who traditionally have not played a part in this political ceremony. Billionaire Elon Musk took a central role in the ceremony, as he had throughout Trump’s campaign, and drew controversy for making two gestures that appeared to be Nazi salutes. Fellow tech billionaires Mark Zuckerberg and Jeff Bezos also attended, as did Apple CEO Tim Cook, in a seemingly stark reversal for many of these figures who had spoken out against Trump and supported his opponents in previous elections. 

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Tech billionaire Elon Musk making a gesture many have called a Nazi Salute. (Angela Weiss, 2025)

Further participants included the singer Carrie Underwood, who was forced to sign a cappella when a technical glitch caused her background music not to play, and a myriad of far-right politicians from around the world. In a departure from tradition, Trump also invited a number of foreign leaders, some of whom accepted, such as Italian Prime Minister Georgia Meloni and Argentinian President Javier Millei. Significant absences included a number of Democratic politicians who boycotted the event and former First Lady Michelle Obama among a number of others.

Following the conclusion of the inauguration ceremony, Trump immediately signed a series of Executive Orders and presidential directives that manage the running of many aspects of the US Government. Fulfilling a promise he made many times on the campaign trail, he pardoned almost all those who participated in the attack on the US Capitol which took place following Trump’s defeat in the 2020 Elections, freeing nearly 1,600 people from criminal prosecutions and jail sentences they were undergoing as a consequence of their involvement in the attack. In regards to foreign policy, Trump withdrew the US from the Paris Agreement on climate change, something he had promised to do, saying it held back American businesses and made them less competitive. Likewise, Trump ordered the US to leave the World Health Organization, which he had attacked over its handling of the COVID-19 Pandemic

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Trump signing one of the many executive orders he enacted after taking office. (Jim Watson, 2025)

Much of Trump’s efforts have gone towards immigration, an issue he made central to his campaign. He has freed the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency from policies that prevented it from searching for illegal immigrants in churches, schools, and hospitals while also preventing thousands of pre-cleared migrants from entering the country. In a much-publicized move that was quickly blocked by a federal judge, Trump ordered that children of illegal immigrants, and children whose father is in the US on a visa, not receive birthright citizenship, a constitutional right given by the 14th Amendment. 
As Americans settle into the reality of a second Trump term, many are closely watching Trump in an attempt to predict what the next four years will be like. This inauguration, along with Trump’s first actions in office has demonstrated an increased level of preparedness with which Trump has entered the White House, in contrast to his first term. Yet, Trump’s conduct has already wrought chaos on the government; longstanding geographical names have been changed, many federal employees are confused if they are even still employed, and large policy reversals are being enacted at breakneck speed. Trump’s unorthodox activity is making large waves, and it is certain that world leaders and regular citizens alike are keeping an eye on Washington D.C.

Featured image: Donald Trump being sworn in by US Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts. (Saul Loeb, 2025)

Maximilian Hankins
Maximilian Hankins
As a student of International Relations, Max strives to write about relevant global issues to the IE Community and helps educate others on important current news and events. Aiming to provide insightful coverage of significant issues and use his experience living around the world to pinpoint the content most significant for students.

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