Trump returns to White House with renewed vow to ‘put America first’

United States President Donald Trump (Photo By Daniel Torok/Wikimedia Commons, Public Domain)

By Yonhap, Philippine News Agency

WASHINGTON – Donald Trump took office as the United States’ 47th president on Monday, renewing his vow to “put America first” and tariff foreign countries to enrich Americans, while signaling an intent to refrain from military involvement in conflicts overseas.

During his swearing-in ceremony in the Capitol Rotunda in Washington, Trump, 78, underscored his America First credo as his second four-year term is expected to see a major shift in the U.S. approach to alliances, trade and other key issues. Vice President J.D. Vance was also sworn in.

“The golden age of America begins right now. From this day forward, our country will flourish and be respected again all over the world. We will be the envy of every nation, and we will not allow ourselves to be taken advantage of any longer,” Trump said in an inaugural address after taking the oath of office.

“During every single day of the Trump administration, I will very simply put America first,” he added.

Vowing to build the “strongest military the world has ever seen,” he hinted at his desire to end wars abroad and refrain from getting involved in foreign conflicts amid expectations that his America First agenda might smack of isolationism.

“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,” he said. “My proudest legacy will be that of a peacemaker and unifier. That’s what I want to be.”

Trump’s America First leitmotif was seen as an overarching theme of his policy agenda that would seek to curtail America’s costly overseas military involvement, pressure its allies and partners to take greater security burden and redress U.S. trade deficits for the sake of American interests.

In the address, he also pledged to immediately begin an overhaul of America’s trade system to protect American workers and families.

“Instead of taxing our citizens to enrich other countries, we will tariff and tax foreign countries to enrich our citizens,” he said. He did not elaborate on details.

During his election campaign, he unveiled a proposal to slap blanket tariffs of 10 to 20 percent on all imports, and threatened to impose tariffs of up to 60 percent on Chinese goods.

He reaffirmed his intent to retake the strategically crucial canal that Panama took control of from the U.S. in 1999, claiming that American ships have been “severely overcharged” and “not fairly treated,” and that China is operating the canal.

“We did not give it to China. We gave it to Panama,” he said. “We are taking it back. Above all, my message to Americans today is that it is time for us to once again act with courage, vigor and the vitality of history’s greatest civilization.”

In addition, he said that the U.S. will change the name of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America.

Trump envisioned a “growing” U.S. despite allegations of his expansionist inclinations.

“The United States will once again consider itself a growing nation, one that increase our wealth, expands our territory, builds our cities, raises our expectations and carries our flags into new and beautiful horizons,” he said.

“And we will pursue our manifest destiny into the stars, launching American astronauts to plant the stars and stripes on the planet Mars.”

Stressing his commitment to “make America great again,” he said his administration will work to meet every crisis that it may face “with dignity, power and strength.”

“We will move with purpose and speed to bring back hope, prosperity, safety and peace for citizens of every race, religion, color and creed,” he said. “For American citizens, January 20, 2025 is Liberation Day.”

Trump unveiled his plan to sign a series of executive orders on the first day in office, including declaring a national emergency at the U.S.’ southern border, sending troops to the border to stop the entry of illegal immigrants and designating cartels as foreign terrorist organizations

“With these actions, we will begin the complete restoration of America and the revolution of common sense,” he said. “It’s all about common sense.”

In a press release, Trump’s White House announced a series of key policy decisions, including a plan to declare a national energy emergency to use all resources to build critical energy infrastructure, and withdraw from the Paris Climate Accord.

“The inflation crisis was caused by massive overspending and escalating energy prices, and that is why today, I will also declare a national energy emergency,” he said. “We will ‘drill baby drill.'”

Trump is the oldest president to be inaugurated as U.S. president and only the second president to serve non-consecutive terms after Grover Cleveland, who was elected president in 1884, defeated by a Republican rival in 1888 and reelected four years later.

The swearing-in ceremony was initially planned to take place at the West Front of the Capitol. But it was moved indoors due to frigid temperatures. The last indoor inaugural ceremony occurred in 1985 for former President Ronald Reagan’s second term.