On Monday (20 January), Donald J. Trump was inaugurated as the 47th president of the United States, making a dramatic return to the Oval Office. In the days beforehand, Trump orchestrated key moves behind the scenes, then delivered an inaugural address packed with familiar campaign promises, and capped off his first day with a stream of executive orders. Trump’s approach to his second administration promises to be anything but quiet.

Here’s a closer look at everything that’s happened over the past few days.

An American ‘golden age’

“The golden age of America begins right now.” Trump kicked off his inaugural address with a dramatic proclamation, unveiling a vision packed with bold rhetoric and familiar campaign-trail promises.

“We will be the envy of every nation, and we will not allow ourselves to be taken advantage of any longer,” he stated. Trump outlined his goals, pledging to crack down on immigration, bolster domestic businesses and oppose what he calls “woke” culture.

Among his priorities, Trump committed to deploying troops to the US–Mexico border, increasing domestic oil production and imposing tariffs on other countries to “enrich our citizens”. He also criticised the Biden administration, labelling its leadership as “incompetent and corrupt”. He also accused it of prioritising “dangerous immigrants over law-abiding citizens” and “protecting foreign borders at the expense of American ones”.

In a dramatic moment, Trump referenced the assassination attempt on him in during the summer, saying, “I was saved by God to make America great again.” He also celebrated his role in facilitating a ceasefire in Gaza, declaring, “A peacemaker and a unifier, that’s what I want to be.”

Some of Trump’s more outlandish promises included reclaiming the Panama Canal, sending an American astronaut to Mars and renaming the Gulf of Mexico the ‘Gulf of America’.

One notable omission from his speech was his campaign pledge to pardon the Capitol rioters of 6 January 2021, whom he has described as “wrongfully accused”. Addressing the absence of this promise later in the day, Trump stated: “I was going to talk about the J6 hostages. But it’s action, not words, that count. And you’re going to see a lot of action.”

Just hours after taking office, Americans began to witness the first glimpses of what that ‘action’ might entail.

Putting pen to paper

Trump signed a wave of executive orders on his first day in office. Despite omitting any mention of the 6 January rioters in his address, Trump pardoned all 1,500 individuals convicted in connection with the attack, including those who committed violence against police officers. 

Given that one of his executive orders reinstated the federal death penalty, specifically requiring it in cases involving the murder of law enforcement officers and capital crimes committed by undocumented immigrants, this decision struck many as ironic.

Trump’s ripple of immigration-related orders included declaring a national emergency at the southern border, suspending refugee resettlement and, most controversially, attempting to end birthright citizenship, a move that directly challenges the 14th Amendment’s protections.

In his efforts to undo his predecessor’s legacy, Trump rescinded 78 Biden-era executive actions. These included measures addressing racial equality, climate change, migration, gender policies and Biden’s decision to remove Cuba from the list of state sponsors of terrorism.

Trump also tackled the long-contentious issue of TikTok. He signed an order pausing the ban enacted by Biden a year earlier, which required the app’s sale to an American CEO. Ironically, Trump himself first proposed banning TikTok in 2020, but public perception has since shifted his approach. 

The app was abruptly shut down the night before the inauguration, with US users receiving a message stating that the company was working with “President Trump” to restore access. By the next morning, TikTok was back online, accompanied by a message thanking Trump for his efforts, a development many interpreted as a signal of increasing deference from tech companies to his administration.

On cultural and social matters, Trump signed an executive order addressing gender identity and diversity initiatives, declaring it federal policy to recognise only two genders: male and female.

In foreign affairs, Trump wasted no time revisiting global agreements. He signed an order withdrawing the US from the Paris Climate Agreement and began the process of exiting the World Health Organization. Experts have expressed alarm, fearing these moves could reverse decades of progress in combating global diseases such as AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis.

Again with the antics

One of the most suggestive moments of the ceremony came when Trump took his oath of office without placing his hand on the Bible, breaking a long-standing tradition. This decision has sparked intense debate, with many viewing it as a reflection of his approach to governing and to the principles of the Constitution.

In just a few days since taking over, Trump has already left an indelible mark. Americans now brace for the next chapter as he continues to sign sweeping executive orders, dismiss federal workers and move toward fulfilling his promise of mass deportations. If the inauguration is any indication, the next four years promise to be anything but uneventful.