GLEN OSANO, Staff Writer
At noon on January 20, 2025, Donald Trump was sworn in as the 47th President of the United States of America. This marks the third presidential inauguration on Martin Luther King Jr. Day and the second non-consecutive presidential inauguration in American history. He was accompanied by his running mate, JD Vance, who was sworn in as the 50th Vice President of the United States.
The Inauguration Day began at St. John's Church in Washington, D.C., where the two attended a private ceremony dating back to the era of FDR. They then proceeded to the Capitol Rotunda for the swearing-in ceremony. 2025 marked the first time in 40 years that an inauguration took place indoors, as record-freezing temperatures led to the event being moved inside.
Trump, having secured an electoral victory over Kamala Harris on November 6th, 2024, made promises of a "golden age of America" in his inaugural address. He announced plans to crack down on illegal immigration, restore federal employees who were terminated for not taking the COVID-19 vaccine, and federally recognize two genders, among other controversial pledges.
Many notable figures attended the event, including tech billionaires Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg, and Jeff Bezos; former presidents Barack Obama, Bill Clinton, and George W. Bush; Chinese Vice President Han Zheng; former British prime ministers Liz Truss and Boris Johnson; TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew; media personalities such as Theo Von, Charlie Kirk, and Tucker Carlson; and ex-Vice President Mike Pence. However, several prominent figures chose not to attend, including former First Lady Michelle Obama, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and influential Senate Democrats such as Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and New Jersey's very own Bonnie Watson Coleman.
After the presidential luncheon, a rally was held at the Capital One Arena to officially celebrate Trump's inauguration. During the event, Elon Musk made headlines for a controversial hand gesture while speaking. As he ended his speech, Musk placed his hand over his heart before fully extending his arm at an angle, appearing to simulate a Nazi salute. Although Musk denied this, many groups have pressured the Trump administration to address the incident, with several European countries threatening to ban him from entering their countries.
Despite the aforementioned controversy, many Republicans will celebrate this victory, as Trump's policies, plans, and populist pretenses seem to resonate with most groups around the country.
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