6 Key Highlights from Trump’s Inauguration Speech

Donald Trump took office as the 47th president of the United States on Monday, hailing it as a “historic political comeback”.

After being sworn in at the US Capitol in Washington, D.C., he delivered a roughly 30-minute speech, which was very brief by Trump’s standards.

After being sworn in at the US Capitol in Washington, D.C., he delivered a roughly 30-minute speech, which was very brief by Trump’s standards.

Here are six key takeaways from the speech:

1. Free Speech

Trump promised to “restore free speech” by abolishing government control, a likely reference to his backing for big social media and technology corporations. During the address, tech executives including Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg, and Jeff Bezos sat a row ahead of Trump’s new Cabinet. In the coming days and weeks, it will be critical to see how this affects the EU’s efforts to regulate internet behemoths.

2. “Drill, baby, drill”

Trump called for a “national energy emergency” to allow for increased output. Following his address, the White House announced that the United States would withdraw from the Paris Climate Agreement, marking Trump’s second withdrawal from the voluntary agreement to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. EU officials overseeing the Green Deal will be concerned about the impact of Trump’s initiatives.

3. Territorial claims extend from Mars to Panama.

In an apparent reference to his desire to colonise Mars, Trump promised to “expand our territory”. He also reiterated foreign policy intentions, referencing the Israel-Hamas conflict and incorrectly asserting that “China is operating the Panama Canal” but “we’re taking it back”. Earlier this month, he refused to rule out using military action to take control of the important waterway.

4. US Capitol rioters

Trump did not mention the rioters who were convicted for attacking the US Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, despite plans to pardon many of them as soon as today.

5. Trump’s war on wokeness

The new president hinted at plans to roll back former President Joe Biden’s diversity, equity, and inclusion policies, saying his administration will recognize only two genders – male and female – and will stop efforts to “socially engineer” diversity.

6. MAGA Redux

Trump promised to improve the US’s worldwide standing, stating that “America’s decline is over”. He also praised his return to the White House as “proof that you should never believe that something is impossible to do in America”.