Trump Opens Second Term with Bold Promises

In the Capitol Rotunda surrounded by politicians, a lineup of tech CEOs, and select faith leaders, President Donald Trump began his second term in office with bold promises for America’s coming “Golden Age.”

The president claimed not just a national mandate but also a divine mandate, repeating that he had been saved from last year’s assassination attempt so that he could “make America great again” and pledging that his administration “will not forget our God,” as he rattled off plans to swiftly act on immigration, energy and climate policy, and trade.

“I return to the presidency confident and optimistic that we are at the start of a thrilling new era of national success,” Trump said during his inaugural address in a ceremony moved inside because of harsh winter weather in Washington and broadcast to supporters watching in DC’s Capital One Arena.

“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.” 

Incoming presidents often strike a balance between cordiality to the outgoing administration, calls for the country to unify as a whole, and clarity around their own new direction, but “that’s not Trump’s style, and never has been,” according to Amy Black, professor of political science at Wheaton College. 

In his speech, the incoming president painted an unsparingly dark picture of the nation under President Joe Biden and attacked the current state of politics as radical, corrupt, and vicious.

“My recent election is a mandate,” Trump declared, “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.”

With a bigger base of supporters—Christian activists with pro-life posters stood alongside social media influencers and trade workers in line for his inauguration-weekend rally—Trump’s return to Washington comes in contrast to eight years ago. 

Instead of Trump facing skepticism from his own party or members of his own administration, Republicans for the most part have embraced his “Make America Great Again” direction, and he has nominated loyalists to his cabinet spots.

“I would say that people are less afraid now to be openly supportive of Trump,” said Vanessa Valentino, a Catholic whose family traveled from Chicago to Washington to celebrate Trump’s second term. “People are a lot more comfortable now to wear a Trump hat.”

During the four years since 2020, Trump and his allies have had time to think and plan for a return. “There is a specificity to some of the promises that I do think shows the difference between a first and second term,” Black said. 

What inauguration ceremonies fail to capture is that bold visions can get caught in the slower cogs of America’s political processes, from the courts to Congress. 

“Some of these things he will have the power to do singularly as the chief executive. But some of what he’s promising isn’t possible with just the president alone,” Black said. 

Certain announcements on Monday were policy reruns: Trump promised to declare a national emergency over the southern border and reinstate his COVID-19–era “Remain in Mexico” for asylum seekers. Others were new: Trump pledged to have an American flag planted on Mars, rename the Gulf of Mexico, and end requirements for auto makers to cut greenhouse gas emissions.

The administration is preparing to scale up deportations of undocumented immigrants and freeze refugee resettlement. 

“As Christians who believe that God established the family at the beginning of creation, we cannot sit silently as policies are proposed that would entail family separation on a horrifying scale,” World Relief president and CEO Myal Greene said in a statement. “We urge the administration to prioritize deportation of those with violent criminal convictions and to find more humane alternatives, such as working with Congress … for longstanding members of our churches and communities.”

After Trump once again won the white evangelical vote while making significant gains among Hispanic Christians, Christian supporters celebrated the president’s inaugural pledges, with some conservatives noting his statements that there are only two genders and that he would dismantle diversity, equity, and inclusion programs in the government.

“Such a strong inaugural address by [Donald Trump]!” Clint Pressley, president of the Southern Baptist Convention, posted.

The indoor ceremony began late, and the schedule was adjusted for Trump to be sworn in immediately after Vice President JD Vance, with Trump apparently forgetting, perhaps in the rush, to place his hand on the Bibles being held by First Lady Melania Trump—the same two from the 2016 inauguration—as he took his oath of office. 

The inauguration included prayers from two Protestant pastors, two Catholics, and a rabbi—each calling for prayer and asking God to help Trump and the country in the four years ahead. Another scheduled prayer, from Imam Husham Al-Husainy, was cancelled.

“Give our leader wisdom, for he is your servant, aware of his own weakness and brevity of life,” said Cardinal Timothy Dolan, echoing King Solomon. “Send wisdom from heaven that she may be with him.”

Monday’s ceremony was Franklin Graham’s third time praying at an inauguration, following four inaugural prayers by his father, evangelist Billy Graham. Graham’s prayer provoked applause from Republicans in the audience at points: “We come to say thank you, O Lord,” he prayed. “Father, when Donald Trump’s enemies thought he was down and out, you and you alone saved his life and raised him up with strength and power by your mighty hand.”

In an energetic benediction, Lorenzo Sewell, pastor of 180 Church in Detroit, quoted the entire closing of the “I Have a Dream” speech to recognize Martin Luther King Jr. Day. He concluded, “Go forth now with these words of President Trump’s emblazoned on our hearts. As long as we have pride in our beliefs, courage in our convictions, and faith in our God, then we will not fail.”

Sewell is newer to the circle of religious clergy associated with Trump. He spoke at the 2024 Republican National Convention and has hosted Trump at his church.

Mika Edmondson, pastor of New City Fellowship in Grand Rapids, Michigan, said on social media that praying for one’s leaders could also mean “praying that the Lord will restrain them from their own worst impulses.”

Some familiar faces were relegated to the background. Paula White, who led Trump’s faith outreach during his last time in office and prayed at the previous inauguration, sat in the audience this time. During the campaign, Trump told her the next faith office would be directly involved in the Oval Office, but he has not made official announcements or appointments. 

Greg Laurie, who belonged to the team of spiritual advisers during Trump’s first administration, asked for prayer for the president on social media and said he was grateful that “many committed Christians have been put in positions of influence around the president.”

With the ceremony moved inside, ticket holders instead queued up, some overnight in the freezing cold, to secure their place in Capitol One Arena, where Trump also held a rally Sunday night. 

Others abandoned their bags at the security checkpoint outside the arena when they realized they had to choose between keeping their possessions or securing their seat inside.

Owen Strachan, the director of the Dobson Culture Center, shared a prayer for Trump that came with a caution: “Pray for your current leader, but put your hope and trust in Christ and Christ alone.”

The post Trump Opens Second Term with Bold Promises appeared first on Christianity Today.

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