Four key moments to look for on President Donald Trump’s second inauguration day | Opinion
With the end of the Biden administration and the beginning of the Trump administration, “America has turned the page” is an inadequate metaphor; we’re starting a whole new book. Donald Trump has been president once and definitely learned a few things about how to push forward his agenda. He’s had four years to consider what he’d do upon taking office again. Hold on tight, because I think we are going to see a swirl of events like nothing we’ve seen before.
But before all that, here’s what to look for in the hours before and just after his inauguration:
His inauguration day speech
1) Will Trump’s language be as bleak as in 2017 when he made his famous “American carnage” speech? A sampling:
“For too many of our citizens, a different reality exists. Mothers and children trapped in poverty in our inner cities, rusted out factories scattered like tombstones across the landscape of our nation, an education system flush with cash but which leaves our young and beautiful students deprived of all knowledge. And the crime, and the gangs, and the drugs that have stolen too many lives and robbed our country of so much unrealized potential. This American carnage stops right here and stops right now.”
My bet is it will be every bit as apocalyptic — Trump ran against Joe Biden’s record, which, to hear Trump tell it, is worse than Barack Obama’s. Trump likes to see himself as a turnaround artist (Make America Great Again!), so he has to set the standard that the great days of his administration will be measured against. The bleaker the better.
Who will — and won’t — show?
2) Will past Democratic presidents Biden and Obama and, potential future nominee, Kamala Harris, come out for the ceremony? We already know there will be some notable absences — Trump-world villains Michelle Obama and Nancy Pelosi.
During the campaign, Harris told CNN that her voters care about “not having a president of the United States who admires dictators and is a fascist.” Now we will see who really meant the awful things they said about Trump. Who would go to a fascist’s inauguration?
My bet is that the trio will swallow their pride and follow convention. Trump is the convention breaker, while Democrats are posing as upholders of Constitutional tradition.
Inauguration day crowd size
3) Will America turn out for Trump’s return? Crowd size is important to Trump. Among the first lies of his administration was how many showed up for his 2017 inauguration. If you remember, it was obvious comparing photos of the crowds that Barack Obama’s 2009 investiture had more people.
Trump’s comeback is an opportunity for, well, a comeback.
I am not betting on this one. Trump is clearly more popular today than he was in 2017 — particularly after having won the popular vote, but Americans are also wary of Trump and what he can do to crowds after the Jan. 6th, 2021, insurrection. A wildcard is how the public weighs safety concerns after two assassination attempts and lone-wolf terrorist attacks in New Orleans and Las Vegas. And now there is the cold and the move indoors weighing against a big turnout.
First executive orders
4) What happens in the hours after Trump takes office? Expect his first executive orders to come out in the afternoon. I don’t think Trump can wait for his first full day in office. Immigration, trade and energy are at the top of his list. The hot-button issue of transgender folks in sports and elsewhere may make an appearance.
The administration will continue rolling out for days, maybe weeks, and take aim at some of the Biden administrations biggest accomplishments like the 2030 mandate that 50% of new cars be electric. Expect others to spark instant Constitutional challenges. One may be an effort to end birthright citizenship for children born in the United States to parents who are undocumented immigrants.
There hasn’t been a moment like this in nearly 50 years. Maybe the transition from Jimmy Carter to Ronald Reagan felt this way at the time, but I don’t think it was as big of a change as we are going to see in the coming hours and days.
As we witness history and battle lines are drawn anew, let’s remember that we are all Americans in the moment there is peaceful transfer of power. Whatever happens next, we can be proud.
This story was originally published January 20, 2025 at 9:50 AM with the headline "Four key moments to look for on President Donald Trump’s second inauguration day | Opinion."
