Trump’s second inaugural address was a triumph for him, and for his supporters

The second inaugural speech of President Donald Trump, the 45th and 47th President of the United States, was amazing. This speech should be remembered as “America's Golden Age,” but it will probably just be referred to as President Trump's second-term inaugural address.

Abraham Lincoln borrowed from the book of Proverbs when he described America's commitment to individual liberty as “apples of gold” protected by the “silver frame” of the Constitution.

Lincoln declared in 1861 that “the Union has the great promise of 'liberty for all,'” which he called “the principle of liberty for all.” path Give—for everything hope To all people – and as a result, to businesses, and industry To everyone. ”

” expression Lincoln claimed that he was “the happiest and most fortunate to have honored the principles of our Declaration of Independence.” Our greatest president went on to say:without it This too and Then they could have declared independence from Britain. but without it In that case, I don't think we could have secured a free government and the resulting prosperity. Oppressed people don't do that. fight and endureThey never promised anything more than a simple change of master, as our fathers did. ”

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“The claim is that principle” continued Lincoln. At that timeit was of words, 'spoke properlyThis proved to be a “golden apple” for us. of union,and constitution,teeth photograph of silverwhich was then framed around it. Photos are made, not made up hideor destroy apple. However, to decorateand save that. of photograph Made for apples—do not have This is the apple in the photo. ”

“So take action,” Lincoln advised all Americans living and to come. photographor apple It won't blur, scratch or break. In order for us to act that way, we need to learn and understand the dangers. ”

President Trump says in his inaugural address that America's “decline is over”

At the heart of President Trump's second inaugural address was an important promise to “not be color-blind and build policies based on merit.''

This is what the Constitution has required since the Fourteenth Amendment was ratified, and its violations have all too often been honored in recent years.

“The way to stop discrimination on the basis of race is to stop discrimination on the basis of race,” were the words of Chief Justice Roberts in a landmark Supreme Court decision more than a decade ago. The essence of this Declaration: Independence and Constitutional Amendments: All men are created equal, and that of course means all men and women everywhere.

It is no surprise that Chief Justice Roberts administered the oath of office to President Trump. The Chief Justice has long championed our nation's “load-bearing wall,” and President Trump's take up of this cause should cheer all Americans.

This speech will have many detractors, as it was inevitably divisive. It had to be so. It was a repudiation of the past four years and, in fact, nearly all of President Barack Obama's eight years in the White House. President Trump is committed to the promise of the Declaration made possible by the Constitution as amended by the 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments: “great progress'' in restoring equality under the law to all. I'm working on it.

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Lincoln's second inaugural address was also divisive. Could it be otherwise? The country was ravaged by a necessary but bloody Civil War, far worse than deep political divisions. Lincoln declared in 1865: “But if God wills, all the wealth accumulated by the bondman's 250 years of thankless labor will sink, and every drop of blood drawn with the whip will pay for another drop of blood drawn with the whip. “It will last until the end of time.'' The sword that was spoken three thousand years ago,'' declared the great liberator, “yet it must be said, “The judgments of the Lord are true and perfectly just.'' ”

While less divisive, President Trump's declarations about the weaponization of our justice system and the crisis at our southern border will be tough for many on the American left.

But these statements are not “harsh”; they are, in popular culture parlance, “harsh but fair.” The devastation left in many places by the chaos of Joe Biden's presidency is undeniable, but will be denied by partisans.

President Donald Trump delivers the inaugural address during the 60th presidential inauguration ceremony in the U.S. Capitol Rotunda on Monday, January 20, 2025, in Washington. (Julia DeMaree Nickinson/Pool via Reuters)

“I still have to say that,” President Trump said. The United States intends to regain sovereignty over its borders and enforce the treaties it has signed. When the Chinese Communist Party leadership heard President Trump's remarks, they must have immediately understood what the text about the Panama Canal was about.

The beginning and especially the end of President Trump's second inauguration were elated and optimistic. America's “Golden Age” is a great goal to set. Many people, myself included, are unsure about the tariffs from the William McKinley era. However, I am not at all convinced that the American military must be expanded and its power significantly increased. If we believe in the resurgence of American manufacturing, we must hope that the returning president can make good on that promise.

This speech is characterized by unabashed pride in America, and patriots admire such pride. There is little debate that the deportation of millions of criminal aliens is necessary. There's no denying that crime threatens millions of Americans. President Trump's pledge to adopt bold policies that address both is the essence of the Trump-Vance campaign, and the new administration is tasked with advancing both plans.

There are many others. Honest observers would give Trump's speech the most stars, no matter what system they use to rate its directness. They should be praised for their determination.

And those who wish for the prosperity of the republic will also praise President Trump's unapologetic and proud attitude at his second presidential inauguration. American patriotism is once again on full display. Bravo.

Hugh Hewitt is the host of “The Hugh Hewitt Show,” broadcast weekdays from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. ET on the Salem Radio Network and simulcast on the Salem News Channel. . Hugh Wakes America up on more than 400 affiliates nationwide and on all streaming platforms where SNC is available. He is a frequent guest on Fox News Channel's News Roundtable, hosted by Bret Baier, weekdays at 6pm ET. A son of Ohio State and a graduate of Harvard University and the University of Michigan Law School, Mr. Hewitt has been a professor of law at Chapman University's Fowler School of Law since 1996, teaching constitutional law. Hewitt launched his eponymous radio show in 1990 from Los Angeles. Hewitt frequently appears on every major national news television network, hosts television programs on PBS and MSNBC, writes for every major American newspaper, has written 12 books, and hosts a Republican program. I served. Candidate debates, most recently the November 2023 Republican presidential debate in Miami and the four Republican presidential debates in the 2015-2016 cycle. Hewitt focuses his radio show and columns on the Constitution, national security, American politics, the Cleveland Browns and the Guardians. Over his 40 years on the air, Hewitt has interviewed tens of thousands of guests, from Democrats Hillary Clinton and John Kerry to Republicans George W. Bush and President Donald Trump. This column previews the key stories that drive his radio/television show today.

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