Trump Slams Past Leaders, Vows Change in Inaugural Address

President Donald Trump’s second inaugural address sounded a lot like his first, with a sweeping indictment of the country he inherits and grand promises to fix its problems.Eight years ago, Trump described “American carnage” and promised to end it immediately. He spoke to several hundred elected officials and pro-Trump VIPs, tech titan Elon Musk among them.Here are some takeaways from the speech:A promise of an American ‘golden age’ From the start, Trump’s speech tracked his campaign rally approach: big promises of national success due to his leadership, with plenty of sweeping indictments of the status quo.“The golden age of America begins right now,” Trump said after ticking through the requisite nods to former presidents and other dignitaries. “Our top priority will be to create a nation that is proud, prosperous and free.”The underlying presumption, of course, is that Trump is inheriting what he called throughout the 2024 campaign “a failed nation.”He vowed to send troops to the U.S.-Mexico border, boost domestic oil production and impose tariffs to “enrich our citizens.”Trump calls America's past leadership corrupt Trump described America’s leadership over the last four years as incompetent and corrupt, echoing some of the darker rhetoric he used daily on the campaign trail.He did not mention his predecessor, former President Joe Biden, or any other Democrats by name. Trump chatted with former President Barack Obama, but the rest of the former presidents and their wives bypassed him without a greeting.A different scene indoors Inaugural speeches are traditionally delivered on the National Mall in front of tens of thousands of cheering supporters, many of them average voters from across America, who traveled great distance to witness history in person.Not this one.Trump delivered his speech in front of a crowd estimated at only around 600 in the Capitol Rotunda, which was limited to members of Congress, Cabinet nominees, Trump's family, business leaders and political VIPs.It’s noteworthy that four years ago, violent Trump loyalists stormed the Capitol Rotunda as members of Congress and Vice President Mike Pence feared for their lives. I’m going to make it a unifying speech.”Still, Trump made clear that he is going to help supporters arrested for storming the Capitol — “hostages,” he called them — and said that his actions would speak louder than any words.More than 1,230 people have been charged with federal crimes in the riot, ranging from misdemeanor offenses like trespassing to felonies like assaulting police officers and seditious conspiracy.Trump also criticized Biden’s decision to pardon his family members and members of the Jan. 6 congressional committee.