Page 2 - aruba-today-20250121

A2 U.S. NEWS
Tuesday 21 January 2025
Trump returns to power after unprecedented comeback,

emboldened to reshape American institutions

By ZEKE MILLER, CHRIS ME- make his dream a reality,”
GERIAN and MICHELLE L. he said.
PRICE Now Trump is the first person
Associated Press convicted of a felony for
WASHINGTON (AP) — Don- falsifying business records
ald Trump was sworn in as related to hush money
the 47th president Monday, payments to serve as presi-
returning to power with a dent. He pledged to “pre-
promise to end America’s serve, protect and defend”
decline and to “complete- the Constitution from the
ly and totally reverse” the same spot that was overrun
actions of the man who by his supporters on Jan. 6,
drove him from office four 2021. He’s said that one of
years ago. his first acts in office will be
Trump overcame impeach- to pardon many of those
ments, criminal indictments who participated in the riot,
and a pair of assassination and he referred to them as
attempts to win another “hostages” on Monday.
term in the White House, “It’s action, not words, that
and he planned to act count, and you’re going to
swiftly after the ceremony. see a lot of action,” Trump
Dozens of executive orders said.
were prepared for his sig- Eight years after he first en-
nature to clamp down on Donald Trump is sworn in as the 47th president of the United States by Chief Justice John Roberts tered the White House as a
border crossings, increase as Melania Trump holds the Bible during the 60th Presidential Inauguration in the Rotunda of the political newcomer, Trump
fossil fuel development and U.S. Capitol in Washington, Monday, Jan. 20, 2025. is far more familiar with
end diversity and inclusion Associated Press the operations of federal
programs across the fed- about lowering prices af- incoming team before the than in his inaugural ad- government and embold-
eral government. ter years of inflation, but ceremony began. Also dress, saying, “I think this is ened to bend it to his vision.
The orders from the incom- his plans for tariffs on im- there was Elon Musk, the a better speech than the Trump wants to bring quick
ing Republican president ports from foreign countries world’s richest man, who is one I gave upstairs.” change by curtailing im-
will begin the process of could have the opposite expected to lead an effort Trump’s inauguration real- migration, enacting tariffs
unraveling the Democrat- effect. to slash spending and fed- ized a political comeback on imports and rolling back
ic agenda of Joe Biden, Frigid weather rewrote eral employees. without precedent in Amer- Democrats’ climate and
whose term ended at the pageantry of the day. Stopping at the White ican history. Four years social initiatives.
noon, moments before Trump’s swearing-in was House on their way to the ago, he was voted out of He has also promised retri-
Trump took the oath of of- moved indoors to the Cap- Capitol, Trump and his wife, the White House during an bution against his political
fice. itol Rotunda the first time Melania, were greeted by economic collapse caused opponents and critics, and
Declaring that government that has happened in 40 Biden and first lady Jill Biden by the deadly COVID-19 placed personal loyalty as
faces a “crisis of trust,” years and the inaugural for the customary tea and pandemic. Trump denied a prime qualification for
Trump said in his inaugu- parade was replaced by coffee reception. It was a his defeat and tried to cling appointments to his admin-
ral address that under his an event at a downtown stark departure from four to power. He directed his istration.
administration, “our sover- arena. Trump supporters years ago, when Trump supporters to march on the With minutes to go before
eignty will be reclaimed. who descended on the refused to acknowledge Capitol while lawmakers leaving office, Biden issued
Our safety will be restored. city to watch the ceremo- Biden’s victory or attend his were certifying the election preemptive pardons to his
The scales of justice will be ny outside the Capitol from inauguration. results, sparking a riot that siblings and their spouses to
rebalanced.” the National Mall were left “Welcome home,” Biden interrupted the country’s shield them from the pos-
Trump claimed “a man- to find other places to view said to Trump after the pres- tradition of the peaceful sibility of prosecution. Ear-
date to completely and to- the festivities. ident-elect stepped out of transfer of power. lier in the day, he also par-
tally reverse a horrible be- At the Capitol, Vice Presi- the car. The two presidents, But Trump never lost his grip doned current and former
trayal,” promising to “give dent JD Vance was sworn who have spent years bit- on the Republican Party government officials who
the people back their faith, in first, taking the oath read terly criticizing each other, and was undeterred by have been the target of
their wealth, their democ- by Supreme Court Jus- shared a limo to the Capi- criminal cases and two as- Trump’s anger. Biden said
racy and indeed their free- tice Brett Kavanaugh on tol. After the ceremony, sassination attempts as he “these are exceptional cir-
dom.” a Bible given to him by his Trump walked with Biden steamrolled rivals and har- cumstances, and I cannot
“From this moment on,” he great-grandmother. Trump to the building’s east side, nessed voters’ exaspera- in good conscience do
added as Biden watched followed moments after where Biden departed tion with inflation and ille- nothing.”
from the front row, “Amer- noon, using both a family via helicopter to begin his gal immigration. Trump has pledged to go
ica’s decline is over.” Bible and the one used by post-presidential life. Trump used his inaugural further and move faster in
The executive orders are President Abraham Lincoln Trump followed Biden’s de- address to repeat his claims enacting his agenda than
the first step in what Trump at his 1861 inauguration as parture with freewheeling that he was targeted by during his first term, and al-
calls “the complete res- Chief Justice John Roberts remarks to supporters, revis- political prosecutions, ready the country’s politi-
toration of America and administered his oath. iting a litany of conspiracy and he promised to begin cal, business and technolo-
the revolution of common A cadre of billionaires and theories about voter fraud “fair, equal and impartial gy leaders have realigned
sense.” tech titans including Mark and grievances against justice.” He also acknowl- themselves to accom-
Other goals will prove more Zuckerberg, Jeff Bezos, Tim perceived enemies such as edged that he was tak- modate him. Democrats
difficult, perhaps testing Cook and Sundar Pichai former Republican Rep. Liz ing office on Martin Luther who once formed a “re-

the patience of supporters were given prominent posi- Cheney, whom he called King Jr. Day, which honors sistance” are now divided
who were promised quick tions in the Capitol Rotun- “a crying lunatic.” the slain civil rights hero. over whether to work with
success. Trump has talked da, mingling with Trump’s He spoke for even longer “We will strive together to Trump or defy him. q