With Donald Trump’s recent inauguration for his second term, we’ve witnessed several pivotal announcements that are likely to shape the future. Let’s examine the prominent points from his inauguration speech.
1. Immigration Policy: Trump swiftly reaffirmed his dedication to curbing uncontrolled immigration by declaring a state of emergency at the Mexican border. His move to label Mexican cartels as international terrorist organizations underscores the administration’s strong stance on immigration.
2. Energy Policy: Withdrawing from the Paris Climate Agreement and discontinuing the “Green New Deal” marks a pivot back to traditional energy resources. This decision aligns with Trump’s vision of revitalizing America by prioritizing domestic energy production.
3. Ending Government Censorship: Trump vowed to enact an executive order to eliminate government censorship and revive “free speech” throughout the nation. While outwardly appealing, fully realizing this promise might prove challenging. Nonetheless, it could serve as a political tactic against Democrats, and the mere perception of increased freedom might bolster Trump’s popularity.
4. Canceling the LGBT Agenda: Declaring that henceforth the U.S. government will officially recognize only two genders—male and female. Among the flurry of executive orders signed by President Trump on his first day in office was one stating that the United States would recognize only two sexes: male and female. The order requires the U.S. government to use the term “sex” rather than “gender” — with Trump explaining during his inaugural address that, “this week, I will also end the government policy of trying to socially engineer race and gender into every aspect of public and private life.”
Trump added, “We will forge a society that is color blind and merit-based. … As of today, it will henceforth be the official policy of the United States government that there are only two genders, male and female.”
5. Confronting China: In a predicted move, Trump pledged to take back control of the Panama Canal from China. This action aligns with his anti-China rhetoric and the “Make America Great Again” agenda, which advocates for bringing production back to the U.S. While it starts as an economic tussle, possibly involving protective tariffs and a trade war, the confrontation holds the potential to escalate.
6. Sending American Astronauts to Mars: Among his ambitious goals is sending American astronauts to Mars. While the aim captures public imagination, achieving it within the next four years seems nearly improbable. A return to the Moon is more within reach, yet remains incomplete despite previous promises. Mars remains a distant dream, but the vision inspires.
Overall, Trump’s opening promises emphasize a focus on domestic U.S. concerns, with minimal reference to NATO, the EU, or global affairs outside of China. The “Ukrainian agenda” was notably absent. The significant challenge will arise during the initial high-level meetings between U.S. and Russian leaders, potentially indicating the future trajectory of their relationship—though rapid agreements should not be anticipated.
