Donald J. Trump was sworn in as the 47th President of the United States at 12:02 pm on Monday, capping off the most improbable political comeback in American history.

With the ceremony moved indoors for the first time since 1985 due to bitterly cold temperatures in the nation’s capital, the scene was slightly different from when Trump took the oath of office for the first time in 2017. But the bone-chilling air outside could not dampen the spirit of hope and optimism that seemed to radiate throughout the Capitol Rotunda.

Every time the Chief Justice swears in a new president, no matter who is taking office, it’s worth taking a moment to reflect on the incredible nature of the moment.

While it’s easy to take for granted today, what the country just witnessed – the peaceful transfer of power from one political faction to another – would have been totally astounding to most societies throughout human history. There have been very few former kings, emperors, or dictators. Even today, there are only 14 countries with democracies older than a century – and the United States has the distinction of being the oldest democracy in the world.

The American Founding Fathers had a radical idea that the people could govern themselves, and based on that idea they launched the American experiment. Each time we choose a new president, that idea is put to the test. During certain periods our governing model has been strained, but it has always prevailed. That it prevailed for the 47th time in 2025 is itself worth celebrating.

For Trump, the day began as it traditionally does for presidents-elect before their inauguration, with a service at St. John’s Episcopal Church just across the street from the White House. In a surreal moment, Trump then headed inside the executive mansion to have coffee and tea with his predecessor and one-time political rival Joe Biden. “Welcome home,” Biden reportedly said to Trump.

Following his swearing-in, Trump delivered a striking inaugural address, proclaiming “the golden age of America begins right now.”

“From this day forward, our country will flourish and be respected again all over the world,” Trump declared. “We will be the envy of every nation, and we will not allow ourselves to be taken advantage of any longer.”

“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. And our top priority will be to create a nation that is proud, prosperous, and free.”

Trump specifically called out the failures of the Biden administration, noting that “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.” That government has “given unlimited funding to the defense of foreign borders but refuses to defend American borders” and “can no longer deliver basic services in times of emergency.”

“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 continued, in perhaps the most fiery moment of his remarks. “From this moment on, America’s decline is over.”

Trump also infused some historical perspective into his speech, noting that he had “been tested and challenged more than any president in our 250-year history” – including when “an assassin’s bullet ripped through my ear.” However, Trump said, “My life was saved for a reason. I was saved by God to make America great again.”

Trump gave a specific shoutout to Black and Hispanic voters, thanking them for “the tremendous outpouring of love and trust that you have shown me with your vote.” Noting that his inauguration was taking place on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Trump pledged to “strive to make his dream a reality.”

Trump next moved into listing a highly-anticipated slate of executive actions – the first of his campaign promises to be fulfilled.

“First,” Trump said, “I will declare a national emergency at our southern border. 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.” Trump also promised to reinstate “Remain in Mexico,” end the practice of catch-and-release, and send troops to the southern border.

On the economy, Trump announced his intention to “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” – another core campaign pledge. He then laid out various other executive actions to increase domestic energy production, re-shore manufacturing jobs, protect free speech, uphold the truth that there are only two genders, reverse the Biden administration’s electric vehicle mandate, and reinstate military service members who were discharged for refusing the COVID vaccine.

Throughout his 30-minute remarks, Trump’s words were dripping with power and gravitas, speaking to the awe-inspiring nature of his path back to the White House.

When Trump concluded, country music legend Carrie Underwood treated the crowd to a stirring rendition of “America the Beautiful.” After the instrumental track failed to play, Underwood belted out the song a capella, with the audience joining in to create a moment that was sure to stir patriotic feelings in even the most ardent Trump critic.

As Trump prepares for his first full day in office tomorrow, Americans are eagerly anticipating the promised start of a new era.

Shane Harris is a writer and political consultant from Southwest Ohio. You can follow him on X @shaneharris513.