By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo
Donald Trump has been sworn in for a second term as president of the United States at noon local time (17:00 GMT) in Washington, DC.
Donald Trump took office as the United States' 47th president on Jan. 20, renewing his vow to "put America first" and tariff foreign countries to enrich Americans, while signaling an intent to refrain from military involvement in conflicts overseas.
During his swearing-in ceremony in the Capitol Rotunda in Washington, Trump, 78, underscored his America First credo as his second four-year term is expected to see a major shift in the U.S.' approach to alliances, trade and other key issues. Vice President J.D. Vance was also sworn in.
"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," Trump said in an inaugural address after taking the oath of office.
"During every single day of the Trump administration, I will very simply put America first," he added as the address underscored that "America's decline is over."
Donald Trump issued pardons for participants in the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol, one of his first acts after being sworn in as the country’s 47th president on Monday.
The pardons fulfilled Trump’s promise to release supporters who tried to help him overturn his election defeat four years ago.
“These are the hostages,” he said while signing the paperwork in the Oval Office. Trump said he hopes many are released shortly.
Trump began signing executive orders onstage at a downtown arena earlier in the day as thousands of supporters cheered, melding the theatrics of his campaign rallies with the formal powers of the presidency. He froze the issuing of new regulations, asserted his control over the federal workforce and withdrew from the Paris climate agreement.
Trump also rescinded dozens of directives issued by Biden, including those relating to diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, global warming and sanctioning Israeli settlers involved in violence against Palestinians in the West Bank. When finished, he tossed the pens into the crowd.
The Republican president abandoned the more solemn tone of his inaugural address from earlier in the day and taunted his Democratic predecessor while scrawling his name in thick black ink on his executive orders.
In the address, he also pledged to immediately begin an overhaul of America's trade system to protect American workers and families.
"Instead of taxing our citizens to enrich other countries, we will tariff and tax foreign countries to enrich our citizens," he said. He did not elaborate on details.
During his election campaign, he unveiled a proposal to slap blanket tariffs of 10 to 20 percent on all imports, and threatened to impose tariffs of up to 60 percent on Chinese goods.
He reaffirmed his intent to retake the strategically crucial canal that Panama took control of in 1999, claiming that American ships have been "severely overcharged" and "not fairly treated," and that China is operating the canal.
"We did not give it to China. We gave it to Panama," he said. "We are taking it back. Above all, my message to Americans today is that it is time for us to once again act with courage, vigor and the vitality of history's greatest civilization."
In addition, he said that the U.S. will change the name of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America.
Trump envisioned a "growing" U.S. despite allegations of his expansionist inclinations.
"The United States will once again consider itself a growing nation, one that increase our wealth, expands our territory, builds our cities, raises our expectations and carries our flags into new and beautiful horizons," he said.
"And we will pursue our manifest destiny into the stars, launching American astronauts to plant the starts and stripes on the planet Mars."
Stressing his commitment to "make America great again," he said his administration will work to meet every crisis that it may face "with dignity, 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," he said. "For American citizens, January 20, 2025 is Liberation Day."
Trump declares national emergency at border in first speech to nation
President Donald Trump signed a flurry of executive orders and decrees aimed at cracking down on immigration.
From an order tackling the definition of birthright citizenship, to an order declaring the illegal immigration at the border a national emergency, Trump swiftly made moves on his promises to tighten the US-Mexico border.
But some of those orders - particularly any order that aims to change the definition of birthright citizenship - are likely to face steep legal opposition.
Trump had previously vowed that the "destructive" policies of the Biden White House would be gone "within five minutes".
Hours earlier, thousands of would-be migrants had their immigration appointments cancelled after the new administration scrapped CBP One, an app used to book appearances at ports of entry at the border.
In his inaugural address, Trump vowed that "all illegal entry will be halted" and that millions of "criminal aliens" will be deported.
He also signed an order declaring Mexican drug cartels terrorist organisations.
At a previous event at Washington's Capital One Arena, Trump formally revoked nearly 80 executive actions - which he described as "radical" - from the Biden administration.
"I have no higher responsibility than to defend our country from threats and invasions," Trump said in his inaugural address at the US Capitol earlier in the day.
As part of the broader plan, Trump administration officials said the president would direct the Department of Defense to "seal the border" and devote additional resources and personnel, including counter-drone capabilities.
Trump signs actions to pull US out of Paris climate agreement
President Donald Trump signed executive actions Monday and cemented his intent to double down on fossil fuels and reverse America’s progress on climate change and clean energy, including signing orders to pull United States out of the Paris climate agreement.
Trump’s day-one actions come as climate change-fueled fires ravage Southern California, following the globe’s hottest year on record during which two major hurricanes – Helene and Milton – devastated the Southeast.
In his inauguration speech, Trump said he will declare a “national energy emergency,” though United States is producing more oil now than any other country at any other time. He intends to streamline permitting and review regulations that “impose undue burdens on energy production and use, including mining and processing of non-fuel minerals,” according to a list of priorities from Trump’s press office.
He also intends to take action to end land and water leasing for wind energy, and undo the Biden administration’s actions that promote electric vehicles.
Trump views energy prices as central to his mission to address widespread frustrations with the cost of living, and has argued that slashing red tape will help drive down energy prices and fight overall inflation.
“The inflation crisis was caused by massive overspending and escalating energy prices,” Trump said during his inaugural address. “That’s why today I will also declare a national energy emergency. We will drill, baby, drill.”
Scientists declared earlier this month the planet for the first time breached 1.5 degrees Celsius of global warming last year — a significant benchmark that experts researching Earth’s tipping points have warned humanity to avoid, and the goal world leaders aspired to when they signed the Paris Agreement in 2015.
Beyond 1.5 degrees, the human-caused climate crisis — fueled by heat-trapping, fossil fuel pollution — starts to exceed the ability of humanity and the natural world to adapt.
