{"id":16020,"date":"2025-01-21T00:00:20","date_gmt":"2025-01-21T08:00:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/worldcampaign.net\/?p=16020"},"modified":"2025-11-15T23:10:06","modified_gmt":"2025-11-16T07:10:06","slug":"issue-of-the-week-human-rights-economic-opportunity-war-environment-disease-population-personal-growth","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/worldcampaign.net\/?p=16020","title":{"rendered":"Issue of the Week: Human Rights, Economic Opportunity, War, Environment, Disease, Population, Personal Growth"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Back to News<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"President<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

President Donald Trump delivers his inaugural address in the US Capitol Rotunda on January 20, 2025, CNN, Kevin Lamarque\/Reuters<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Today, Donald Trump was innaugurated president of the United States for the second time, after losing re-election in 2020. The issues that have occurred since his 2020 defeat to his 2024 victory are innumerbale, unprecedented and could not be more consequential for America and the world. We will expand on these issues as always. For today, we refer to a number of related articles:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Donald Trump\u2019s Second Inaugural Speech, Annotated”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

January 20, 2025<\/p>\n\n\n\n

[Introduction from The New York Times].<\/p>\n\n\n\n

President Trump, in his first remarks after being sworn into office inside the Capitol Rotunda on Monday, portrayed himself as the only person who could save the United States from decline, and offered early indications of his first actions he would take in office.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here is an annotated transcript of the speech. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

[The annotated comments are at the bottom of the page because of the technical manner in which this copies from the Times. To see it with the comments directly related to the relevant portion of the speech highlighted in the article, go to the article here<\/a>. The transcript below is from NPR. There are insignificant differences between this and the Times transcript, but the NPR transcript is easier to present in this context]:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

President Donald Trump\u2019s 2025 inaugural address<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thank you. Thank you very much, everybody. (Applause.) Wow. Thank you very, very much.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Vice President Vance, Speaker Johnson, Senator Thune, Chief Justice Roberts, justices of the Supreme Court of the United States, President Clinton, President Bush, President Obama, President Biden, Vice President Harris, and my fellow citizens, the golden age of America begins right now. (Applause.) <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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. During every single day of the Trump administration, I will, very simply, put America first. (Applause.) <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Our sovereignty will be reclaimed. Our safety will be restored. The scales of justice will be rebalanced. The vicious, violent, and unfair weaponization of the Justice Department and our government will end. (Applause.) <\/p>\n\n\n\n

And our top priority will be to create a nation that is proud, prosperous, and free. (Applause.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

America will soon be greater, stronger, and far more exceptional than ever before. (Applause.) <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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, sunlight is pouring over the entire world, and America has the chance to seize this opportunity like never before. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

But first, we must be honest about the challenges we face. While they are plentiful, they will be annihilated by this great momentum that the world is now witnessing in the United States of America. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As we gather today, our government confronts a crisis of trust. For many years, a radical and corrupt establishment has extracted power and wealth from our citizens while the pillars of our society lay broken and seemingly in complete disrepair. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

We now have a government that cannot manage even a simple crisis at home while, at the same time, stumbling into a continuing catalogue of catastrophic events abroad. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Our country can no longer deliver basic services in times of emergency, as recently shown by the wonderful people of North Carolina \u2014 who have been treated so badly \u2014 (applause) \u2014 and other states who are still suffering from a hurricane that took place many months ago or, more recently, Los Angeles, where we are watching fires still tragically burn from weeks ago without even a token of defense. They\u2019re raging through the houses and communities, even affecting some of the wealthiest and most powerful individuals in our country \u2014 some of whom are sitting here right now. They don\u2019t have a home any longer. That\u2019s interesting. But we can\u2019t let this happen. Everyone is unable to do anything about it. That\u2019s going to change. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

And we have an education system that teaches our children to be ashamed of themselves \u2014 in many cases, to hate our country despite the love that we try so desperately to provide to them. All of this will change starting today, and it will change very quickly. (Applause.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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. From this moment on, America\u2019s decline is over. (Applause.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Our liberties and our nation\u2019s glorious destiny will no longer be denied. And we will immediately restore the integrity, competency, and loyalty of America\u2019s government. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Over the past eight years, I have been tested and challenged more than any president in our 250-year history, and I\u2019ve learned a lot along the way. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The journey to reclaim our republic has not been an easy one \u2014 that, I can tell you. Those who wish to stop our cause have tried to take my freedom and, indeed, to take my life. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Just a few months ago, in a beautiful Pennsylvania field, an assassin\u2019s 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. (Applause.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thank you. Thank you. (Applause.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thank you very much. (Applause.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That is why each day under our administration of American patriots, we will be working to meet every crisis with dignity and 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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

For American citizens, January 20th, 2025, is Liberation Day. (Applause.) It is my hope that our recent presidential election will be remembered as the greatest and most consequential election in the history of our country. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As our victory showed, the entire nation is rapidly unifying behind our agenda with dramatic increases in support from virtually every element of our society: young and old, men and women, African Americans, Hispanic Americans, Asian Americans, urban, suburban, rural. And very importantly, we had a powerful win in all seven swing states \u2014 (applause) \u2014 and the popular vote, we won by millions of people. (Applause.) <\/p>\n\n\n\n

To the Black and Hispanic communities, I want to thank you for the tremendous outpouring of love and trust that you have shown me with your vote. We set records, and I will not forget it. I\u2019ve heard your voices in the campaign, and I look forward to working with you in the years to come. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Today is Martin Luther King Day. And his honor \u2014 this will be a great honor. But in his honor, we will strive together to make his dream a reality. We will make his dream come true. (Applause.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. (Applause.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

National unity is now returning to America, and confidence and pride is soaring like never before. In everything we do, my administration will be inspired by a strong pursuit of excellence and unrelenting success. We will not forget our country, we will not forget our Constitution, and we will not forget our God. Can\u2019t do that. (Applause.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Today, I will sign a series of historic executive orders. With these actions, we will begin the complete restoration of America and the revolution of common sense. It\u2019s all about common sense. (Applause.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

First, I will declare a national emergency at our southern border. (Applause.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

All illegal entry will immediately be halted, and we will begin the process of returning millions and millions of criminal aliens back to the places from which they came. We will reinstate my Remain in Mexico policy. (Applause.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I will end the practice of catch and release. (Applause.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And I will send troops to the southern border to repel the disastrous invasion of our country. (Applause.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Under the orders I sign today, we will also be designating the cartels as foreign terrorist organizations. (Applause.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And by invoking the Alien Enemies Act of 1798, I will direct our government to use the full and immense power of federal and state law enforcement to eliminate the presence of all foreign gangs and criminal networks bringing devastating crime to U.S. soil, including our cities and inner cities. (Applause.) <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As commander in chief, I have no higher responsibility than to defend our country from threats and invasions, and that is exactly what I am going to do. We will do it at a level that nobody has ever seen before.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Next, I will direct all members of my cabinet to marshal the vast powers at their disposal to defeat what was record inflation and rapidly bring down costs and prices. (Applause.) <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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. (Applause.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

America will be a manufacturing nation once again, and we have something that no other manufacturing nation will ever have \u2014 the largest amount of oil and gas of any country on earth \u2014 and we are going to use it. We\u2019ll use it. (Applause.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We will bring prices down, fill our strategic reserves up again right to the top, and export American energy all over the world. (Applause.) <\/p>\n\n\n\n

We will be a rich nation again, and it is that liquid gold under our feet that will help to do it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

With my actions today, we will end the Green New Deal, and we will revoke the electric vehicle mandate, saving our auto industry and keeping my sacred pledge to our great American autoworkers. (Applause.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In other words, you\u2019ll be able to buy the car of your choice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We will build automobiles in America again at a rate that nobody could have dreamt possible just a few years ago. And thank you to the autoworkers of our nation for your inspiring vote of confidence. We did tremendously with their vote. (Applause.) <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I will immediately begin the overhaul of our 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. (Applause.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For this purpose, we are establishing the External Revenue Service to collect all tariffs, duties, and revenues. It will be massive amounts of money pouring into our Treasury, coming from foreign sources. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The American dream will soon be back and thriving like never before. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

To restore competence and effectiveness to our federal government, my administration will establish the brand-new Department of Government Efficiency. (Applause.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After years and years of illegal and unconstitutional federal efforts to restrict free expression, I also will sign an executive order to immediately stop all government censorship and bring back free speech to America. (Applause.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Never again will the immense power of the state be weaponized to persecute political opponents \u2014 something I know something about. (Laughter.) We will not allow that to happen. It will not happen again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Under my leadership, we will restore fair, equal, and impartial justice under the constitutional rule of law. (Applause.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And we are going to bring law and order back to our cities. (Applause.) <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This week, I will also end the government policy of trying to socially engineer race and gender into every aspect of public and private life. (Applause.) We will forge a society that is colorblind and merit-based. (Applause.) <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As of today, it will henceforth be the official policy of the United States government that there are only two genders: male and female. (Applause.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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. (Applause.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And I will sign an order to stop our warriors from being subjected to radical political theories and social experiments while on duty. It\u2019s going to end immediately. (Applause.) Our armed forces will be freed to focus on their sole mission: defeating America\u2019s enemies. (Applause.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Like in 2017, 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 \u2014 and perhaps most importantly, the wars we never get into. (Applause.) <\/p>\n\n\n\n

My proudest legacy will be that of a peacemaker and unifier. That\u2019s what I want to be: a peacemaker and a unifier.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I\u2019m pleased to say that as of yesterday, one day before I assumed office, the hostages in the Middle East are coming back home to their families. (Applause.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thank you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

America will reclaim its rightful place as the greatest, most powerful, most respected nation on earth, inspiring the awe and admiration of the entire world. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

A short time from now, we are going to be changing the name of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America \u2014 (applause) \u2014 and we will restore the name of a great president, William McKinley, to Mount McKinley, where it should be and where it belongs. (Applause.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

President McKinley made our country very rich through tariffs and through talent \u2014 he was a natural businessman \u2014 and gave Teddy Roosevelt the money for many of the great things he did, including the Panama Canal, which has foolishly been given to the country of Panama after the United Spates \u2014 the United States \u2014 I mean, think of this \u2014 spent more money than ever spent on a project before and lost 38,000 lives in the building of the Panama Canal. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

We have been treated very badly from this foolish gift that should have never been made, and Panama\u2019s promise to us has been broken. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The purpose of our deal and the spirit of our treaty has been totally violated. American ships are being severely overcharged and not treated fairly in any way, shape, or form. And that includes the United States Navy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And above all, China is operating the Panama Canal. And we didn\u2019t give it to China. We gave it to Panama, and we\u2019re taking it back. (Applause.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u2019s greatest civilization. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, as we liberate our nation, we will lead it to new heights of victory and success. We will not be deterred. Together, we will end the chronic disease epidemic and keep our children safe, healthy, and disease-free. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The United States will once again consider itself a growing nation \u2014 one that increases our wealth, expands our territory, builds our cities, raises our expectations, and carries our flag into new and beautiful horizons. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

And we will pursue our manifest destiny into the stars, launching American astronauts to plant the Stars and Stripes on the planet Mars. (Applause.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ambition is the lifeblood of a great nation, and, right now, our nation is more ambitious than any other. There\u2019s no nation like our nation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Americans are explorers, builders, innovators, entrepreneurs, and pioneers. The spirit of the frontier is written into our hearts. The call of the next great adventure resounds from within our souls. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Our American ancestors turned a small group of colonies on the edge of a vast continent into a mighty republic of the most extraordinary citizens on Earth. No one comes close.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Americans pushed thousands of miles through a rugged land of untamed wilderness. They crossed deserts, scaled mountains, braved untold dangers, won the Wild West, ended slavery, rescued millions from tyranny, lifted billions from poverty, harnessed electricity, split the atom, launched mankind into the heavens, and put the universe of human knowledge into the palm of the human hand. If we work together, there is nothing we cannot do and no dream we cannot achieve. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Many people thought it was impossible for me to stage such a historic political comeback. But as you see today, here I am. The American people have spoken. (Applause.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I stand before you now as proof that you should never believe that something is impossible to do. In America, the impossible is what we do best. (Applause.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

From New York to Los Angeles, from Philadelphia to Phoenix, from Chicago to Miami, from Houston to right here in Washington, D.C., our country was forged and built by the generations of patriots who gave everything they had for our rights and for our freedom. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

They were farmers and soldiers, cowboys and factory workers, steelworkers and coal miners, police officers and pioneers who pushed onward, marched forward, and let no obstacle defeat their spirit or their pride. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Together, they laid down the railroads, raised up the skyscrapers, built great highways, won two world wars, defeated fascism and communism, and triumphed over every single challenge that they faced. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

After all we have been through together, we stand on the verge of the four greatest years in American history. With your help, we will restore America promise and we will rebuild the nation that we love \u2014 and we love it so much. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

We are one people, one family, and one glorious nation under God. So, to every parent who dreams for their child and every child who dreams for their future, I am with you, I will fight for you, and I will win for you. We\u2019re going to win like never before. (Applause.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thank you. Thank you. (Applause.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thank you. Thank you. (Applause.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In recent years, our nation has suffered greatly. But we are going to bring it back and make it great again, greater than ever before. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

We will be a nation like no other, full of compassion, courage, and exceptionalism. Our power will stop all wars and bring a new spirit of unity to a world that has been angry, violent, and totally unpredictable. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

America will be respected again and admired again, including by people of religion, faith, and goodwill. We will be prosperous, we will be proud, we will be strong, and we will win like never before. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

We will not be conquered, we will not be intimidated, we will not be broken, and we will not fail. From this day on, the United States of America will be a free, sovereign, and independent nation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

We will stand bravely, we will live proudly, we will dream boldly, and nothing will stand in our way because we are Americans. The future is ours, and our golden age has just begun. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thank you. God bless America. Thank you all. Thank you. (Applause.) Thank you very much. Thank you very much. Thank you. (Applause.) <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thank you. (Applause.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

. . .<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Annotations The New York Times:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Trump promised an “America First” vision in his first term, and he made a similar promise in his first inaugural address. This idea has been one of the animating ideas behind his political movement. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2014 Michael Gold<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Trump has frequently accused his political rivals of “weaponizing” the government against him, but he has also promised retribution against his enemies. In one of his last acts in the White House, Former President Joseph R. Biden Jr., pardoned government officials, members of Congress and members of his own family over fears that a Trump-led Justice Department might investigate and punish them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2014 Michael Gold<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This might look and sound like a different ceremony than the one held eight years ago. The angry tone from the new president and the crowd was palpable. But Trump\u2019s sedate delivery, as he speaks of annihilating challenges and disparages the Biden administration, is not largely different in content.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2014 Katie Rogers<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Trump repeated his claim, made countless times during the 2024 campaign, that \u201cmany from prisons and mental institutions\u201d had illegally entered the country through the southern border. He has offered no evidence for this.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2014 Linda Qiu<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Trump’s aides had billed this as an optimistic and hopeful address. But it\u2019s really a redux of his 2017 \u201cAmerican Carnage\u201d address: He describes the current America as a catastrophic mess of crime and chaos. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2014 Jonathan Swan<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Though he later detailed actions he planned to take as president, Trump\u2019s language on this issue was less specific than his campaign trail promises to shutter the Department of Education, end the teaching of critical race theory and keep schools from recognizing transgender identities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2014 Michael Gold<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Trump, who united religious conservatives behind him, has for months suggested divine intervention was behind his surviving an assassination attempt at a rally in Butler, Pa., in July.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2014 Michael Gold<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On the campaign trail, Trump generally used this phrase as he discussed ending what he portrayed in violent terms as a rampant migrant invasion of the United States.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Trump and his allies have talked about his victory as something akin to a landslide that gives them a mandate to govern, but he prevailed with one of the smallest margins of victory in the popular vote for a president in decades.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2014 Michael Gold<\/p>\n\n\n\n

President Trump did gain among both Hispanic and Black men from 2020. Worth noting: Earlier today, an incoming official announced that the administration would be doing away with diversity, equity and inclusion programs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2014 Erica L. Green<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This policy forced migrants to wait in Mexico until the date of their immigration case in court. The United States, however, would need Mexico\u2019s cooperation to bring back the policy. And the details of deploying military assets to the border remain unclear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2014 Zolan Kanno-Youngs<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This centuries-old law allows for the quick deportation of people from countries with which the United States is at war, that have invaded the United States or that have engaged in \u201cpredatory incursions.\u201d It is unclear whether it can be used to encompass drug cartels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2014 Michael Gold<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Energy analysts have said that gas prices are difficult for a president to affect. Trump doesn\u2019t directly control oil companies, and oil production in the United States reached record highs under the Biden administration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2014 Michael Gold<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This ignores that the United States is already the world\u2019s richest nation by almost every measure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2014 David E. Sanger<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There is no federal electric vehicle mandate. But the Biden administration issued environmental regulations on emissions meant to push car companies to speed up electric vehicle production, which Trump has called an electric vehicle mandate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2014 Michael Gold<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Trump in recent days has talked repeatedly about creating an \u201cExternal Revenue Service\u201d to collect on new tariffs. It\u2019s a promise that makes a number of congressional Republicans uncomfortable, but that others are pushing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2014 Catie Edmondson<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Led by the billionaire Elon Musk, this department \u2014 which is not a cabinet department but an advisory group of ambiguous structure\u2014 is supposed to target what Trump frames as wasteful government spending and burdensome regulation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2014 Michael Gold<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Trump has filed a number of lawsuits against news outlets recently. This action would also likely include social media companies; he has complained that companies such as Facebook and YouTube censored him and his allies over health misinformation and the election results of 2020.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2014 Maggie Haberman<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The speech felt like a State of the Union in its laundry list of policy prescriptions. Inaugural Addresses traditionally aspire to lofty and unifying themes and shy away from details on policies, leaving those for a later day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2014 Peter Baker<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here, Trump took credit for the release of the Israeli hostages, something done jointly with the Biden administration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2014 David E. Sanger<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Trump could press for these changes as these geographical names are used in the United States, but whether other countries might honor them is up to them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2014 Michael Gold<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Though Trump discussed tariffs often and extensively during his campaign, he only mentioned them twice in his inaugural address. In his view, tariffs will revitalize the American economy and bring in significant revenue for he federal government.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2014 Michael Gold<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The claim that China is operating the Panama Canal is false – Panama operates the Panama Canal, though the ownership of ports at either side of the canal by a Hong Kong-based company has raised some security concerns.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2014 David E. Sanger<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Trump pledges to \u201cend the chronic disease epidemic\u201d while also assailing the nation\u2019s public health system as one that \u201cdoes not deliver in times of disaster,\u201d while failing to mention that many of its stumbles during the coronavirus pandemic occurred while he was president. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2014 Sheryl Stolberg<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Elon Musk\u2019s dream has long been to help humans colonize Mars; he beamed as Trump promised to plant the U.S. flag there. And one of Trump\u2019s proudest accomplishments in his first term was the creation of the Space Force, a reminder of how much he and Musk align in certain ways.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2014Jonathan Swan and Maggie Haberman<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Trump’s evocation of Manifest Destiny and American expansion stands out given his recent refusal to rule out using military force or economic pressure to take control of the Panama Canal and Greenland.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2014 Michael Gold<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This portion of his speech sounds similar to Trump at one of his rallies: listing American achievements, putting himself at the top. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2014 Katie Rogers<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One subject was notably absent from Trump\u2019s address: the Jan. 6 criminal defendants. Trump has promised to pardon many, maybe even most, of them today. The rioters and their families are expectantly watching events today \u2014 some at watch parties \u2014 and waiting for word of how Trump intends to proceed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2014 Alan Feuer<\/p>\n\n\n\n

. . .<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

THE EDITORIAL BOARD, The New York Times<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Trump\u2019s Opening Act of Contempt”<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jan. 20, 2025<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"An
Credit…Illustration by Rebecca Chew\/The New York Times<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Listen to this article \u00b7 9:28 min Learn more<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n