As the clock ticking down towards the moment when Donald Trump reassumes his presidential role as the 47th president of the United States in an indoor inauguration ceremony, he made a solemn excursion to the Arlington National Cemetery ahead of his momentous victory rally. This rally, geared towards celebrating his return to power, bore striking resemblances to his previous campaign events, mimicking the same rhythmic tunes, speakers, and public disgruntlement aired in the past.
Despite the jubilant mood surrounding Trump’s return, financial markets suggested a contrary sentiment. Upon the announcement of Trump’s impending return to the highest seat in America, $Trump took a steep fall, casting doubt on the long-term viability of the Trump administration and leaving observers in a state of uncertainty about how long the situation can remain the same.
Among the dignitaries present, Steve Witkoff, known for his collaborative efforts with the Biden administration and Israel for establishing the new ceasefire agreement with Hamas, was welcomed with a standing ovation at Trump’s victory rally. This rather unusual gesture of appreciation raises questions regarding the effectiveness of the Biden administration’s policies and the inconsistent public response to them.
However, not all signs promise a smooth transition to power for Trump. According to Politico, there are potential crucial changes expected within Trump’s inner circle. Speculations are rife that Vivek Ramaswamy might step down from his pivotal role in Trump and Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency quasi-agency. It seems his aspirations for an executive seat in Ohio, alongside the discernible tension between him and Musk, are likely contributing factors.
Trying to dissect the dynamics between Musk and Ramaswamy, it was evident that while Musk was tasked with visualising the larger goal, Ramaswamy was focused on tearing down counterproductive regulations. This labor division reinforces the theory that ideological differences are more than likely behind the budding conflicts within the agency.
Adding to the drama, the D.C. government initially informed its residents about an impending military flyover for Trump’s inauguration, only to abruptly cancel it afterwards. One might argue that this decision comes across as considerate, given the harsh winter conditions, alleviating the risk of crowd gatherings in extreme temperatures.
Meanwhile, enthusiastic Trump supporters flocked to the Capitol One arena, braving long queues to grab a spot at the rally. Initial echoes from the rally reverberated the crowd’s passion, heralded by Kid Rock leading the audience in a fervent chant.
The Trump administration anticipates introducing radical changes post re-establishment. Trump’s deputy chief of staff for policy, Miller, spilled some beans to a handful of senior GOP leaders about their forthcoming agendas. These include taking unprecedented steps to declare a national emergency along the U.S-Mexico border, discarding the Biden directives centered on diversity, equity, and inclusion, and rolling back Biden’s restrictions on offshore and federal land drilling.
The forthcoming Trump dispensation is also set to address certain bureaucrat-hiring principles and firing protocols. Slate for yet another signing is an executive order, known as Schedule F, which Trump initially issued back in October 2020 with the aim to abolish job security for federal workers. However, its implementation was blocked during the Biden administration, a degree of oversight which now seems increasingly shortsighted.
On the sensitive topic of immigration, Trump’s think tanks are currently strategizing plans for immigration raids across several metropolitan cities during the initial weeks of the new administration. Chicago, Boston, Washington, D.C., Miami, Los Angeles, Denver, New York, and San Antonio are earmarked for these enforcement activities. Despite the specific details of the raids and the level of enforcement activity in the various cities being still under consideration, the initiative only highlights Biden’s mistaken approach to managing immigration.