Washington, DC – United States President Donald Trump has been sworn in for a second term at an indoor ceremony at the Capitol, where he was shielded against the wintry gusts of a polar vortex.But his inauguration still saw supporters descend on Washington, DC, to celebrate.
On Monday, in his second inaugural address, Trump pledged that his legacy would be that of a “peacemaker and unifier”.
But in the same remarks, the US president outlined some of his most divisive policy proposals, including a harsh crackdown on irregular immigration and “taking back” the Panama Canal.
“Above all, my message to Americans today is that it is time for us to once again act with courage, vigour and vitality of history’s greatest civilisation,” Trump said. “So as we liberate our nation, we will lead it to new heights of victory and success.”
Trump’s Democratic detractors have long accused him of being a threat to US democracy – if not an outright fascist.
However, there were few protesters in Washington on Monday to reject Trump’s return to the White House, marking a stark contrast with the large demonstrations before, during and after his first inauguration. Advertisement
Protesters may have been deterred by the indoor inauguration or the freezing cold. Others may have felt apathy or a sense of acceptance towards Trump’s return to the White House.
JD Vance is sworn in as the US vice president in the US Capitol Rotunda in Washington, DC, on January 20 [Saul Loeb/Reuters]
The weather, however, did not keep away the US presiden …
