Donald J. Trump is set to be sworn in as the 47th president of the United States at noon Eastern time on Monday, marking a historic political comeback. He reportedly plans to issue more than 200 executive orders on his first day in office, aiming to rapidly implement a sweeping policy agenda.
Trump, 78, will take the oath of office in the Capitol Rotunda, where the ceremony was moved indoors due to bitterly cold weather. Earlier in the day, Trump attended a service at St. John’s Church in Washington alongside Vice President-elect J.D. Vance and their families.
In excerpts of his inauguration speech released by his team, Trump is expected to declare, “A tide of change is sweeping the country,” adding that he returns to the presidency “confident and optimistic that we are at the start of a thrilling new era of national success.”
Among Trump’s planned executive actions are measures targeting border security, energy production, and cost-of-living reductions for American families, as well as the elimination of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs across federal agencies, according to Fox News Digital.
In the lead up to the inauguration, evangelical leaders sent a letter to Trump welcoming strong border security while also calling for prioritization of refugees fleeing persecution.
The statement referenced Trump’s first term, during which he allowed a maximum of 50,000 refugees in his initial week of office. Signatories called on him “to once again set the ceiling for refugee admissions at that level or higher, consistent with his commitments both to secure borders and to religious liberty and opportunity for all.”
Trump will make history as the oldest person inaugurated as president, surpassing Joe Biden, who took office at 78. He will also be the second president to serve nonconsecutive terms, following Grover Cleveland in the 19th century.
J.D. Vance, 40, will be sworn in as the 50th vice president, becoming the third-youngest in U.S. history.
Trump’s inauguration follows a Republican sweep of the presidency, Senate, and House, positioning him to act quickly on his agenda. His restoration to the White House caps a remarkable return to power after losing his re-election bid four years ago.
Meanwhile, in one of his final acts as president, Biden issued preemptive pardons for several high-profile Trump critics, including Gen. Mark A. Milley, the former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and Dr. Anthony S. Fauci, who led the U.S. COVID-19 response during the pandemic.
