Donald Trump at his inauguration ceremony in the rotunda of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 20, 2025 in Washington, D.C. Trump took office for his second term as the 47th president of the United States. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON — Donald Trump took the presidential oath of office for the second time Monday during an inauguration ceremony inside the U.S. Capitol rotunda.
The swearing-in marked the culmination of a four-year journey for Trump, whom many Republicans distanced themselves from following the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol, but nonetheless supported during his third campaign for the White House. Trump’s running mate, J.D. Vance of Ohio, was sworn in as vice president.
“Many people thought it was impossible for me to stage such a historic political comeback,” Trump said during his inaugural address following the swearing-in. “But as you see today, here I am — the American people have spoken.”
Trump spent much of his address detailing the executive orders he plans to sign later Monday addressing immigration, energy and more.
“With these actions we will begin the complete restoration of America and the revolution of common sense,” he said.
He pledged to declare a national emergency at the southern border, which drew a standing ovation from the audience in the rotunda. He said all illegal entry into the United States would be “immediately halted” and vowed to begin the process of deporting “millions and millions” of undocumented immigrants.
“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 said.
Trump defeated Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris in November’s general election, after receiving 312 Electoral College votes to her 226.
He also won the popular vote with 77.3 million votes, 49.9%, compared to Harris’ 75 million, 48.4%.
The inauguration was supposed to take place outside the Capitol building on the terrace overlooking the National Mall, but Trump announced Friday he wanted it moved indoors amid polar temperatures.
It was the first time since former President Ronald Reagan’s inauguration the ceremony was held in the rotunda.
Some of the guests and supporters who couldn’t fit inside the rotunda watched on large screens inside the Capitol Visitor Center or at the Capital One Arena in downtown Washington, D.C.
‘The envy of every nation’
“The Golden Age of America begins right now,” Trump said during his inaugural address, vowing to “put America first” during his next four years in the White House.
“From this day forward, our country will flourish and be respected again all over the world,” he said, noting that the United States “will be the envy of every nation, and we will not allow ourselves to be taken advantage of any longer.”
The president, who said he wants to be a “peacemaker” and a “unifier,” pointed to the hostage and ceasefire deal made between Israel and Hamas last week.
Trump said he would declare a “national energy emergency” later Monday and reiterated his “drill, baby, drill” approach when it comes to oil and gas production.
He also called for an “External Revenue Service” that would collect “all tariffs, duties and revenues.”
Trump said he would sign an executive order to “immediately stop all government censorship and bring back free speech to America.”
He wants to create a “color-blind” and “merit-based” society and also said “it will henceforth be the official policy of the United States government that there are only two genders: male and female.”
He also echoed his pledge to take control of the Panama Canal, to rename the Gulf of Mexico to the “Gulf of America” as well as to revert Alaska’s Mount Denali back to “Mount McKinley.”
This is a developing report and will be updated.