Donald Trump vowed to launch a swift series of presidential actions to reverse what he called "American decline" during an energetic inauguration eve rally on Sunday. Speaking to a packed crowd in Washington, the 78-year-old Republican declared that he would aggressively address issues like woke ideology and immigration, promising to act with "historic speed" from day one of his White House return.
"Tomorrow at noon, the curtain falls on four long years of American decline, and we usher in a new era of American strength and prosperity," Trump told the cheering crowd at the sports arena.
Trump, joined on stage by tech mogul Elon Musk—who will spearhead a major cost-cutting initiative in his administration—assured supporters that he would tackle every crisis facing the nation with urgency. Musk echoed Trump's vision, emphasizing the goal of making America strong "for centuries."
As the rally drew to a close, Trump joined the disco group Village People on stage to dance to their 1970s hit "Y.M.C.A.," a song that became the unofficial anthem of his election campaign.
A large portion of Trump’s speech focused on immigration, reiterating the hardline stance that helped propel him to victory in the November election over Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris. "We’re going to stop the invasion at our borders," Trump declared, promising to launch raids targeting undocumented immigrants in the first days of his presidency.
At his inauguration eve rally, Donald Trump promised a flurry of executive actions from day one in the Oval Office, including measures to ban what he called "transgender insanity" and critical race theory in schools, as well as policies to keep transgender athletes out of women’s sports. He also reiterated his commitment to releasing files on the assassinations of former President John F. Kennedy, his brother Robert F. Kennedy, and civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr.
Despite snowy conditions, long lines of Trump supporters formed outside the arena, eager to witness what many described as a historic moment. "I wanted to see history unfold before my eyes," said Alan McNeely, 21, a student from Connecticut.
Earlier, the future president made a highly symbolic visit to Arlington National Cemetery, where he laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, accompanied by Vice President-elect JD Vance. This somber ceremony contrasted with an earlier visit by Trump in August, when his campaign faced criticism after an Army staff member was pushed by one of his aides.
Later on Sunday, Trump was scheduled to attend a "candlelight dinner" with supporters. However, his plans for a massive inauguration crowd at the U.S. Capitol faced a setback when forecasts of below-freezing temperatures led organizers to move the ceremony indoors. Instead of the traditional outdoor swearing-in, Trump will now take the oath of office under the iconic Rotunda of the Capitol, a venue last used for an inauguration 40 years ago when Ronald Reagan was sworn in.
"You're going to hear President Trump talk about how we are entering a Golden Age of America," Karoline Leavitt, his incoming press secretary, said on Fox News' America's Newsroom.
On the final full day of his presidency, outgoing President Joe Biden traveled to South Carolina to commemorate Martin Luther King Jr. Day. In his remarks, the Democrat urged Americans to "keep the faith in a better day to come," while asserting that he would "not be going anywhere" as he prepares to hand over power to Trump, whom he has called a threat to democracy.
Before even taking office, Trump has already become involved in international matters. TikTok, the popular video-sharing app, credited his "clarity" for restoring its service in the U.S. after it briefly went dark due to a national security ban. "We have to save TikTok," Trump told the rally, before promising to issue an executive order delaying the ban to allow time to "make a deal" for the removal of TikTok's U.S. operations from Chinese ownership.
Meanwhile, in the Middle East, the first three Israeli hostages were released Sunday as part of a Gaza truce, a deal that involved both Trump's team and the Biden administration.
