Tuesday, January 21, 2025
President Donald Trump was sworn in yesterday as the 47th President of the United States at the rotunda of the U.S. Capitol a minute and a half past noon.
The predicted frigid outside temperatures of Jan. 20 prompted the decision on Friday to move the ceremony inside, leaving those with passes — including The Georgetowner — for the Capitol’s westside seating outside with souvenir tickets only. For more than 250,000 expected to viewing the inauguration in-person, it become 20,000 seats at Capital One Arena to view the swearing-in on video. President Trump and a parade followed in person.
So, the swearing-in ceremony crowded a few family, friends, former presidents, high-tech billionaires and religious leaders, along with Congressional, judicial and military members into the rotunda. It was a high-powered viewing.
The new president said: “The golden age of America begins right now. From this day forward, our country will flourish and be respected again all over the world. We will be the envy of every nation. And we will not allow ourselves to be taken advantage of any longer.
“… Over the past eight years, I have been tested and challenged more than any president in our 250-year history, and I’ve learned a lot along the way. The journey to reclaim our Republic has not been an easy one, that I can tell you. Those who wish to stop our cause have tried to take my freedom and indeed to take my life. Just a few months ago, in a beautiful Pennsylvania field, an assassin’s bullet ripped through my ear. But I felt then, and believe even more so now, that my life was saved for a reason. I was saved by God to make America great again.
“That is why each day under our administration of American patriots, we will be working to meet every crisis with dignity and power and strength. We will move with purpose and speed to bring back hope, prosperity, safety and peace for citizens of every race, religion, color and creed. For American citizens, Jan. 20, 2025, is Liberation Day. …”
To which columnist George Will wrote within hours: “Neither euphoric nor despairing be. Trump too shall pass.” And for some Americans, the wind chill, etc. were appropriate for their feelings of the day.
Nevertheless, downtown Washington, D.C., was warm with Trump supporters celebrating the day with many willing to wait hours to get into Capital One Arena. The joy of these Americans was a joy to behold, other opinions notwithstanding. One business observer noted the restaurants were happy.
The parade at the arena was colorful, loud and abbreviated. Trump spoke yet again, repeating some of his lines from earlier addresses. There was a dutiful nod of the hostages of the Israel-Hamas conflict. And with that, the 47th President took a short motorcade to the place where he had been the 45th President.
In a refreshed Oval Office (the return of Andrew Jackson, the Reagan rug and more flags), Trump sat down at the Resolute Desk to sign the promised first executive orders while casually speaking with the press. His actions included issuing pardons for most January 6 rioters as well as leaving the Paris climate accords and the WHO.
Still, the energetic Trump was not done with his day — three official inaugural balls awaited.
Some words of wisdom from a graduate of the Duke Ellington School of the Arts are worth repeating.
Comedian Dave Chappelle, who hosted “Saturday Night Live” two days before the inauguration, concluded his opening monologue by saying: “The presidency is no place for petty people. Donald Trump, I know you watch the show. Man, remember, whether people voted for you or not, they’re all counting on you. Whether they like you or not, they’re all counting on you. The whole world is counting on you. I mean this when I say this: Good luck. Please, do better next time. Please, all of us, do better next time. Do not forget your humanity, and, please, have empathy for displaced people, whether they’re in the Palisades or Palestine.”