One word that marked reaction to Trump’s speech more than any other was “blunt.”
In a break from protocol – because of frigid temperatures, or security concerns, or both -- the speech was delivered in the Capitol Rotunda. That change of venue pushed everyone close together so Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris were less than 10 feet away.
Biden and Harris rarely applauded but they were forced to listen as Trump described a nation that has “suffered greatly” under their leadership.
Trump took aim at the state of health care, education, immigration, national security, crime and so much more under Biden’s watch.
He deftly moved from the state of the nation to his plans to make things better.
He decried the “weaponization” of government resources, something of which he’s been a particular target.
He announced that military service members, who were let go for refusing COVID-19 vaccinations, would be welcomed to return with back pay. He promised the end of “social experiments” within the military, likely a reference to the Pentagon's obsession with race, sex, and sexual orientation.
Trump described a nation hurting financially with the Biden administration’s commitment to spending in the Russia-Ukraine war and hurting physically by its response to natural disasters in North Carolina and Los Angeles.
All the while Trump focused on Biden’s political record and wisely never mentioned the outgoing president’s declining mental state, which eventually led panicking Democrat Party leaders to end his bid for a second term. That decision pushed Harris to be the nominee only to be trounced by Trump on Election Day.
Not personal, just the facts
“We now have a government that cannot manage even a simple crisis at home, while at the same time, stumbling into a continuing catalogue of catastrophic events abroad,” Trump said.
The Biden administration," he further said, "fails to protect American citizens while providing “sanctuary and protection for dangerous criminals – many from prisons and mental institutions that have illegally entered our country from all over the world.”
The administration also failed in its emergency response efforts for North Carolina and other southeastern states after a fall hurricane. “They were treated so badly,” Trump said, to more recently the wildfires in Los Angeles that continue to rage.
Trump, with his trademark confidence, listed all the ways America will become great again, but it’s fool’s gold to think it will happen soon.
“Regardless of how much he’s able to accomplish, and I think many of us on the Right are underestimating how hard it will be, what you’re seeing right now is why they tried to kill Trump,” Blaze TV host Steve Deace wrote, “To stand up and call them a corrupt establishment right to their faces and then itemize their failures again right to their faces … to say right to the regime of managed decline ‘America’s decline is over’ is brazenly calling them out directly to the American people.”
Trump put Biden’s social initiatives on notice, too.
“Effective immediately, it is the official policy of the United States government that there are only two genders, male and female,” Trump said.
That comment got praised by Chaya Raichik, the person behind the Libs of TikTok channel that has exposed gender ideology on X.
"I can't believe this is really happening," Raichik, referring to Trump's comment, wrote.
"I fought against the gender insanity for years. I got doxxed, received hundreds of death threats, and dozens of hit pieces written about me over it," she wrote.
Paying tribute to God in speech
While Trump hasn’t always lived a public life that’s shown fruits of the Spirit, he mentioned his Creator more than once during the speech.
“Just a few months ago, in a beautiful Pennsylvania field, an assassin’s bullet ripped through my ear. 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 said.
“National unity Is now returning to America and confidence and pride is soaring Like never before And everything we do. My Administration will be inspired by a strong pursuit of Excellence and unrelenting success. We will not forget our country. We will not forget our constitution And we will not forget our God, can’t do that,” Trump said.
Bob Vander Platts, president and CEO of The Family Leader, says the impact on Trump of that day in Pennsylvania is clear.
“As @realDonald Trump acknowledged, God spared his life for a purpose. I believe it is that embrace that fuels his leadership resolve. This historic address is fitting culmination to his historic comeback,” Vander Plaats wrote.
Border chaos gets big mention
The Biden administration requires a great deal of fixing and clean-up but Trump, in his ambition, targeted the border more than anything else.
He was scheduled to sign more than 200 executive orders, many of them border-related, where he says he will authorize the use of American troops as part of the fix. Deportation is part of the plan, too.
“First, I will declare a national emergency at our southern border. All illegal entry will immediately be halted, and we will begin the process of returning millions and millions of criminal aliens back to the places from which they came.”
The Biden practice of catch-and-release will end, and Trump’s own remain in Mexico policy will be reinstated.
The future of TikTok may be up for debate, but the CBP One app, a Biden initiative that allowed illegals to choose a time for “processing” once they cross the border, went dark as Trump was sworn in.
U.S. troops will help “repel the disastrous invasion of our country,” Trump said.
Putting America first
“The Golden Age of America begins right now!” Trump said in the opening line of his speech.
Sovereignty will reclaimed, safety restored, the scales of justice rebalanced, Trump said.
“From this day forward, our country will flourish and be respected again," he declared. "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. During every single day of the Trump Administration, I will very simply put America first.”
