“America’s Golden Age Begins.” From the start of his inauguration speech on Monday January 20 at the Capitol, Donald Trump set the tone. Resolutely ambitious and optimistic, the 47th President of the United States has made numerous promises, ensuring that “the decline” of the country would be blocked from that day on. Without delay, two states of emergency will be declared: first on the Mexican border, to limit immigration, then in energy matters, to liberalize oil production.
The return of the “American dream”
Eight years after a first inaugural speech on the “American carnage”Donald Trump on Monday promised a bright tomorrow to his compatriots, from the rotunda of the Capitol where the inauguration ceremony was held, due to the cold which rages in Washington. “America will be rich again,” he promised, betting on regaining control of the Mexican border and encouraging oil production to bring prosperity back to the United States.
Although the American economy is doing well, the high inflation of recent years has undermined the purchasing power of the middle classes, even if wages have started to increase in recent months more quickly than prices. But the rising cost of living under Joe Biden weighed heavily in the defeat of his vice-president, Kamala Harris. A divine defeat, according to the real estate mogul: “God saved me so that I could make America great again”he declared Monday, in reference to the assassination attempt which targeted him on July 13.
Shelter in an Italian restaurant
This inauguration ceremony was held in an American capital with deserted streets, except near the city’s large ice rink where the ceremony was broadcast. Four years ago, Covid and the events of January 6 transformed Washington into a ghost town. This year it’s cold, and the reserve of the inhabitants of the capital, not very happy to see the real estate magnate once again become the strong man of their city and their country.
-Due to the cancellation of the outdoor ceremony on the steps of the Capitol, Donald Trump’s supporters were unable to enter the ice rink, which was too small, and had to find shelter wherever they could. Several dozen went to Carmine, a restaurant on 7th Street which, with cockades on the walls, red curtains, offered a broadcast of the ceremony and a « buffet d’investiture ». The crowd of Republican supporters was in unison, in blue, white and red colors… Caps and badges bearing the image of Donald Trump bearing his name were of course there. In these very cold times, the Trump pompom hat is also all the rage.
« USA USA USA »
At Carmine, every appearance of Donald Trump on the Fox News screen triggered loud applause, every Democrat booed, especially Hillary Clinton. Same resounding and unfriendly welcome for Mike Pence, vice-president during the Republican president’s first term, whom some of the rioters of January 6 would have liked to hang. A sign of the polarization of American society, even judges of the Supreme Court, an institution supposed to be above the fray, were treated to whistles at Carmine as they entered the Capitol rotunda.
That of Donald Trump, on the other hand, triggers “USA USA USA”, which also chants his speech with strong nationalist intonations. Particularly when he announces the recovery of immigration, the end of diversity policies or even the resumption of the Panama Canal. Dana, who works at the post office in Grand Rapids, Michigan, applauds when Donald Trump says today marks the “liberation”. “America first, that’s what this country needs, she said. It is urgent that we stop apologizing for everything we do.”
Towards foreigners, but also to many Americans. Donald Trump announced in his speech that Mount Denali, in Alaska, would regain its previous name, Mount McKinley, in homage to the president assassinated in 1901. In 2015, under Barack Obama, the highest peak in the country had regained its indigenous name , to the satisfaction of the people of the Frozen State. If January 20, 2025 marks, for Donald Trump, the day of « liberation »it is certainly also that of resistance for part of the country: on November 6, the 47th president of the United States was elected with 49.9% of the votes, against 48.4% for Kamala Harris.
