On Politics

Mon Jan 20 2025

Rebecca Morin | Senior National News Reporter

@RebeccaMorin_

Happy Martin Luther King Jr. Day! It's Rebecca Morin, senior national news reporter at USA TODAY.

Trump sworn in, declares 'golden age of America begins right now'

Welcome back to the Donald Trump era. Trump on Monday was sworn in as the 47th president of the United States. With his right hand raised and left hand by his side, Trump recited the oath of office at an intimate inauguration ceremony inside the Capitol rotunda. In a roughly 30 minute speech, Trump painted a bleak picture of a nation overwhelmed by crime from an "invasion of our country" and vowed sweeping changes from issues like climate to transgender rights. Read more.

•	JD Vance sworn in as vice president of the United States
•	Live updates: Trump lays out GOP priorities
•	Watch Trump's full inauguration speech

On Day 1, Trump has already planned to sign dozens of executive orders on a range of policies, including at least two national emergencies targeting the border and the energy sector. Trump is expected to change the official names of Mt. Denali in Alaska and the Gulf of Mexico. Other orders could undo many of former President Joe Biden's key efforts to protect federal lands from oil drilling and enshrine the civil rights of transgender people. More on Trump's executive actions.

•	'Plant the Stars and Stripes' on Mars: Trump to prioritize space travel
•	Trump vows to rename Denali to back Mount McKinley
•	Gulf of America? Trump to rename Gulf of Mexico
•	Trump to end 'electric vehicle mandate'

Donald Trump is sworn in as the 47th president of the United States on Monday.

Pool photo by Morry Gash

A politics pit stop

•	White House website officially flips (back) to Donald Trump
•	Carrie Underwood hits snag at Trump's inauguration, unexpectedly sings a capella
•	What Trump fans who traveled to DC did instead of seeing inauguration
•	These Indian American voters are split on Usha Vance's historic rise
•	How music stars, movie stars and pop culture helped spread MLK's message

Biden's last stand: Preemptively pardoning his family and potential Trump targets

With roughly 30 minutes to spare as president, Joe Biden made a final defiant act against Donald Trump. Biden issued a string of preemptive pardons to members of his family and individuals and others who he believed were potential targets. Among those who were preemptively pardoned include Biden's brother James Biden, his sister Valerie Biden Owens, Anthony Fauci, and former GOP Rep. Liz Cheney. Read more.

•	From members of Congress to Trump's chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff: Who Biden issued preemptive pardons to.
•	Biden commutes life sentence for Native American activist Leonard Peltier
•	Joe Biden departs White House for final time as president