2025 Inauguration

This Monday, Donald Trump was sworn in as President for the second time, he is one of two people to ever do this,  the other being Grover Cleveland in 1889. This Inauguration was held inside for the first time in 40 years the last time being Ronald Reagan in 1985. There were many guests including former presidents, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush,  Joe Biden, and Barack Obama.  Former running mates were also there, Hilary Clinton and Kamala Harris. Besides politicians, entrepreneurs including Mark Zuckerberg and Jeff Bezos were in attendance. Miscellaneous guests included YouTuber/boxers Logan and Jake Paul and Podcaster Theo Von. Before the said ceremony, Trump attended a service at St. John’s Church before having tea with 46th President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden. After he attended three inaugural balls; the Commander in Chief, the Liberty Ball, and the Starlight Ball. On the day of his inauguration, Trump was expected to sign over two hundred proclamations and executive orders which are legally binding. Carrie Underwood, Jason Aldean, Billy Ray Cyrus, Gavin Degraw, Kid Rock and bands The Village People and Rascal Flatts were featured performers. 

Since Monday he has already shut down any federal offices about diversity, equity, and inclusion programs. He pardoned Ross Ulbricht, founder of “Silk Road” a website in which people could sell and trade illegal drugs. He also pardoned over 1,000 January 6th rioters, Matthew and Andrew Valentin who pleaded guilty to physically assaulting police officers. Much to the younger generations’ dismay Tiktok shut down for about 15 hours after months of speculation. However the next day Trump extended the deadline for them to find someone to either buy the company or accept the ban. He has taken executive action to change the name of landmarks such as Denali and the Gulf of Mexico. He withdrew the US from the Paris Climate Accord, again, and the World Health Organization. He stated the World Health Organization “continues to demand unfairly onerous payments” from America. He also added a new Department about government efficiency and stalled hiring for executive branch agents. He revoked 78 orders made by the Biden administration including rights to transgender people being in the military. He announced a “national emergency” on the southern border and signed an order to “redefine” US citizenship. 

Every 4 years (or 8) when there’s a new president every US citizen is affected, even people below the voting age. At Waukee High School many kids have varying opinions of the outcome of this election, some positive and some negative. An anonymous junior stated, “Even though a lot of people disagree with Trump’s policies, I really want prices to go down.” Anonymous senior stated, “I found that the policies and procedures he enacted on his first day as President were extremely discriminatory. He also withdrew us from the World Health Organization and the Paris Agreement on climate change mitigation. These actions will be detrimental to the United States in the future and it’s disheartening to see him do this. It makes me wonder how different our country will look in the future and I am worried about what is to come.” Overall our country is on the cusp of change, how do you feel about it? 

Graphic by Bayla Boyce using Canva