Celebrities have taken to social media to celebrate Donald Trump being sworn in as the 47th President of the United States on Monday.

Actress Candace Cameron Bure shared photos of President Trump and first lady Melania Trump on Jan. 20 on Instagram.

‘Happy Inauguration Day!!! God Bless America,’ she captioned several photos of the president and first lady, Vice President Vance and his wife, Usha, and a video of Carrie Underwood’s performance.

Bure also took to her Instagram story to honor President Trump, Vice President Vance and share that it was ‘an exciting day.’

Actor Dean Cain shared a photo of himself in Washington, D.C., on X, formerly known as Twitter, with the caption, ‘What a day!!’

Jason Aldean’s wife, Brittany Aldean, took to her Instagram story on Monday morning to share an old photo of Trump with ‘Today’ written alongside it. Jason is gearing up to perform at the Liberty Ball on Monday night.

Brittany shared photos with her husband ahead of his big performance on Monday night.

‘INAUGURATION NIGHT,’ she began her caption. ‘What a ride it’s been! Today has made all the scrutiny worth it. Wouldn’t change a thing.’

Actor James Woods took to X on Monday and wrote, ‘I am in tears. God bless America and President Trump.’ 

Not all of Hollywood was celebrating Trump’s return to the Oval Office. Jamie Lee Curtis took to Instagram early Monday morning to share a photo with the message, ‘Chances I won’t use the word f–k in a sentence today,’ with an embroidered pie chart. The choices were ‘none’ and ‘also none but in yellow.’

The caption read, ‘Just in case you need this today. Let it out and then let’s get to work. There’s plenty to do. xo’

She also shared a photo on her Instagram story with a message about Inauguration Day by Loryn Brantz.

‘In a time of hate, love is an act of resistance. In a time of fear, faith is an act of resistance. In a time of misinformation, education is an act of resistance. In a time of poor leadership, community is an act of resistance. In a time like this, joy is an act of resistance. Resist, resist, resist,’ the message read.

Former ‘Jeopardy!’ host Mayim Bialik took to Instagram on Monday to share her thoughts on Trump’s inauguration.

‘Yes I watched the Inauguration. There’s a lot I want to say but am not saying. For now, what I do

Early Monday morning, Underwood performed ‘America the Beautiful’ at the 60th presidential inauguration ceremony, which was held this year inside the Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol.

The country music star was forced to improvise after no musical cue would start.

Underwood, positioned in front of former President Biden, quickly ascertained that the accompanying instrumental track was not working, leaving her to improvise.

‘If you know the words, help me out here,’ she prefaced before singing a cappella. After her performance, she clapped for those before her who’d sung along before turning around and shaking Biden’s hand.

She then shared a moment with Trump and JD Vance before leaving the room.

Last week, Underwood, who has kept herself away from the political scene, confirmed she would perform at Trump’s inauguration.

‘I love our country and am honored to have been asked to sing at the inauguration and to be a small part of this historic event,’ the country superstar said in a statement.

‘I am humbled to answer the call at a time when we must all come together in the spirit of unity and looking to the future.’

Fox News Digital’s Caroline Thayer contributed to this report.

President Donald Trump, while signing a flurry of executive orders from the Resolute Desk in the Oval Office of the White House as the now 47th President of the United States, discovered a letter from his predecessor inside one of the desk’s drawers with the help of a Fox News reporter.

Trump was in the process of signing one of many executive orders on Monday after returning to the White House when Fox News’ Peter Doocy asked if President Biden left him a letter.

‘He may have. Don’t they leave it in the desk? I don’t know,’ Trump told Doocy before discovering a white envelope with the number ’47’ written on it. ‘Thank you, Peter. It could have been years before we found this thing.’

Trump then teased everyone in the room by suggesting they all read the letter together, before pulling back the reigns.

‘Well, maybe I’ll read it first and then make that determination,’ the president said, once again thanking the White House correspondent.

‘Happy to help with the passing of the torch,’ Doocy said.

Trump was then asked if he left one for Biden, and he said he left one in the desk, just like Biden.

In leaving the letter for Trump, Biden kept with the now 36-year tradition of the departing commander in chief, writing a note to the incoming president.

As he left the White House in 1989 after two terms in office, President Ronald Reagan started the tradition – leaving a note for his successor, George H. W. Bush, who also happened to be his vice president.

Four years later, despite losing to then-Gov. Bill Clinton of Arkansas, outgoing President Bush left Clinton a note in the Oval Office. The tradition has carried on to this day.

Florida Sen. Marco Rubio was confirmed unanimously by the Senate to be the next secretary of state, making him the first of President Trump’s Cabinet picks to receive congressional approval.

Rubio, a senator since 2011, was confirmed during a floor vote by the full Senate Monday night, several hours after Trump took his oath of office earlier in the day. The full Senate floor vote occurred following a separate vote by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, which also voted unanimously in favor of Rubio’s nomination Monday.  

Rubio enters his role as secretary of state with a strong foreign policy background as a longtime member of the Senate’s Foreign Relations and Intelligence Committees. He is also a first-generation Cuban American.

His road to confirmation has been less controversial than many of Trump’s other Cabinet picks. At Rubio’s first confirmation hearing last week in front of the Foreign Relations Committee, the committee’s top-ranking Democrat, Sen. Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire, said she thought Rubio possessed ‘the skills’ and is ‘well-qualified’ to serve as the next secretary of state. She echoed this sentiment Monday evening as well before the full Senate vote.

‘I’ve had a good working relationship with Sen. Rubio for many years, and I was very impressed during his hearing by his grasp of policy,’ Shaheen said Monday evening. ‘While we may not always agree, I believe he has the skills, knowledge and qualifications to be secretary of state.’

Rubio expressed during his initial confirmation hearing last week that under Trump the State Department’s ‘top priority’ will be to put America first. 

‘This will not be easy,’ Rubio said. ‘And it will be impossible without a strong and a confident America that engages in the world, putting our core national interests, once again, above all else.’

Rubio will face some major challenges heading into his new role, notably the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine and the war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza.

Rubio described the fighting between Ukraine and Russia as a ‘stalemate’ that ‘has to end’ during his confirmation hearing last week, adding that under Trump’s proposed peace deal both countries will have to make ‘concessions.’ Meanwhile, despite Trump’s past criticisms of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), Rubio called the alliance ‘very important’ and insisted that Trump was also a NATO supporter.

On Gaza, Rubio supported Israel’s actions to defend itself against Hamas but stopped short of indicating one way or the other if he thought Israel’s annexation of parts of the West Bank was something he supported. 

‘The idea would be that there not be conflict and the people could live side-by-side with one another without being in conflict and with the ability to pursue prosperity,’ Rubio said. ‘Sadly and unfortunately the conditions for that to exist have not been in place for a substantial period of time.’

Rubio also repeatedly singled out China during his remarks in front of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee last week. ‘We welcomed the Chinese Communist Party into this global order. And they took advantage of all its benefits. But they ignored all its obligations and responsibilities,’ Rubio posited at his hearing. ‘Instead, they have lied, cheated, hacked and stolen their way to global superpower status, at our expense.’

While Rubio did not face significant opposition to his confirmation, some Trump-aligned Republicans have expressed disdain over Rubio’s willingness to certify the results of the 2020 election that Trump alleged was ‘stolen’ from him. Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., who has been an outspoken supporter of less U.S. intervention, also questioned Rubio’s hawkish stance on American intervention amid his confirmation to be secretary of state.

President Trump sees ‘great promise’ for the United Nations, provided it remains dedicated to its founding mission of promoting international peace and security, according to his U.N. ambassador nominee, Elise Stefanik.

‘When discussing this nomination with President Trump, the President shared with me that he sees great promise in the United Nations if it focuses on its founding mission of international peace and security. President Trump has long advocated for peace and no new wars,’ she will say, according to excerpts of her opening statement for Tuesday’s confirmation hearing before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, obtained by Fox News Digital. 

She will pledge to support Israel – as it faces chronic criticism for the war in Gaza – and work to ensure the agency is using U.S. tax dollars to advance U.S. interests.

‘As the world faces crisis after crisis, with hostages including Americans still held in Hamas’ captivity, to national security challenges ranging from China, Russia, North Korea, and Iran, it has never been more critical for the United States to lead with strength and moral clarity,’ Stefanik plans to say. 

‘As a Member of Congress, I also understand deeply that we must be good stewards of U.S. taxpayer dollars. The U.S. is the largest contributor to the U.N. by far. Our tax dollars should not be complicit in propping up entities that are counter to American interests, antisemitic, or engaging in fraud, corruption, or terrorism.’

‘We must invest in programs that strengthen our national security and deliver results. To increase the efficacy of U.N. programs, we must drive reform. If confirmed, I will be the first U.N. Ambassador in over two decades to come directly from Congress – and I have a deep respect and understanding of the oversight and appropriations role of the legislative branch. I look forward to using my strong House and Senate relationships to deliver much needed reforms.’

After Tuesday’s hearing, where Stefanik will be grilled on her plans for representing the U.S. at the U.N., the Foreign Relations Committee will vote on her confirmation before it heads to a full Senate vote. 

Stefanik, who currently serves as the House GOP Conference chair, is expected to sail to confirmation in the U.N. role. Sen. John Fetterman, a Democrat from Pennsylvania, has already said he will vote for her – they are both strong Israel supporters. She served on the Intelligence and Armed Services Committees, but she went viral for her work on the other side of the table last year when she questioned university presidents and their policies surrounding pro-Gaza protests during Education Committee hearings.

The U.N. ambassador is a Cabinet-level position, meaning Stefanik will regularly meet with the president to share updates and suggestions, if confirmed. 

Both Trump and Stefanik have been critical of the U.N., and Trump slashed funding for certain U.N. agencies and programs during his first term. 

Founded with a mission to promote global peace, development and respect for human rights after World War II, the U.N. relies on the U.S. for about a third of its budget. President Biden increased U.S. financial contributions to the U.N. and its sister agencies, boosting it from $11.6 billion in 2020 to $18.1 billion in 2022.

The U.S. gave about three times as much that year as the next-highest contributors, Germany, at $6.8 billion, and Japan, at $2.7 billion. 

That amount of funding gives a new administration wiggle room to withhold funds to the U.N. if its global interests do not align with those of the U.S., a notion some Republicans have already pushed for.

Trump will be in office when the international body elects its next secretary-general in 2026, and the U.S. will have veto power over any candidate. 

The U.N. particularly relies on the U.S. for global aid programs.

In 2022, it provided half of all contributions to the World Food Programme, and about a third of all contributions to the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), and the International Organization for Migration.

And critics have warned that China has infiltrated the agency – the CCP doubled the number of its nationals employed at the U.N. to nearly 15,000 from 2009 to 2021. 

President Trump named Brian Driscoll to serve as acting director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) on Monday, marking one of his first moves on Inauguration Day.

According to the FBI website, Driscoll became a special agent in 2007. He has experience working in the agency’s New York field office and also worked on the FBI’s SWAT team.

The White House’s announcement came shortly after FBI acting director Paul Abbate retired on Monday, reportedly just minutes before Trump took office. Christopher Wray stepped down from the agency on Sunday, and Abbate only held down the acting director post for a day.

‘When the director asked me to stay on past my mandatory date for a brief time, I did so to help ensure continuity and the best transition for the F.B.I. Now, with new leadership inbound, after nearly four years in the deputy role, I am departing the F.B.I.,’ Abbate said in an email obtained by the New York Times on Monday. ‘I have complete confidence in you and in your ability as a team to continue to carry out our mission of protecting the American people and upholding the Constitution.’

Last week, then-FBI director Wray named Driscoll as the special agent in charge of the FBI field office in Newark, New Jersey. In a press release published on Jan. 14, the agency noted that Driscoll ‘most recently served as the commander of the FBI’s Hostage Rescue Team (HRT) and Critical Incident Response Group’s (CIRG) Tactical Section chief.’

‘In March 2011, Mr. Driscoll was selected as an operator for FBI’s HRT,’ the press release noted. ‘Ultimately, he became an HRT team leader, responsible for the planning and execution of tactical solutions in furtherance of FBI global operations.’

‘He also collaborated with foreign law enforcement and military partners to conduct operations and training, strengthening FBI global partnerships.’

Driscoll’s time as acting director will presumably end when Kashyap ‘Kash’ Patel is confirmed as the FBI’s next director by the U.S. Senate. Patel was nominated by Trump in November, who called him an ‘America First fighter.’

‘Kash is a brilliant lawyer, investigator, and ‘America First’ fighter who has spent his career exposing corruption, defending Justice, and protecting the American People,’ Trump’s statement read. ‘He played a pivotal role in uncovering the Russia, Russia, Russia Hoax, standing as an advocate for truth, accountability, and the Constitution.’

Fox News’ David Spunt and Pat Ward and Fox News Digital’s Danielle Wallace contributed to this report.

Republican lawmakers are jubilant after President Trump was sworn in for a second term on Monday, followed by a speech promising massive policy changes in the U.S.

‘President Trump’s speech was a breath of fresh aid for Americans – he will bring down costs, close the southern border, deport illegal immigrants, bring back free speech, and unleash American energy dominance,’ House Freedom Caucus Chairman Andy Harris, R-Md., told Fox News Digital. ‘The Golden Age of America begins today.’

House GOP leaders, meanwhile, reaffirmed their promise to execute Trump’s policies as quickly as possible, with the commander in chief angling for an active first 100 days in office beginning with a sweeping set of executive orders.

‘This is America’s moment of redemption, and under President Trump’s leadership, our nation will usher in a new Golden Age,’ said House Majority Whip Tom Emmer, R-Minn. ‘House Republicans are fully committed to making his America First vision a reality and are ready to hit the ground running on day one.’

House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La., meanwhile, hailed Trump’s address as ‘a powerful speech outlining his vision for an America that’s safe, strong, free, and full of opportunity.’

Rep. Kevin Hern, R-Okla., chair of the House GOP Policy Committee, compared Trump’s inauguration to former President Ronald Reagan’s in 1985 – which was also held indoors. 

‘Like Reagan, who ushered in a renaissance of American greatness, President Trump’s inauguration marks the beginning of a new golden age in America. His vision and leadership will secure a brighter future for our nation. Today, we witness the dawn of a new era,’ Hern said.

Like Trump, Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, called for legislative action to begin without delay. He said, ‘Today is a day for celebration, but our work begins immediately. There is no room for excuses. Congress must work with the president to deliver fully, not partially. I stand ready and resolved.’

Meanwhile, Rep. Randy Feenstra, R-Iowa, urged Congress to now work with Trump ‘to pass the Farm Bill, extend the Trump Tax Cuts, lock down our border, end the electric vehicle mandates, support our small businesses, and lower costs for our families and farmers.’

Several of those goals were also mentioned by Trump himself during his inaugural speech in the U.S. Capitol Rotunda.

‘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. 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. We will drill, baby, drill,’ Trump said.

‘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.’

He also repeated promises to crack down on crime at the border as well as target foreign nations with high tariffs as a means to bring down the deficit.

Trump later gave roughly half an hour’s worth of further remarks in the Capitol’s Emancipation Hall. 

The second speech, more freewheeling than his first, saw Trump criticize his predecessor, former President Biden, for issuing pardons to members of the former House Select Committee on Jan. 6 and others, like retired Gen. Mark Milley.

‘We’re going to turn our country around, and we’re going to turn it around fast. And I think it was a better speech than the one I made upstairs,’ Trump joked in those remarks.

Lauren Sanchez has sparked backlash on social media after unveiling a racy look at Donald Trump’s inauguration.

The fiancée of Jeff Bezos, the chairman of Amazon, wore a white Alexander McQueen pantsuit featuring a fitted satin-trimmed blazer with a dangerously low-cut V-neck and wide-leg trousers.

She skipped a traditional blouse and instead opted for a risqué white lace bustier. She completed the look with a fuzzy coat for the frosty day. Sanchez also made head turns with her signature smoky eye, glossy nude lips and a sleek updo.

According to reports, Sanchez’s eye-popping ensemble retails for at least $1,800.

The children’s book author, pilot and former journalist was accompanied by her billionaire beau, who sported a suit with an oxblood-hued tie.

Many quickly took to social media to criticize the 55-year-old’s look.

‘Jeff Bezos future wife Lauren Sanchez is incredibly inappropriately dressed for a state occasion,’ one critic wrote on X. ‘Someone should have told her that having her white lace bra out on display is not acceptable.’

‘Good grief, Lauren Sanchez. Put them away for one day,’ chimed another.

‘Really, a bra plainly visible,’ another user wrote. ‘Today is NOT a night club event. Show some class & dignity.’

When one user insisted that Sanchez ‘forgot to put a shirt on,’ another replied, ‘Maybe she can get one from Amazon same day shipping.’ Meanwhile, others joked that the mother of three was ‘dressed by Victoria’s Secret.’

‘Just when I was luxuriating in the beauty and class of @FLOTUS45, in walks Lauren Sanchez wearing only a bra,’ one user said, comparing the Emmy winner to Melania Trump.

The first lady, 54, wore a more modest navy Adam Lippes tailored navy silk wool coat to the inauguration. She completed her look with a navy silk wool pencil skirt and an ivory silk crêpe blouse, along with black leather gloves and a statement-making wide-brimmed hat.

Sanchez appears to have worn the same form-fitting suit at The New York Times DealBook event in December. She took a sultry selfie at the time for her nearly 900,000 followers.

Summer Anne Lee, a presidential fashion historian and professor at the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) told Newsweek that Sanchez’s fashion statement on the historic day left her stunned.

‘I gasped when I saw it,’ Lee admitted about the jaw-dropping outfit. ‘I imagine this revealing lingerie moment has got to be a ‘first’ in inauguration fashion history, even if she is just an attendee and not a part of the ceremony.’

On Monday, Trump was sworn in as the 47th president. The 78-year-old promised a ‘revolution of common sense’ as he sets out to reshape the country’s institutions.

A cadre of billionaires and tech titans — including Bezos, 61, as well as Mark Zuckerberg, Tim Cook and Sundar Pichai — were given prominent positions in the Capitol Rotunda, mingling with Trump’s incoming team before the ceremony began. Also, there was Elon Musk, the world’s richest man.

After five years of dating, Bezos proposed to Sanchez in May 2023. While the couple hasn’t publicly announced any details about their wedding, Sanchez teased on the ‘Today’ show that she was already prepping for the big day.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

President Trump sees ‘great promise’ in the United Nations, according to his U.N. ambassador nominee Elise Stefanik, who said she would bring ‘reform’ to the organization.

‘When discussing this nomination with President Trump, the President shared with me that he sees great promise in the United Nations if it focuses on its founding mission of international peace and security. President Trump has long advocated for peace and no new wars,’ she will say, according to excerpts of her opening statement for Tuesday’s confirmation hearing before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, obtained by Fox News Digital. 

She will pledge to support Israel – as it faces chronic criticism for the war in Gaza – and work to ensure the agency is using U.S. tax dollars to advance U.S. interests.

‘As the world faces crisis after crisis, with hostages including Americans still held in Hamas’ captivity, to national security challenges ranging from China, Russia, North Korea, and Iran, it has never been more critical for the United States to lead with strength and moral clarity,’ Stefanik plans to say. 

‘As a Member of Congress, I also understand deeply that we must be good stewards of U.S. taxpayer dollars. The U.S. is the largest contributor to the U.N. by far. Our tax dollars should not be complicit in propping up entities that are counter to American interests, antisemitic, or engaging in fraud, corruption, or terrorism.’

‘We must invest in programs that strengthen our national security and deliver results. To increase the efficacy of U.N. programs, we must drive reform. If confirmed, I will be the first U.N. Ambassador in over two decades to come directly from Congress – and I have a deep respect and understanding of the oversight and appropriations role of the legislative branch. I look forward to using my strong House and Senate relationships to deliver much needed reforms.’

After Tuesday’s hearing, where Stefanik will be grilled on her plans for representing the U.S. at the U.N., the Foreign Relations Committee will vote on her confirmation before it heads to a full Senate vote. 

Stefanik, who currently serves as the House GOP Conference chair, is expected to sail to confirmation in the U.N. role. Sen. John Fetterman, a Democrat from Pennsylvania, has already said he will vote for her – they are both strong Israel supporters. She served on the Intelligence and Armed Services Committees, but she went viral for her work on the other side of the table last year when she questioned university presidents and their policies surrounding pro-Gaza protests during Education Committee hearings.

The U.N. ambassador is a Cabinet-level position, meaning Stefanik will regularly meet with the president to share updates and suggestions, if confirmed. 

Both Trump and Stefanik have been critical of the U.N., and Trump slashed funding for certain U.N. agencies and programs during his first term. 

Founded with a mission to promote global peace, development and respect for human rights after World War II, the U.N. relies on the U.S. for about a third of its budget. President Biden increased U.S. financial contributions to the U.N. and its sister agencies, boosting it from $11.6 billion in 2020 to $18.1 billion in 2022.

The U.S. gave about three times as much that year as the next-highest contributors, Germany, at $6.8 billion, and Japan, at $2.7 billion. 

That amount of funding gives a new administration wiggle room to withhold funds to the U.N. if its global interests do not align with those of the U.S., a notion some Republicans have already pushed for.

Trump will be in office when the international body elects its next secretary-general in 2026, and the U.S. will have veto power over any candidate. 

The U.N. particularly relies on the U.S. for global aid programs.

In 2022, it provided half of all contributions to the World Food Programme, and about a third of all contributions to the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), and the International Organization for Migration.

And critics have warned that China has infiltrated the agency – the CCP doubled the number of its nationals employed at the U.N. to nearly 15,000 from 2009 to 2021. 

The men who held the nation’s highest office before President Trump have all remained mum on his taking the presidency on Monday. 

All four living former presidents – Bill Clinton, George Bush, Barack Obama and Joe Biden – attended the inauguration ceremony, and sat behind Trump as he gave a politically charged speech about his vision for the future of the country. 

None had any public well-wishes for the incoming president after the swearing-in ceremony. Asked whether they planned to put out a statement on it, none of their offices responded at press time. 

Biden only addressed his supporters and staffers in remarks before boarding a government helicopter to be whisked away from Washington, D.C. 

‘We’re leaving office, we’re not leaving the fight,’ he told them. 

Former first ladies Hillary Clinton, Laura Bush and Jill Biden all attended the ceremony alongside their husbands. Michelle Obama did not attend.

Sources reportedly close to Michelle Obama told People magazine that the former first lady intended to skip Trump’s inauguration because she cannot contain her disdain for the Republican president-elect.

Hillary Clinton chuckled when Trump suggested renaming the Gulf of Mexico the Gulf of America. Bill Clinton told CNN of his reaction to the speech: ‘I think you can figure it out for yourself.’ The Clintons did not stay for the inaugural luncheon. 

Trump and former first lady Melania Trump did not attend President Biden’s inauguration in 2021. At the late President Jimmy Carter’s funeral, Obama and Trump were seen chatting and laughing like old friends despite the history of political animosity between the former Democratic president and the returning Republican.

Trump, in his address, took shots at Biden without addressing him by name. 

‘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,’ Trump said.

In a follow-up speech to supporters, Trump called out Biden’s last-minute moves as president. 

‘You’re going to see a lot of action on the J6 hostages,’ he said. 

‘And I was going to talk about the things Joe did today with the pardons of people that were very, very guilty of very bad crimes, like the UnSelect Committee of political thugs,’ he went on.

In an 11th hour move, Biden preemptively pardoned the members of the January 6th House Select Committee that investigated the role of Trump and his acolytes in the 2021 Capitol riot, along with Dr. Anthony Fauci and former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Mark Milley.

And just moments before leaving the White House, Biden preemptively shielded his siblings and their spouses from any prosecution.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — President Trump said a ‘tide of change is sweeping the country,’striking an optimistic note as he told Americans during his inaugural address Monday that the U.S. is beginning a ‘new era of national success,’ while declaring that the country’s ‘decline is over.’

Trump addressed the nation on Monday after taking the oath of office for the second time and being sworn in as the 47th President of the United States. 

‘In recent years, our nation has suffered greatly. But we are going to bring it back and make it great again, greater than ever before. We will be a nation like no other, full of compassion, courage and exceptionalism. Our power will stop all wars and bring a new spirit of unity to a world that has been angry, violent, and totally unpredictable. America will be respected again and admired again, including by people of religion, faith, and goodwill,’ he said.

‘We will be prosperous, we will be proud, we will be strong, and we will win like never before. We will not be conquered. We will not be intimidated. We will not be broken, and we will not fail,’ he said. ‘From this day on, the United States of America will be a free, sovereign and independent nation. We will stand bravely. We will live proudly. We will dream boldly, and nothing will stand in our way. Because we are Americans. Their future is ours, and our golden age has just begun.’

‘During every single day of the Trump administration, I will very simply put America first,’ Trump said. 

Trump vowed that U.S. ‘sovereignty will be reclaimed, our safety will be restored. The scales of justice will be rebalanced. The vicious, violent and unfair weaponization of the Justice Department and our government will end. And our top priority will be to create a nation that is proud, prosperous and free.’ 

Trump promised that he would not use the government to go after political opponents, saying it was something he knew something about, a reference to his claims of persecution by the Biden administration.

‘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,’ Trump said. 

The president delivered his remarks from the Capitol Rotunda Monday due to an arctic blast that hit the nation’s capital, with frigid temperatures forcing the inaugural ceremonies to be moved indoors for the first time in four decades. He hammered the Biden administration, despite former President Joe Biden and former President Kamala Harris sitting just behind him.

‘As we gather today, our government confronts a crisis of trust. For many years, a radical and corrupt establishment has extracted power and wealth from our citizens. While the pillars of our society lay broken and seemingly in complete disrepair, 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. It fails to protect our magnificent, law-abiding criminals, many from prisons and mental institutions that have illegally entered our country from all over the world,’ he said.

He drew some of the loudest applause by saying that it will now be the official policy of the U.S. to only recognize two genders: male and female.

Trump, who won the Electoral College and popular vote, defeated Harris in a landslide. Trump was running against then-President Joe Biden, who was seeking re-election, until July 2024. But after the two debated for the first time, and after a disastrous performance by Biden, the incumbent was pressured by Democrat insiders to suspend his presidential bid. 

Biden made the announcement in a social media post and endorsed Harris to be the Democratic presidential nominee in his place, moving his vice president to the top of the ticket. 

The decision for Biden to drop out of the race came just days after the Republican National Convention (RNC) finished, and after Trump and his running mate, Sen. JD Vance, R-Ohio, formally accepted the GOP nomination. 

But Trump, just days before accepting the Republican nomination, survived an assassination attempt at a rally on July 13 in Butler, Pennsylvania. During the event, Trump was showing off a chart highlighting how illegal immigration skyrocketed under the Biden-Harris administration. As he turned toward the chart, he was hit by a bullet that pierced the upper part of his right ear by the now-deceased would-be-assassin, Thomas Matthew Crooks. 

Weeks later, in September, another would-be-assassin hid himself in the bushes at Trump International Golf Course in West Palm Beach, Florida. The gunman, Ryan Wesley Routh, had an AK-47-style rifle pointing through the fence toward Trump as he was golfing. Trump was rushed off the golf course by U.S. Secret Service agents, unharmed.

Trump reflected on his near-death experience, and his unprecedented trials and legal battles throughout the 2024 campaign cycle. 

‘Over the past eight years, I have been tested and challenged more than any president in our 250-year history, and I’ve learned a lot along the way. The journey to reclaim our republic has not been an easy one, and that I can tell you. Those who wish to stop our cause have tried to take my freedom and indeed to take my life,’ Trump said. ‘Just a few months ago, in a beautiful Pennsylvania field, an assassin’s bullet ripped through my ear.’ 

He added: ‘But I felt then and believe even more so now, that my life was saved for a reason. I was saved by God to make America great again.’ 

Trump, on his first day in office, is expected to take more than 200 executive actions – a massive, first wave of policy priorities focused on border security, energy, reducing the cost of living for American families, ending DEI programs across the federal government, and more, Fox News Digital exclusively reported. 

Trump said he will also deliver on his campaign promise to roll back the policies of his predecessor on his first day in office. Trump will end ‘catch and release’; pause all offshore wind leases; terminate the electric vehicle mandate; abolish the Green New Deal; withdraw from the Paris climate accord; and take several major steps to assert presidential control over the federal bureaucracy. 

‘Today, I will sign a series of historic executive orders. With these actions, we will begin the complete restoration of America and the revolution of common sense. It’s all about common sense,’ Trump said on Monday.