Donald Trump has been sworn in as the 47th president of the United States on Monday Jan. 20. In his inaugural address, he declared the “the golden age of America begins right now.” The president outlined his vision for the country, promising to restore America’s greatness and impose strict border and immigration measures; and a new approach to race and gender, declaring that his administration recognizes biological reality there are two genders -- man and woman.
During the 29-minute speech delivered inside the Capitol Rotunda, Trump thanked several former presidents in attendance including Bill Clinton, Barack Obama, George Bush, and outgoing President Joe Biden. He promised to end the “weaponization” of the Justice Department, rebalance the scales of justice, and put America first.
Trump later signed several executive orders after his speech, including one declaring a national emergency at the southern border, which will involve sending troops to the border and deporting “illegal” immigrants. He also pardoned about 1,500 so-called J6 political prisoners, prosecuted for US Capitol protests in 2021.
The President also signed executive order withdrawing US from the World Health Organization, and an order halting all foreign aid for a 90-day review.
Meanwhile, in a last-minute move widely slammed as corrupt and "scummy" by critics, Biden issued preemptive pardons to several family members and individuals including members of the discredited January 6 committee. The pardons, announced hours before he formally leaves office on Monday aim to protect individuals suspected of committing crimes, from prosecutions by the incoming Trump administration
This move comes after Biden had already pardoned his son, Hunter Biden, in December 2024, and commuted the sentences of numerous individuals, including Leonard Peltier, a Native American activist who has spent over 40 years in prison.
Biden pardoned his brothers Francis Biden, and James Biden who was interviewed by the House Oversight and Judiciary committees as part of their impeachment probe of President Biden. He also pardoned James' wife Sara Jones.
The outgoing president also pardoned Valerie Biden Owens, Biden’s sister and her husband, John Owens.
Biden pardoned the January 6 Committee members, including Chair Bennie Thompson, Vice Chair Liz Cheney, and other lawmakers who investigated the January 6 protests; as well as staff members who worked on the committee’s investigation and police officers who testified before the panel.
The outgoing Democrat president pardoned discredited and corrupt Dr. Anthony Fauci, the former director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, who is suspected of corruption and cover-up over his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the gain-of-function research.
Biden also pardoned discredited General Mark Milley, the former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, who has been suspected of subverting then president Trump's military orders, and faced criticisms for lying about Trump’s conduct around the January 6 protests.
