On Jan. 20, Donald J. Trump was officially sworn into his presidency during the 2025 Inauguration. Trump’s Inauguration came with a series of ups and downs, leaving Americans confused and concerned about how Trump’s Presidency will pan out.
The Inauguration speech
“You’re witnessing the dawn of the Golden Age of America,” declared Trump in his Inauguration speech.
These words were said several times throughout the 47th president’s speech as he bragged about making America great again. The 30-minute long speech was filled with several divisive quotes, from promises to declare a state of emergency at the southern border, to a 5-minute section comparing himself to Al Cabone and his crimes.
Regardless of the contents of his speech, there is a mixed response from viewers, with some planning to stick by him where others are terrified for their futures.
“I voted for the man, I’m excited he is in office,” Peter Clark, a Dayton-area citizen, said. “His speech was a little unorthodox, and I think renaming the Gulf of Mexico is stupid– there are so many other issues– but I’m happy to see where this goes.”
The one thing that many noticed when he was getting sworn in was Trump not putting his hand on the bible.
George Washington started the tradition of putting your hand on the bible when being sworn in and there have only been a handful of presidents in special situations that have not been able to honor this tradition.
This leaves certain Americans puzzled, as Trump has run his campaign highlighting Christian conservative values.
“Part of the reason I voted for him is because he was Christian,” Clark said. “The left is taking it too far with the attacks about the bible, but it is odd he didn’t do it.”
The fact of the matter is that there is nothing in the constitution that says he has to perform such acts, stating: “no religious Test shall ever be required as a Qualification to any Office or public Trust under the United States.”
Trump had several speeches throughout the Inauguration festivities where he made several claims that have been signed into executive orders and some that are up in the air. From energy windmills that kill whales and are made in China to tariffs.
“We will be revoking nearly 80 destructive radical executive actions of the previous administration. They will be null-and void in like five minutes,” Trump said minutes before he signed several controversial executive orders.
Executive Orders
Trump signed several executive orders in front of an audience on Inauguration day. His main focuses being the border and immigration, climate and energy as well as DEI and transgender individuals.
These are all incredibly divisive orders that can potentially harm certain American citizens.
“I could very seriously have to go back in the closet with Trump as president,” a Wright State University student, who asked to remain anonymous, said. “He calls things like DEI exclusionary, but as a Black trans-man, these policies are the only thing that is keeping [WSU] from throwing me out. I’m genuinely so scared for our country.”
Trump has continued to sign 4 more of his speculated 100 executive orders in the last three days. There is no telling as to how far these orders will go.
Constituents reaction
Many of Trump’s constituents were in attendance at the Inauguration as well.
Many of the democratic party’s reactions became memes on the internet following the day, including Bernie Sanders sitting down with an angry expression during a standing ovation, Hillary Clinton and Kamala Harris laughing several times throughout the speech and even former president Joe Biden face palming three times throughout the speech.
Some see these as disrespectful, but many see these as harbingers for how Trump’s presidency will go.Others more candidly expressed their views by not attending.
“Let me make myself clear, I don’t celebrate rapists. So no, I’m not going to the Inauguration," Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (AOC) said in a TikTok explaining her reaction.
AOC was referencing the President’s numerous sexual assault allegations.
The truth on the matter is that no one entirely knows what is going to happen after the Inauguration. Trump is a very polarising person and has made shockingly bi-partisan moves during his last presidency.
However, his outlandish claims at the Inauguration and on the campaign trail are unlike any claims he has made previously, which makes this presidency particularly concerning.
If you are a WSU student that is concerned or scared, please reach out to Counseling and Wellness; information about them can be found on WSU’s Website. Additionally, there are several like-minded clubs and offices to join and volunteer in, these can be found on Engage.
