The presidential inaugural address is significant in American policymaking as it gives explicit and implicit hints about the newly elected government’s policies, philosophies, and priorities.
The analysis will follow a complete content examination, including key themes, recurring words, and rhetoric. It will also include a comparative analysis of the speech with the last elected government to determine their major differences and similarities. The tone, structure, and audience appeal will be inspected and explored.
Contextual Analysis
Donald Trump was instituted as the 47th President of the United States of America on 20th January 2025, initiating his second term. Being the nation’s commander-in-chief and executive head, his words carry weight, thus impacting both domestic as well as international schemes and plans. The speech was delivered during the Inauguration Day ceremony indoors due to extreme cold weather conditions, symbolizing a peaceful power transfer.
The primary audience comprised American citizens, especially Trump’s MAGA (Make America Great Again) supporters, government officials, and tech giants present at the decorum. President Clinton, President Obama, and President Joe Biden participated in the ceremony along with their vice presidents. The secondary audience included US allies, US establishment, adversaries, and business owners.
Content Analysis
President Donald J. Trump’s whole speech revolved around key themes of “Golden Age of America,” “America First Policy,” “Make America Great Again,” “New Era of National Success,” “Restoration of National Unity,” “National Sovereignty” and “Rebalancing of Justice Scales.” The speech symbolized a victorious, confident, assertive tone and style, depicting achievements and highlighting future goals and aims. The speech was convincing, with a sole and staunch focus on the liberation of America from vicious domestic and international shackles.
The speech explicitly mentioned a national emergency to the South under the “Remain in Mexico” policy, thus halting illegal immigration, freedom of political expression and thoughts, and revitalizing the US economy. On the other hand, the speech implicitly criticized previous administration’s policies, declared national energy emergency under the “Drill Baby Drill” scheme (targeting Greenland—Trump’s Arctic policy), tariffs and trades on foreign countries (China), establishment of Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) with Elon Musk as its head, gender equality with only two genders – male and female (terminating LGBTQ agenda), peace in Middle East (returning of hostages just one day before inauguration) and Panama Canal seizure.
Policy Implications
The speech indicated a national security emergency on the southern border under the “Remain in Mexico” policy, which simply means defending America against Mexican cartels and terrorists by designating these cartels as foreign terrorist organizations under the Alien Enemies Act of 1978.
Furthermore, the speech showed a complete withdrawal from international agreements like the Paris Climate Treaty and WHO under the “Drill Baby Drill” scheme, which means that instead of relying on other nations for energy requirements, America will explore its indigenous oil and gas resources and will export them all over the world. This drill baby drill strategy implicitly hints toward seizing Greenland from Denmark and making Canada America’s 51st state, thus getting 40% control of melting the precious Arctic Ocean. Domestically, the speech criticized Biden’s administration’s faulted policies with implementing tariffs and taxes on foreign countries to transition from “enriching other countries” to “enriching America’s citizens.”
Furthermore, a Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) will be established to work towards efficient working government institutions, including bureaucracy and establishment. The speech signaled America’s economic revitalization and energy independence. The speech also implicitly hinted towards the expansion of territory, which, according to scholars and policymakers, might be Trump’s agenda for Greenland and Canada. This left the ambiguity of how Trump’s administration would pursue its ambition of acquiring Greenland and making Canada its state. Similarly, President Trump talked about the issue of the Panama Canal, stating that the treaty violation gives the US complete right to get back Panama from foreign (i.e., China) influence.
Conclusion
The world is about to transition toward the Arctic region completely. Approximately 60% of this region falls under Russia, so the newly elected administration’s priority would be to gain as much access to the region as possible through negotiated attempts or assertive steps. This strategy completely aligns with Trump’s Making America Great Again (MAGA) policy.
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The views and opinions expressed in this article/paper are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect the editorial position of Paradigm Shift.
He is pursuing a BS in International Relations programme from International Islamic University, Islamabad and has a keen interest in research works, policy analysis, defence and strategic studies and conflict resolution.