The 36 must-see lines from Donald Trump's inauguration speech
Whoa boy.
President Donald Trump made history on Monday, becoming only second man ever to win non-consecutive terms in the White House. He also made a more ignominious sort of history as the first convicted felon to be elected president.
The speech Trump gave following his inauguration was a recitation of themes he offered as a candidate: Immigration is out of control, the past administration betrayed the country with its policies, he will fix everything — and quickly.
These sorts of speeches — for the history books — are worth examining closely for what they say about Trump, his priorities and what messages he wants to send in the very early days of his second time in office.
To that end, I went through the transcript of his speech line by line. (You can too! It’s right here.)
Below are the lines I think are worth your time and attention.
Because of the import of this speech, I have decided to put this “lines” post in front of the paywall — meaning that it is FREE for everyone.
If you like this sort of content and want to support my mission of building a career as an independent journalist — not owned by anyone — I hope you consider becoming a paid subscriber to this newsletter. It’s $6 a month or $60 for the entire year.
To the lines!
“The golden age of America begins right now.”
I initially thought this opening line was a sign that Trump was going to make good on his advisers’ hope that he would give a mostly positive speech. Um, that’s not what happened. And away we go!
“During every single day of the Trump administration, I will very simply put America first.”
This is why he won — in a single sentence. Lots and lots of people — including lots of independents and even some Democrats — are convinced that past presidents (of both parties) didn’t prioritize American interests. And no matter what they think of Trump personally, they believe that he will do that.
“The vicious, violent and unfair weaponization of the Justice Department and our government will end.”
And there goes the optimism and light! Didn’t take long! Remember that Trump said all of this with Joe Biden and Kamala Harris sitting mere feet from him. And I guarantee you that Trump world ate it up; he’s sticking it to them while they have to sit there and take it!
“America will soon be greater, stronger and far more exceptional than ever before.”
Understatement thy name is Donald Trump.
“A tide of change is sweeping the country, sunlight is pouring over the entire world, and America has the chance to seize this opportunity like never before.”
I actually agree with this. I do think America is positioned, potentially, to have a very successful run of things over the next few years. And with Democrats in the political wilderness, Trump could co-opt some chunk of them to sign on to some of his priorities. Will he do it? Can he get out of his own way? Count me skeptical.
“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.”
Live look at Joe Biden:
“It fails to protect our magnificent law-abiding American citizens, but provides sanctuary and protection for dangerous criminals, many from prisons and mental institutions that have illegally entered our country from all over the world.”
This is simply not true — just as it was not true when Trump said it a million times on the campaign trail.
“Or more recently, Los Angeles, where we are watching fires still tragically burn. From weeks ago, without even a token of defense, they’re raging through the houses and communities, even affecting some of the wealthiest and most powerful individuals in our country, some of whom are sitting here right now.”
What does “without even a token of defense” when it comes to wildfires? What is the defense? I ask this honestly.
“They don’t have a home any longer. That’s interesting.”
Trump on people who lost their homes in the Los Angeles fires: “That’s interesting.”
“And we have an education system that teaches our children to be ashamed of themselves in many cases, to hate our country despite the love that we try so desperately to provide to them.”
This strikes me as a major exaggeration. But, that said, there’s no question that the attack on “woke” politics as it relates to kids and education is a very powerful piece of the broader Trump message.
“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. From this moment on, America’s decline is over.”
“Horrible betrayal.” Trump didn’t expand on what he meant. But, man, this is not the usual sort of graciousness you see in an inaugural speech. And, again, the Trump people LOVE every bit of it.
“Over the past eight years I have been tested and challenged more than any president in our 250-year history.”
Abraham Lincoln, Franklin D. Roosevelt and Woodrow Wilson would like a word.
“I was saved by God to make America great again.”
A stunning statement. Trump says out loud what he has hinted at before: That he believes the assassination attempt in Pennsylvania last summer was unsuccessful because he has been chosen by God to serve as president. Wowza.
“For American citizens, Jan. 20, 2025, is Liberation Day.”
Again a remarkable statement with Joe Biden sitting right there. And virtually unthinkable for another president to say aloud.
“As our victory showed, the entire nation is rapidly unifying behind our agenda.”
I mean, he did win. But his margin was less than 2 million votes out of more than 150 million cast. It wasn’t exactly a landslide.
“We had a powerful win in all seven swing states, and the popular vote we won by millions of people.”
Absolutely true that Trump won all 7 swing states. And he did beat Kamala Harris by more than a million votes so, I guess, “millions” is technically accurate.
“To the Black and Hispanic communities, I want to thank you for the tremendous outpouring of love and trust that you have shown me with your vote.”
Trump has reason to preen about his showing in the Hispanic community where he got 46% of the vote. Among black voters, he won just 13%, which is not a “tremendous outpouring of love and trust” in my book.
“Today is Martin Luther King Day and his honor, this will be a great honor.”
“We will not forget our country, we will not forget our constitution, and we will not forget our God. Can’t do that.”
“When I drink my little wine – which is about the only wine I drink – and have my little cracker, I guess that is a form of asking for forgiveness, and I do that as often as possible because I feel cleansed.” — Donald Trump
“As commander in chief I have no higher responsibility than to defend our country from threats and invasions, and that is exactly what I am going to do. We will do it at a level that nobody has ever seen before.”
This level? You have NEVER seen it before. Trust me.
“Next I will 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.”
If there is a line in this speech Trump may come to regret saying, I think it’s this one. It’s easy to say you are going to “rapidly” ring down prices. It’s WAY harder to actually do it — as Joe Biden learned.
“With my actions today, we will end the Green New Deal and we will revoke the electric vehicle mandate, saving our auto industry and keeping my sacred pledge to our great American autoworkers.”
“In other words, you’ll be able to buy the car of your choice.”
So, any car? Even the “Homer”?
“Instead of taxing our citizens to enrich other countries, we will tariff and tax foreign countries to enrich our citizens.”
“Tariff” as a verb. I was not aware of that.
“For this purpose, we are establishing the External Revenue Service, to collect all tariffs, duties and revenues.”
It will be like the Internal Revenue Service. But, well, external.
“To restore competence and effectiveness to our federal government, my administration will establish the brand-new Department of Government Efficiency.”
“And we are going to bring law and order back to our cities.”
Ahem.
“We will measure our success not only by the battles we win, but also by the wars that we end, and perhaps most importantly, the wars we never get into.”
So we are going to win battles but get involved in wars? Got it!
“My proudest legacy will be that of a peacemaker and unifier. That’s what I want to be, a peacemaker and a unifier.”
Given the nature of this speech that seems, um, unlikely?
“A short time from now, we are going to be changing the name of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America.”
“American ships are being severely overcharged and not treated fairly in any way, shape, or form. And that includes the United States Navy. And above all, China is operating the Panama Canal, and we didn’t give it to China, we gave it to Panama. And we’re taking it back.”
Are we going to war with Panama? I thought we were ending wars?
“And we will pursue our manifest destiny into the stars, launching American astronauts to plant the stars and stripes on the planet Mars.”
“Ambition is the lifeblood of a great nation.”
Is that a Littlefinger quote? Oh no, it’s Donald Trump.
“Americans pushed thousands of miles through a rugged land of untamed wilderness. They crossed deserts, scaled mountains, braved untold dangers, won the Wild West, ended slavery, rescued millions from tyranny, lifted billions from poverty, harnessed electricity, split the atom, launched mankind into the heavens and put the universe of human knowledge into the palm of the human hand. If we work together, there is nothing we cannot do and no dream we cannot achieve.”
This is a very nice piece of political rhetoric. It was probably the high point of Trump’s speech for me.
“Our power will stop all wars and bring a new spirit of unity to a world that has been angry, violent and totally unpredictable.”
Donald Trump is going to bring predictability to the world? Tell me more….
“We will stand bravely, we will live proudly, we will dream boldly, and nothing will stand in our way because we are Americans. The future’s ours. And our golden age has just begun.”
Let the golden age begin! Yeah, this feels like a good place to end.
I feel like you use the same tongue in cheek structure when you break down interviews/speeches. These are not “must see” lines. They are disturbing and dangerous. This is not the oddly funny ramblings of a candidate. They are statements of a dangerous man now in charge. They are authoritarian, mean spirited, and cruel. I believe you do a disservice continuing to treat him using traditional metrics
No. 10 - I've been many public schools with my children and grandchildren, and no one is taught to hate their country. Complete b.s.