In his second inaugural address, President Donald Trump provided insight into his priorities and vision for the country moving forward. He declared, “The golden age of America begins right now,” and emphasized that, “From this day forward, our country will flourish.” Trump expressed his belief that America would become “the envy of the world,” and would no longer be “taken advantage of.”

During his campaign, Trump promised to implement tariffs on imported goods, increase domestic energy production, and enforce stricter immigration policies, including deporting undocumented immigrants. In his address, he announced plans to sign a “series of executive orders” focused on the economy and immigration. One of the first actions he proposed was to declare a “national emergency at our southern border,” which would stop immigration and deport “criminal immigrants.” He added, “We will do it at a level nobody has ever seen before.”

Trump further emphasized his plans to declare a “national energy emergency,” reverse the Green New Deal, cancel the electric vehicle mandate, and establish an “External Revenue Service” to impose tariffs on foreign goods. While these actions were meant to strengthen American “prosperity,” Trump acknowledged that lowering prices would be “hard,” especially given inflation and rising costs, which were major concerns for many Americans.

“My top priority will be to create a nation that is proud, prosperous and free,” he proclaimed. Cultural issues, including immigration, have long been central to his political platform, with immigration being a primary concern for his supporters. According to a recent NPR/PBS News/Marist poll, 40% of Republicans supported mass deportations, with over half expressing strong backing for this stance.

Trump also stated that it would become U.S. policy to recognize only two genders, “male and female.” He then promised to “rebalance” the justice system and end its “weaponization,” referring to the criminal charges against him. Trump was facing charges in four different cases, two federal and two state-level, including business fraud in New York, stemming from hush money payments. Other legal challenges were related to his false claims about the 2020 election, his role in the January 6 Capitol attack, and the classified documents he took from the White House. Many of these cases experienced delays and legal hurdles.

Trump acknowledged his growing support among Black and Latino voters, particularly Black and Latino men. “To the Black and Hispanic communities, thank you for the trust and love you gave to me,” he said, adding, “We set records, and I will not forget it.” Exit polls showed that Trump won 46% of the Latino vote, a record high for a Republican candidate, though he only garnered 11% of the Black vote, with stronger results among Black men.

In a moment of reflection, Trump noted that his inauguration took place on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, and vowed, “We will strive to make his dream a reality. We will make his dream come true.” Behind him, President Biden appeared with a slight smile.

Trump also made several unusual promises, including renaming the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America, restoring the name of Mt. Denali in Alaska to Mt. McKinley, and regaining control of the Panama Canal. When he mentioned renaming the Gulf of Mexico, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, whom he defeated in the 2016 presidential race, was seen laughing and shaking her head.

“My legacy will be as a peacemaker and unifier,” Trump said in conclusion. “That’s what I want to be — a peacemaker and a unifier.”

{Matzav.com}