Social & Economic Issues

The Inauguration of President Donald Trump

By: Amelia Shivdayal

On January 20th, 2025, the United States inaugurated Donald J. Trump as the 47th President and JD Vance as the Vice President. Organized by the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies, the event showcased the Capitol building in red, white, and blue, with the American flag prominently displayed.

The inauguration ceremony began with a procession of the outgoing and incoming presidents to the Capitol. The Vice President was sworn in first, followed by the President. After the swearing-in, the new president delivered his inaugural address, and the outgoing president, Joe Biden, was honored with a formal departure. 

This was followed by a luncheon and a parade down Pennsylvania Avenue for the public to witness the new president up close. The oaths of office were administered by a Supreme Court Justice, with the Vice President taking the oath first, followed by the President.

The celebration was televised for the American people to see their President and Vice President with the First Ladies, their children, and family for the oath of office ceremony. Most tuned in to see what the First Ladies were wearing, their behavior and interaction, and how relatable Americans found both first families.

The ceremony, typically held every four years, was moved indoors to the U.S. Capitol Rotunda this year due to freezing temperatures and high winds. Because of limited space in the Rotunda, some people gathered elsewhere to watch the inauguration. Among the notable attendees were tech CEOs like Jeff Bezos, Mark Zuckerberg, Sundar Pichai, and Elon Musk. Former Presidents Biden, Obama, Bush, and Clinton were also present, and Cardinal Timothy Dolan, who attended the 2017 inauguration, was in attendance as well.

President Donald J. Trump, elected for a second non-consecutive term, delivered a message similar to his 2017 speech. He declared, "America's decline is over," reflecting on the promises he made in 2017 to lift the country out of what he described as the "American Carnage" caused by prior administrations. Bayside High School junior Yessica Suero commented, "Although I'm not really a big fan of Donald Trump, I do think that he can potentially bring many positive changes to the U.S."

Trump preached the slogan “Make America Great Again,” enforcing the message that he is vowing to restore power to the American people through economic growth, job opportunities, infrastructure investments, and military improvements by imposing sanctions and increasing tariffs on China, Canada, and Mexico to stop wasteful spending.

In his 2025 speech, he listed the failures and weaknesses of the previous administration and the disrespect shown to the American people. He demanded respect and promised to make America the envy of the world. Some of his plans included deporting illegal immigrants, strengthening the southern border, and targeting drug dealers. Asella Shin, a junior at Bayside High School noted, “His policy could be beneficial for American citizens, but not so much for immigrants like me.”

Many Americans want to feel safe and secure, but some groups are worried about what the future holds under the current administration. One major concern is the potential impact of taxing companies that do business in the U.S. This refers to how higher prices on imported goods can hurt American consumers.