Washington, D.C. — Donald Trump has been officially sworn in as the 47th president of the United States in a ceremony held indoors at the U.S. Capitol Rotunda due to freezing temperatures.
Chief Justice John Roberts administered the oath of office to Trump, who now becomes the first president to take office as a convicted felon and the first to assume the presidency after being impeached. At 78, Trump also sets a record as the oldest individual to hold the office.
Today marks Trump’s return to the presidency after a four-year absence, making him only the second U.S. president in history to serve non-consecutive terms. The first was Grover Cleveland, who served as the 22nd and 24th president in the late 19th century. Trump previously served as the 45th president from 2017 to 2021.
For the oath, Trump used two Bibles—one gifted by his mother for his ninth birthday and the historic Bible used by Abraham Lincoln during his 1861 inauguration. These were the same Bibles he used during his first inauguration in 2017.
The ceremony was attended by Trump’s family, including his wife, Melania, and children Donald Jr., Eric, Ivanka, Tiffany, and Barron. Former presidents Joe Biden, Barack Obama, George W. Bush, and Bill Clinton, along with several former first ladies, were present. However, Michelle Obama notably did not attend.
In his roughly 30-minute inaugural address, Trump declared a bold vision for the country. “The golden age of America begins right now,” he said. “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.”
Trump also proclaimed, “From this moment on, America’s decline is over.”
Following the oath of office, the ceremony continued with a benediction by religious leaders Rabbi Dr. Ari Berman, Imam Husham Al Husainy, Senior Pastor Lorenzo Sewell, and Reverend Father Frank Mann. Christopher Macchio concluded the event with a stirring rendition of the National Anthem.
Donald Trump’s return to the presidency underscores a unique chapter in American political history, marking his resilience in overcoming legal and political challenges to reclaim the highest office in the land.
