 "President Donald Trump gives his inaugural address during the 60th Presidential Inauguration in the Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol in Washington. AP")
In 2017, Donald Trump at his first inauguration delivered a speech that was fire and brimstone.
In 2025, Trump’s speech was far more optimistic.
“A tide of change is sweeping the country. Sunlight is pouring over the entire world, and America has the chance to seize this opportunity like never before, but first, we must be honest about the challenges we face,” Trump said.
However, Trump did level harsh criticisms at the outgoing administration of Joe Biden.
But what are the takeaways from this inaugural address? And how does it compare to 2017?
Let’s take a closer look:
‘Saved by god’
Trump in his speech claimed he was ‘saved by God to make America great again.’
“Over the past eight years, I have been tested and challenged more than any president in our 250-year history … Those who wish to stop our cause have tried to take my freedom and indeed to take my life. Just a few months ago, in a beautiful Pennsylvania field, an assassin’s bullet ripped through my ear, but I felt then and believe, even more so now that my life was saved for a reason. I was saved by God to make America Great Again.”
‘Golden age of America’
Trump has vowed to restore America to a ‘golden age.’
“From this day forward, our country will flourish and be respected 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. During every single day of the Trump administration, I will very simply put America first. Our sovereignty will be reclaimed.”
‘Rebalance scales of justice’
Trump has also said he will end the ‘vicious, violent, and unfair weaponisation of the Justice Department’ and to create a nation that ‘is proud, prosperous, and free.’
“America will soon be greater, stronger, and far more exceptional than ever before. I return to the presidency confident and optimistic that we are at the start of a thrilling new era of national success. A tide of change is sweeping the country,” Trump said.
“From this moment on, America’s decline is over…My recent election is a mandate to completely and totally reverse a horrible betrayal and all of these many betrayals that have taken place, and to give the people back their faith, their wealth, their democracy, and indeed, their freedom,” Trump said.
Trump declared January 20, 2025 as ‘liberation day’ for citizens.
Southern border
Trump also confirmed he would declare a national emergency at America’s southern border.
He vowed to halt all illegal entry and announced that the cartels would be designated foreign terrorist organisations.
Trump also vowed to end the ‘catch and release’ policy at the southern border.
‘Proud, prosperous and free’
Trump said his top priority will be to create a “nation that is proud, prosperous and free.”
“More recently Los Angeles, where we are watching fires still tragically burn. From weeks ago without even a token of defence, they’re raging through the houses and communities, even affecting some of the wealthiest and most powerful individuals in our country, some of whom are sitting here right now. They don’t have a home any longer, that’s interesting, but we can’t let this happen.”
‘Fix public health and education’
Trump also vowed to fix public health and education.
“We have a public health system that does not deliver in times of disaster, yet more money is spent on it than any country anywhere in the world and we have an education system that teaches our children to be ashamed of themselves in many cases to hate our country despite the love that we try so desperately to,”
All of this will change starting today and it will change very quickly, Trump added.
Energy, tariffs
Trump vowed to ‘refill’ America’s strategic reserves again and to export American energy all over the world.
Trump signalled that he would declare a national energy emergency.
“The inflation crisis was caused by massive overspending and escalating energy prices, and that is why today I will also declare a national energy emergency. We will drill, baby, drill,” he said.
“We will revoke EV mandate,” Trump added.
Trump said he will impose tariffs and tax foreign countries to enrich America’s citizens.
Gulf of Mexico, Panama Canal
Trump also announced he would change Gulf of Mexico to Gulf of America.
He also vowed to take back the Panama Canal – in comments that will clearly cause discomfort to America’s allies.
“Panama canal has foolishly been given to Panama. American ships are being overcharged,” Trump said.
Adios Paris accords, hello Mars
Trump said his administration will withdraw from the Paris Climate Accords.
“Today, I will sign a series of historic executive orders and with these actions, we will begin the complete restoration of America and the revolution of common sense.
Trump also vowed to ‘plant the Stars and Stripes’ on Mars.
No more DEI, CRT
Trump vowed to end Diversity, Equity and Inclusivity programmes as well as took aim at Critical Race Theory.
He said the soldiers would “no longer be subjected to radical political theories and social experiments while on duty.”
“It’s going to end immediately. Our armed forces will be freed to focus on their sole mission, defeating America’s enemies.
“This week, I will also end the government policy of trying to socially engineer race and gender into every aspect of public and private light. We will forge a society that is colourblind and merit-based. This week, I will reinstate any service members who were unjustly expelled from our military for objecting to the COVID vaccine mandate with full back pay, and I will sign an order to stop our warriors from being subjected to radical political theories and social experiments while on duty…Our armed forces will be freed to focus on their sole mission, defeating America’s enemies
Only two genders
Trump also delivered a blow to those concerned about trans rights.
“As of today, it will henceforth be the official policy of the United States government that there are only two genders, male and female,” Trump said.
Slams foreign wars
Trump also, in what would be unwelcome news to Ukraine, slammed America helping its allies overseas.
“We have a government that has given unlimited funding to the defense of foreign borders, but refuses to defend American borders, or, more importantly, its own people.”
“We will again build the strongest military the world has ever seen. We will measure our success not only by the battles we win but also by the wars that we end and perhaps the war we never get into,” Trump added.
Takes aim at Biden
Trump also slammed his predecessor Joe Biden.
“We now have a government that cannot manage even a simple crisis at home, while at the same time stumbling into a continuing catalog of catastrophic events abroad. It fails to protect our magnificent law-abiding American citizens but provides sanctuary and protection for dangerous criminals, many from prisons and mental institutions that have illegally entered our country from all over the world.”
Comparison to the 2017 speech
That speech, dubbed ‘American carnage’ by the press, was written by Stephen Miller.
It painted a far more frightening view of America and was far more populist and nationalistic in its rhetoric.
“Politicians prospered — but the jobs left, and the factories closed. The establishment protected itself, but not the citizens of our country. Their victories have not been your victories; their triumphs have not been your triumphs; and while they celebrated in our nation’s capital, there was little to celebrate for struggling families all across our land. … The forgotten men and women of our country will be forgotten no longer.”
Trump also called the US a failing nation – in contrast to most inaugural speeches which are about uplifting the population.
“Mothers and children trapped in poverty in our inner cities; rusted-out factories scattered like tombstones across the landscape of our nation; an education system, flush with cash, but which leaves our young and beautiful students deprived of knowledge; and the crime and gangs and drugs that have stolen too many lives and robbed our country of so much unrealized potential. This American carnage stops right here and stops right now.”
Perhaps the speech and the events of the day were best summed up by ex-president George W Bush.
Bush, who was attending the inauguration, said of the inauguration, “That was some weird shit.”
With inputs from agencies