Donald Trump vows to defend the United States

At his inaugural ceremony

In his inaugural address on January 20, 2025, President Donald J. Trump reaffirmed his commitment to defending the United States. He declared that his top priority as commander-in-chief would be protecting the country from external threats and invasions.

“As Commander-in-Chief, I have no higher responsibility than to defend our country from threats and invasions, and that is exactly what I am going to do,” Trump told the gathered crowd in the Capitol Rotunda in Washington, DC.

The 47th president of the United States, alongside Vice President JD Vance, emphasised his vision for a stronger, more exceptional America in the years to come.

“America will soon be greater, stronger, and far more exceptional than ever before,” Trump declared, his voice resonating through the historic hall.

“I return to the presidency confident and optimistic that we are at the start of a thrilling new era of national success. A tide of change is sweeping the country, and sunlight is pouring over the entire world. America has the chance to seize this opportunity like never before.”

While focusing on a future of growth, Trump also reminded the United States that the battles would measure success won and the wars avoided. “We will measure our success not only by the battles we win, but also by the wars that we end, and perhaps most importantly, the wars we never get into,” he explained.

The 60th inaugural ceremony, which took place at noon, was a momentous occasion, marked by the swearing-in of Trump and his vice president. US Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts administered the oath of office to Trump, while Justice Brett Kavanaugh swore in Vance.

Former US presidents, including Joe Biden, Barack Obama, George W. Bush, Bill Clinton, former vice president Kamala Harris, members of Congress, and all nine Supreme Court justices, were in the audience.

Trump also expressed his gratitude to Black and Latino voters for their support in the election. He highlighted the importance of Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy, pledging to work together to make his dream a reality.

As part of his inauguration plans, Trump announced that he would declare “a national emergency at our southern border,” with troops deployed to secure the area. Additionally, he vowed to reinstate military service members who were discharged over COVID-19 vaccine mandates and promised them full pay.

The inaugural ceremony featured several musical performances, including Carrie Underwood’s rendition of “America the Beautiful” and Christopher Macchio’s national anthem performance. To further mark the occasion, the US Naval Academy Glee Club sang “The Battle Hymn of the Republic.”

The theme of this year’s ceremonies, “Our Enduring Democracy: A Constitutional Promise,” underscored the nation’s ongoing commitment to its founding principles. In addition to the swearing-in and the inaugural luncheon, the president and vice president were scheduled to review the military parade, which was relocated to the Capital One Arena due to the cold weather.

Earlier in the day, Trump and Vance paid tribute to fallen US soldiers by laying wreaths at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery.

Joint Task Force–District of Columbia, consisting of 7,800 troops from across the United States, supported the inauguration, managing crowd control, traffic, and civil disturbance responses.

Trump’s return to the office, after serving as president from 2017 to 2021, makes him the second president in American history to serve two non-consecutive terms, joining Grover Cleveland in this unique distinction.

The cold temperatures on this day did not dampen the celebratory atmosphere, though it was far warmer than the frigid conditions of Ronald Reagan’s second inauguration in 1985. Today’s event was notable for coinciding with Martin Luther King Jr. Day, making it the second time in history that an inauguration occurred on this national holiday.

Image: US Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts administers the oath of office to Donald J. Trump on January 20, 2025, inside the Capitol Rotunda. Credit: US Department of Defence