6 key takeaways from Trump's inaugural address

Donald Trump was sworn in as the 47th US President, his second stint in the White House. In his 29-minute inauguration address, the President reiterated many of his campaign promises. Here are the six takeaways from Trump's inauguration address.

1. ‘Golden age of America'

Trump opened his inaugural address by saying that the ‘golden age of America begins’ with his return to office. "The golden age of America begins right now. From this day forward, our country will flourish and be respected," he said in his speech. "During every single day of the Trump administration, I will very simply put America first," said the President.

2. 'Saved by God'

Trump referenced the assassination attempt on him in July last year during the Presidential campaign. "Those who wish to stop our cause have tried to take my freedom and indeed take my life. 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," he said about the incident.

According to the President, he was ‘saved by God’ for one simple reason. "I was saved by God to make America great again,” he said. "Many people thought it was impossible for me to stage such a historic political comeback, but as you see today, here I am. The American people have spoken,” Trump added.

3. A list of policy details

Most Presidents don't get into policy details in their inaugural addresses. But then, most Presidents aren't Trump. He reiterated his campaign promises and listed down the actions he would take in the first 100 days in office.

He declared a national emergency at the southern border (something he did in 2019) and deployed national troops for immigration enforcement, an action he promised on the campaign trail. He also signed an executive order meant to "immediately stop censorship and bring back free speech in America”.

Trump said he would also direct the members of his Cabinet to tackle inflation and bring down costs. He pledged to declare a "national energy emergency”.  "We will drill, baby, drill," he said, another promise met with a standing ovation. The president reiterated his plans to impose tariffs and taxes on foreign nations to "enrich our citizens," and he said he would issue an executive order aimed at stopping government censorship.

He also pledged to reinstate US service members who were removed from the military because of objections to the COVID-19 vaccine and provide them back pay.

4. Panama Canal and Gulf of Mexico

Trump said he wanted the Panama Canal under US control. ”We're taking it back," Trump said. The US President falsely claimed that the canal is currently being operated by China. Panama has had control of the waterway since 1999.

Trump also reaffirmed that he would change the name of the Gulf of Mexico to the "Gulf of America”. 

“A short time from now, we are going to be changing the name of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America,” the US president said. He suggested such a change earlier this month, when he said the new name would be “beautiful” and “appropriate”, adding: “Because we do most of the work there, and it’s ours.”

5. A US flag on Mars

Trump said his administration would work to put U.S. astronauts on Mars. "We will pursue our Manifest Destiny into the stars, launching American astronauts to plant the stars and stripes on the planet Mars," he said.

The declaration earned a thumbs-up from billionaire Elon Musk, who was seated on the platform along with the CEOs from other technology companies, like Jeff Bezos. Both Bezos, through his company Blue Origin, and Musk, who owns Space-X, have launched rockets into space.

6. Drug cartels as 'foreign terrorist organizations'

The President called for the State Department to label Mexican cartels as "foreign terrorist organizations", a move that increases the reach of US law enforcement over the criminal groups but risks complicating international business, restricting asylum claims, and straining relations with Mexico, analysts say. 

The move targets two key Trump promises – to tackle migration and drug trafficking–and looks to put cartels like Sinaloa and Jalisco New Generation on a par with others on the US list of designated terrorist organizations, like Al-Qaeda, Boko Haram, Hezbollah, and the Islamic State, reports BBC.