The Inauguration of Donald J. Trump

It was a cold, cloudy day in Washington D.C. on January 20th, but that certainly didn’t seem to dampen the spirits of those who came out to witness the inauguration of Donald J. Trump. Beginning at dawn, people began to gather outside the West Front of the Capitol Building to secure their spot for Trump’s swearing-in ceremony and official guests began arriving just a few hours later. By 11 a.m. many well-known dignitaries had already arrived and taken their seats on the Capital balcony, including Paul Ryan, Nancy Pelosi, Newt Gingrich, George W. Bush, Barack Obama, and Hillary Clinton. Trump’s inauguration ceremony officially began at 11:30 a.m. and was opened by Cardinal Timothy Dolan, Reverend Samuel Rodriguez, and Pastor Paula White-Cain, with each saying a prayer. Afterwards, Vice President-Elect Mike Pence was sworn in by Justice Clarence Thomas and was followed by the President-Elect. Donald Trump was sworn in by Chief Justice John Roberts and assumed the oath of office while placing his hand on both the Trump family Bible and one that belonged to President Abraham Lincoln. After taking the oath of office, President Trump gave his Inaugural Address which lasted for approximately 17 minutes. In his speech, Trump pledged to follow through with his campaign promises and noted, “From this day forward, a new vision will govern our land. From this moment on, it's going to be America First.” Trump also spoke about national unity in his address and the importance of coming together saying , “At the bedrock of our politics will be a total allegiance to the United States of America, and through our loyalty to our country, we will rediscover our loyalty to each other. When you open your heart to patriotism, there is no room for prejudice.” Finally, Trump concluded by saying, “Your voice, your hopes, and your dreams will define our American destiny. And your courage and goodness and love will forever guide us along the way. Together, We will make America strong again. We will make wealthy again. We will make America proud again. We will make America safe again. And yes, together, we will make America great again. Thank you. God bless you. And God bless America.”

Photo courtesy Gage Skidmore

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