Donald J. Trump has taken his oath of office as the 47th president of the United States, administered by Chief Justice of the US Supreme Court John Roberts.
Trump was sworn in inside the US Capitol Rotunda, to the sounds of the presidential fanfare ‘Hail to the Chief’.
Moments earlier, Vice-President J.D. Vance took the oath of office as well, administered by Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh.
In his inauguration speech, Trump said his election is a mandate to “completely and totally reverse” the “many betrayals that have taken place,” Trump said. “From this moment on, America’s decline is over.”
“The journey to reclaim our Republic has not been an easy one. Those who wish to stop our cause, have tried to take my freedom and indeed my life,” he added, referring to the attempted assassination during a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania last July
The event was moved indoors on account of sub-zero temperatures in Washington, DC. There have also been security concerns, given that Trump barely survived an assassination attempt last July on the campaign trail.
Just a week later, President Joe Biden bowed out of the reelection race in favor of Vice President Kamala Harris. Trump proceeded to win the electoral college, the popular vote, and all seven swing states in the November 5 election.
Trump is only the second-ever US president to be sworn in for non-consecutive mandates. Grover Cleveland was the 22nd (1885-1889) and the 24th president (1893-1897)
