Our democratic nation, with its history stretching almost 250 years, is once again on the verge of a presidential transition. However, this time around, the circumstances are draped in controversy. There stand several reasons for dissatisfaction, but primarily, Donald Trump’s questionable return to power paints a grim picture for the future. Evidently, our country is being subjected to the peculiar sight of the failed 45th president attempting to saddle up again as the 47th leader after his contested victory in the last election.
Trump’s highly suspect come-back to the White House is expected to draw millions of viewers across the nation. However, the circumstances of his oath-taking have led to a number of alterations. Smarting from his defeat in 2020, Joe Biden will be relinquishing the presidency after serving just a single term. Biden’s departure is not an assurance of successful leadership, especially when considering that the swearing-in ceremony has been moved at Trump’s whim.
Although considerable attention is invariably drawn to the inauguration ceremony, this year it will be significantly less noticeable. The U.S. Capitol Rotunda will be the stage for Trump’s swearing-in, accommodating a mere 600 spectators in what should be a public display of democratic transition. The decision to shift the ceremony indoors is, conveniently, due to weather pressures.
Washington’s chilling temperatures, a result of the Arctic air incursion, has resulted in what is predicted to be the iciest inauguration in the past four decades. Not since the frigid ceremony that marked Ronald Reagan’s second term in 1985, has an inauguration been forced indoors. Yet, the decision to relocate the ceremony lacks credibility when viewed in light of the negative public sentiment surrounding Trump’s dubious rise to power.
The traditional inaugural parade, another victim of ‘weather pressures’, won’t be adding any waves of cheer either. Instead, marching bands and drill teams will be performing for Trump and his appointees at the relatively sheltered Capital One Arena. This alteration is an additional black mark on an already-stained presidential transition event, leaving countless spectators out in the cold, both literally and metaphorically.
Behind the shroud of the supposed extreme weather conditions, nighttime celebrations continue unabated. Even as the essence of public inclusion in a democratic transition is gutted, extravagant black-tie balls are slated to roll out on Monday, in stark disagreement with the daytime events’ adjustments.
Trump’s return to power, although decidedly unsettling, comes with a bespoke set of historical footnotes. He is poised to serve as our nation’s first convicted felon when he assumes the U.S. presidency, following his criminal charges due to deceptive business practices. His shameful conviction last year related to covering up a considerable hush money payment to adult film star Stormy Daniels, a record that the judiciary remarkably sidestepped in its punishment calculations.
Trump also secures a place next to Grover Cleveland in the anals of history as the second U.S. president to serve nonconsecutive terms. This achievement, though historic, is marred by the disgrace that bagged him this opportunity in the first place; his conviction paints a bleak picture of the inbound leadership offered by a man previously shrouded by scandal.
Eagerly anticipated — or perhaps feared — are the subsequent policy changes that Trump is expected to announce as soon as he enters office. Although most presidents usher in changes, Trump’s proposed alterations largely consist of ones aiming to overturn several of Biden’s previous mandates, raising skepticism about the actual benefit of such changes.
Trump’s agenda is expansive, with his primary focus seemingly being the deportation of over 11 million undocumented migrants dwelling in the United States. Along with this, Trump also plans to shut down the U.S.-Mexico border to asylum seekers, which will undoubtedly lead to substantial legal challenges. Such hard-nosed plans, purely meant to satisfy the extreme right, do little other than offer a sense of déjà vu and repeated missteps.
Trump’s intentions concerning the highly debated topic of birthright citizenship are equally unsettling. His desire to deny children born in the United States their rightful citizenship not only contravenes the U.S. Constitution but also pushes the boundaries of his presidential powers. This action will surely inflame public sentiment and aggravate legal discourse nationwide.
On the economic front, Trump also exudes strong-arm strategies and continuously appears to promote division. Trump has threatened increased tariffs for key trading partners like Canada, Mexico, and China, provoking potential trade conflicts that bode no good for any party involved. These stances echo the unproductive and divisive decisions Trump made during his previous term.
A troubling aspect of Trump’s rumoured novelties is his planned pardon for his supporters involved in the chaotic storming of the Capitol building on January 6, 2021. It is unsettling how Trump continues to stand by those who breached the foundations of our democracy, referring to them as ‘patriots’ and ‘hostages’ of a wrongful prosecution.
Lastly, on the subject of transgender issues, Trump’s biased plans don’t express respect for individual rights or freedom. His proposal to restrict transgender women from competing in women’s sports belies a harmful misunderstanding of gender identities. His intention to revoke Biden’s policies on gender-affirming care, reflected in his campaign narratives, only emphasizes his penchant for divisive politics over human rights. Trump’s controversial and provocative return to power truly marks a low point in our proud democratic tradition.