Monday | January 20, 2025
Donald Trump is set to exercise an unprecedented display of presidential power on his first day as the 47th president, aiming to reshape America’s trajectory by sundown on Monday.
Forced indoors by freezing weather for his swearing-in, Trump has planned an onslaught of hardline executive orders targeting immigration, energy production, transgender athletes, and pardons for January 6 rioters. Describing the scale of these actions as “close to 100” in a Sunday announcement, Trump’s aggressive opening signals a second term driven by his strongman leadership style and a vision of an all-encompassing presidency designed to provoke significant domestic and international upheaval.
On the eve of his inauguration, Trump rallied supporters in Washington, D.C., with a theatrical display, including his signature “YMCA” dance alongside the Village People. The performance underscored his transformation from a real estate mogul and tabloid fixture into a cultural icon revered by his millions of fans. This “MAGA mystique” is cemented not just by his personality but by his resilience in the face of two impeachments, multiple criminal indictments, and even assassination attempts.
Trump’s return to power—secured through the democratic system he once sought to undermine after his 2020 defeat—marks one of the most dramatic comebacks in American history. However, it also raises concerns about how he might wield his renewed authority as he pushes the boundaries of presidential power.
Even before taking office, Trump claimed two early victories. On Sunday, three hostages were released to Israel as part of a Gaza ceasefire, attributed to his imminent leadership. Additionally, a federal ban on TikTok was briefly lifted, a move Trump framed as his intervention. These developments highlight his flair for bold, headline-grabbing actions, though the long-term outcomes of these early successes remain uncertain and will require sustained strategic leadership.
Trump’s election victory signals a shift in the political landscape, reflecting voter dissatisfaction with issues like inflation, immigration, and government inefficiency. While his ambitious agenda promises sweeping change, the realities of governance, including a narrow Republican majority in Congress, could complicate his ability to deliver on bold promises.
As he begins his second term, Trump’s vision of an all-powerful presidency may face significant tests. His rapid-fire approach to leadership and preference for improvisation could either define his legacy as a transformative figure or deepen the political divisions that have marked his tenure.
Trump is already looking far beyond the tasks voters assigned him
Trump’s victory in last year’s election—just four years after being ousted from office for failing to revive a pandemic-weary and discontented nation—was driven by voter frustration with high prices, a border crisis dismissed by Biden, and growing skepticism about the government’s ability to address their concerns.
However, this impatient electorate may not offer Trump much time to deliver results. The success or failure of his second term could hinge on his ability to address basic economic challenges, such as lowering the cost of staples like eggs and milk—something he has already acknowledged as a tough task.
At a jubilant rally on Sunday, Trump fueled expectations of sweeping change across multiple fronts. Yet, the history of the presidency, his first term’s turmoil, and his slim congressional majority suggest such ambitious transformations will be difficult to achieve. “Everyone in our country will prosper. Every family will thrive, and every day will be filled with opportunity and hope,” Trump proclaimed. “We stand on the verge of the four greatest years in America.”
Much of Trump’s appeal lies in his confrontational style and outsider persona. While this resonates with his supporters, the effectiveness and sustainability of his second term will be judged by substance rather than spectacle. Trump’s coalition, which now includes more young voters, minorities, and working-class Americans, remains energized, but his divisive rhetoric continues to alienate half the country. The lofty promises of his inauguration eve will soon clash with the gritty realities of governance, likely deepening fractures within the Republican Party.
Planned “shock and awe” deportation raids and confrontations in Democratic-run cities are designed to fulfill campaign pledges and deter migration but risk creating a backlash. Such moves could foster a climate of fear, undermine civil rights, and politically harm both Trump and his party.
Still, Trump is determined to launch his second term with unprecedented urgency, comparing his agenda to the rapid ascent of a SpaceX rocket. Elon Musk, who joined him onstage Sunday, pledged “significant change,” amplifying the atmosphere of high expectations.
“Starting tomorrow, I will act with historic speed and strength and fix every single crisis facing our country,” Trump vowed at a euphoric victory celebration in Washington’s Capital One Arena. His bold ambitions set the stage for a presidency poised to test the limits of executive power and the patience of an anxious nation.
A stunning comeback for a cultural icon
Four years ago, a humbled Donald Trump left Washington in haste, skipping Biden’s inauguration for a subdued farewell at Joint Base Andrews. Still reeling from the disgrace of the Capitol attack two weeks earlier—an insurrection fueled by his election falsehoods—he signed off with a cryptic message: “Have a good life. We will see you soon.”
On that January morning in 2021, few could have envisioned Trump’s dramatic political resurgence, epitomized on Sunday by a commanding speech delivered from a sprawling red stage before thousands of devoted MAGA supporters.
“We won,” Trump declared during his first Washington rally since January 6, 2021, emphasizing how voters, fed up with government dysfunction, were willing to look past his contentious post-2020 behavior in search of change.
The speech, a signature Trump performance, wove together elements of demagoguery, humor, inflammatory anti-immigration rhetoric, apocalyptic warnings, and bold theatrics. He combined pledges to end the war in Ukraine with quips about starring at the 2026 FIFA World Cup and the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles. Trump’s disregard for presidential decorum showcased why millions of Americans see him as their unvarnished, authentic voice. “We are all going to be sworn in tomorrow; that’s the way I look at it,” he told the cheering crowd.
For this inauguration, Trump will gain an air of legitimacy from the attendance of his predecessor—an acknowledgment he withheld from Biden. Unlike Trump in 2020, Vice President Kamala Harris has accepted her election defeat, reinforcing the peaceful transfer of power.
Yet, the authoritarian tendencies that emerged during Trump’s first term remain a source of unease for many Americans alarmed by his return.
Globally, Trump’s resurgence has heightened tensions. His expansionist rhetoric during the transition has already triggered political ripples from Canada to Panama to Denmark, leaving U.S. allies wary. Trump, however, seems eager for high-stakes meetings with authoritarian leaders he openly admires, including Xi Jinping of China and Vladimir Putin of Russia, signaling a presidency that may again challenge the international order.
Days of Thunder’ lie ahead
The breadth of Donald Trump’s ambitions for his second term is staggering.
“By the time the sun sets tomorrow evening, the invasion of our borders will have come to a halt, and all the illegal border trespassers will, in some form or another, be on their way back home,” he proclaimed on Sunday. According to aides, Trump plans to sign several executive orders immediately after taking the oath of office, followed by additional measures during an event at Capital One Arena, which will double as the site of his inauguration parade.
His pledges are as expansive as they are audacious. Trump vowed to “defeat inflation,” deliver the cheapest energy in the world, reduce taxes, lower prices, boost wages, and bring thousands of factories back to the U.S. using tariffs. He also promised to end the war in Ukraine, restore order in the Middle East, prevent World War III, tackle violent crime in urban centers, and revitalize the police and military. Additionally, he pledged to rebuild Los Angeles, a city he plans to visit later this week, following its devastation from wildfires, promising to make it “more beautiful” than ever.
Achieving even a fraction of these objectives would constitute a historic accomplishment by modern presidential standards. However, Trump faces significant challenges: his status as a lame duck, a razor-thin Republican majority in the House of Representatives, and the looming possibility of a Democratic resurgence in the 2026 midterm elections.
Still, Trump enters this term with the advantage of experience. Having held the presidency once before, he approaches the job with a clearer vision of his goals and strategies.
At his rally, Trump reflected on his legacy and the potential impact of his second term, indulging in a rare moment of introspection. “Someday, 30, 40, even 50 years from now, some of these young people will say, ‘I remember Donald Trump. He did a good job. He gave us a path,’” he mused.
Yet, the path ahead is unlikely to be smooth. Trump’s former strategist Steve Bannon has dubbed the coming months the “Days of Thunder,” signaling a tumultuous and transformative period.
Both America and the world should brace themselves for what lies ahead.
