President Donald Trump’s second inaugural address outlined his vision for America’s future, emphasizing themes of national prosperity, immigration control, energy policy, and cultural conservatism. Here are the key moments:
“The golden age of America”
Trump began with a hopeful tone, declaring, “The golden age of America begins right now.” He pledged that the nation would flourish and become “the envy of the world” while ensuring it would no longer be “taken advantage of.”
Focus on immigration
Trump reiterated his hardline stance on immigration, promising to declare a “national emergency at our southern border.” He vowed to halt immigration, deport “criminal immigrants,” and implement these measures “at a level nobody has ever seen before.” Immigration has consistently been a priority for his base, with strong support for such policies among Republicans.
Economic and energy policy
Trump announced plans to sign a series of executive orders targeting economic and energy issues, including:
- Declaring a “national energy emergency.”
- Rescinding the Green New Deal and electric vehicle mandates.
- Establishing an “External Revenue Service” to impose tariffs on foreign goods.
He argued these measures would fuel American prosperity, although he acknowledged post-election that lowering prices would be “hard” given inflation concerns.
Cultural issues
Reflecting on cultural conservatism, Trump declared that U.S. policy would officially recognize only two genders: “male and female.” This statement followed intense debates on LGBTQ+ rights during the 2024 campaign.
Promised “justice reforms”
Trump pledged to address what he described as the “weaponization” of the justice system, vowing, “The scales of justice will be rebalanced.”
Symbolic renaming initiatives
Trump promised to rename several landmarks and geographical features, including:
- The Gulf of Mexico, to be called the Gulf of America.
- Alaska’s Mount Denali, to revert to its previous name, Mount McKinley.
He also stated an intention to regain U.S. control of the Panama Canal.
Vision of leadership
Despite the bold and often divisive proposals, Trump framed his presidency as one focused on unity and peace. “My legacy will be as a peacemaker and unifier,” he said. “That’s what I want to be — a peacemaker and a unifier.”
Trump’s address provided insight into his administration’s priorities, mixing themes of economic nationalism, cultural conservatism, and a focus on bolstering America’s global standing.
