WASHINGTON - Donald Trump, sworn in Friday as the 45th U.S. president, used his inaugural address to tell the nation that he was going to put America and American workers first.
“From this day forward, it’s going to be only America first,” Trump said. The phrase echoed rhetoric he used during his successful presidential campaign. “I will never ever let you down. America will start winning, winning like never before.”
Congressional leaders and former presidents Barack Obama, George W. Bush, Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter were among those who attended the inauguration, held at the West Front of the U.S. Capitol. Several hundred thousand people also gathered on the National Mall to watch Trump take the oath of office.
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Similar to language used during his campaign, the new president said American workers had been devastated through bad trade agreements that had been reached through previous administrations.
“This American carnage stops right here and stops right now,” Trump said. “Every decision on trade, on taxes, on immigration, on foreign affairs, will be made to benefit American workers and American families.”
He also said Friday’s inauguration marked a “major, major watermark” in American history, that power had been transferred, not only from one party to another, but from Washington to the people.
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“For too long, a small group in our nation’s capital has reaped the rewards of government while the people have bore the cost. Washington flourished, but the people did not share in its wealth. ... That all changes starting right here and right now,” Trump told the crowd.
He said he will invoke “a new vision” for America, one where workers abandoned by shuttered factories and diminished economic fortunes will not be forgotten.
“This moment is your moment, it belongs to you,” Trump said. “The people become the rulers of this nation again.”
A light rain fell as the 70-year-old Trump, the oldest-ever elected U.S. chief executive, finished his speech, waving to the crowd.
In echoes from his long campaign for the White House, the Republican Trump painted a bleak picture in his inaugural address of workers who have been left behind in the world’s largest economy, buffeted by global economic changes they have been powerless to overcome.
These were voters who gave him the edge in key states, U.S. political analysts say, and handed him an unexpected win in the November election over Democrat Hillary Clinton, who watched from a nearby seat at the U.S. Capitol as he became the American leader.
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Trump vowed to restore jobs lost to overseas ventures, while boosting U.S. employment with reconstruction of the country’s deteriorating roads, bridges and other infrastructure.
“So to all Americans, hear these words,” he said. “You will never be ignored again.”
A short time later, as congressional leaders played host to Trump at a lavish luncheon at the Capitol, protests against him erupted in parts of downtown Washington several blocks from the inaugural parade route. Rock-throwing demonstrators clashed with police, who said more than 200 of the protesters had been arrested by early Friday evening.
At the close of the congressional luncheon, Trump gave brief remarks and surprised many by saying he was “very, very honored” that president Bill Clinton and secretary of state Hillary Clinton were there. He asked the Clintons to stand up and said he has a lot of respect for them.
He did not mention his Democratic opponent during his inauguration speech, after often referring to her as “Crooked Hillary” on the campaign trail.
Professor Jack Rakove of Stanford University told VOA that what he thought was most interesting about Trump’s speech is that it was a repudiation of all of the former presidents and congressional leaders sitting behind him — including many of his fellow Republicans.
“He’s basically telling his vision to the American people, let’s say, at least Trump voters, that they have been let down or neglected or even betrayed by the governing class that’s been living in Washington and profiting off living there while the rest of the country, its inner cities are rotting, and factories are rusting and jobs have been lost and the borders are being overrun,” Rakove said.