On Monday, following his swearing-in as the 47th president of the United States, President Donald J. Trump delivered an inaugural speech lasting around 30 minutes during a small ceremony held indoors at the Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol, due to frigid temperatures in Washington D.C. Read the complete transcript of his address below.

Thank you all very much. Thank you. Vice President Vance, Speaker Johnson, Senator Thune, Chief Justice Roberts, justices of the Supreme Court, Presidents Clinton, Bush, Obama, Biden, Vice President Harris, and my fellow Americans.

The Golden Age of America starts now. From this moment forward, our nation will thrive and regain its respect globally. We will become the envy of every country, and we will no longer allow ourselves to be exploited. Throughout my administration, my straightforward aim will be to prioritize America first.

We will reclaim our sovereignty. Safety will be our priority. Justice will be restored. The malicious and unjustionable misuse of the Justice Department and our government will cease.

Our foremost objective will be to establish a nation that takes pride in itself, is prosperous, and maintains its freedom. America will soon be more exceptional, stronger, and greater than ever before.

I embrace the presidency once more with confidence and optimism as we embark on a thrilling new chapter of national progress.

A wave of change is breaking across the nation. Light is shining down on the world, and America is poised to capitalize on this unprecedented chance.However, we must candidly acknowledge the obstacles we face. While they are significant, they will be obliterated by the impressive momentum currently building in the United States of America.

As we gather today, our government faces a crisis of trust. For years, a radical and corrupt establishment has siphoned off power and wealth from our citizens, while the foundations of our society lie in ruins. We now have a government that cannot cope with simple crises domestically, while also stumbling through a series of disastrous events on the international stage. It fails to protect our law-abiding American citizens yet provides refuge for dangerous criminals, many of whom have unlawfully entered our nation from jails and mental institutions around the globe. This is a government that offers unlimited funding for defending foreign borders yet refuses to ensure the security of our own borders and, more importantly, its people.

Our country can no longer provide basic services in emergencies, as evidenced by the unacceptable treatment of the good people of North Carolina and other states still struggling from hurricanes that occurred many months ago. Moreover, in Los Angeles, tragic fires continue to rage unchecked, affecting homes and communities, including some of the wealthiest citizens among us, some of whom are even present here today. They have lost their homes. But we cannot allow this to continue. It’s unacceptable, and that will change.

We have a public health system that fails during crises, despite more money spent on it than in any other nation. Our education system often teaches our children to resent who they are and to detest our nation, despite our sincere attempts to nurture their love for it. All of this will begin to change today, and quickly.

My recent election signifies a mandate to entirely reverse a deep betrayal and to restore people’s faith, wealth, democracy, and indeed, their freedom. From this point on, America’s downward trend is a thing of the past.

Our liberties and the magnificent destiny of our nation will no longer be thwarted, as we will swiftly restore integrity, competence, and loyalty to the American government. Over the last eight years, I have faced more tests and challenges than any president in our nation’s 250-year history, and I’ve learned a great deal throughout this process. The path to reclaim our republic has not been easy, that much is true. Those who oppose our cause have attempted to infringe upon my freedom and even take my life, a near miss just months ago. In a beautiful field in Pennsylvania, an assassin’s bullet passed near my ear, but I felt, and believe even more strongly now, that my life was spared for a purpose. I was saved by God to help restore greatness to America.

Thank you very much.

That’s why, each day, under the leadership of American patriots, we will confront every challenge with dignity and strength. We will act with determination and speed to bring back hope, prosperity, safety, and peace for all citizens, regardless of race, religion, color, or creed. For the people of America, January 20, 2025, marks Liberation Day.

I hope that our recent election becomes recognized as the most significant and consequential in our nation’s history. As demonstrated by our victory, the entire country is quickly uniting behind our agenda, with remarkable support from virtually all sectors of society—young and old, men and women, African Americans, Hispanic Americans, Asian Americans, urban, suburban, rural, and critically, we scored major wins in all seven swing states, and the popular vote by millions.

To the Black and Hispanic communities, thank you for the incredible outpouring of love and trust expressed through your votes. We broke records, and I will not forget them. I’ve heard your voices loud and clear during the campaign, and I look forward to collaborating with you in the coming years.

Today is Martin Luther King Day. In his honor, I pledge to work together to realize his dream. We will make that dream a reality.

National unity is re-emerging in America, and confidence and pride are soaring like never before. Throughout all our actions, my administration will pursue excellence and success with an unwavering commitment. We will remember our nation, our Constitution, and our God. That is essential.

Today, I will be signing a number of groundbreaking executive orders. These actions will initiate the full restoration of America and a revolution based on common sense. It’s all about common sense.

To start, I will declare a national emergency at our southern border. Immediate action will stop all illegal entries, and we will begin the process of sending millions of criminal aliens back to their homeland. The “Remain in Mexico” policy will be reinstated. We will discontinue the catch and release policy, and I will deploy troops to our southern border to combat the devastating invasion of our country.

Through the orders I’m signing today, we will designate the cartels as foreign terrorist organizations. By invoking the Alien Enemies Act of 1798, I will instruct our government to leverage the full power of federal and state law enforcement to eliminate the presence of all foreign.

Gangs and criminal organizations are causing severe crime issues within the U.S., affecting our cities and neighborhoods.

As the Commander in Chief, my foremost duty is to protect our nation from threats and invasions, and that’s precisely what I intend to do, on an unprecedented scale.

Next, I will instruct all members of my Cabinet to leverage their extensive powers to combat record inflation and swiftly reduce costs. This inflation crisis stemmed from excessive government spending and rising energy prices, which is why I’m declaring a national energy emergency today. We will increase oil production.

America will once again become a manufacturing powerhouse, equipped with a resource that no other country possesses: the largest oil and gas reserves globally, and we will utilize them.

We will lower prices, replenish our strategic reserves completely, and export American energy worldwide. We will regain our wealth thanks to the valuable resources beneath us. With my announcements today, we will put an end to the Green New Deal and rescind the electric vehicle mandate, preserving our auto industry and honoring my commitment to American auto workers. In simpler terms, you will have the freedom to choose the car you want. We will revive automobile manufacturing in America at a pace previously unimaginable. A heartfelt thank you to the nation’s auto workers for your incredible vote of confidence; we achieved great success together.

I will promptly begin reforming our trade policies to protect American workers and families. Instead of taxing our citizens to benefit other nations, we will impose tariffs and taxes on foreign countries to enrich our citizens. To achieve this, we are establishing the External Revenue Service to collect all tariffs and dues. This will result in substantial funds flowing into our treasury from foreign sources.

The American dream will soon be revitalized and prosper like never before, restoring competence and effectiveness to our federal government. My administration will introduce a new Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).

After years of illegal and unconstitutional federal efforts to limit free expression, I will sign an executive order that immediately halts all government censorship and reinstates free speech in America. The state’s considerable power will never again be wielded to attack political opponents, a personal experience for me. Under my leadership, we will ensure that this never happens again. We will restore fair, equal, and impartial justice under the Constitution and reinstate law and order in our cities.

This week, I will also reinstate any service members who were unfairly discharged from our military for objecting to the Covid vaccine mandate, providing them with full back pay. Additionally, I will sign an order to prevent our military personnel from being subjected to radical political ideologies and social experiments during their service. That will stop immediately. Our armed forces will focus solely on their mission: defeating America’s enemies. Just as in 2017, we will reconstruct the strongest military the world has ever known. Our success will be gauged not only by the battles we win but also by the conflicts we resolve and, crucially, the wars we avoid.

My proudest legacy will be that of a peacemaker and unifier. That is my aspiration. I’m happy to report that as of yesterday, just one day before I took office, hostages in the Middle East are returning to their families.

America will reclaim its status as the greatest, most powerful, and most respected nation in the world, earning admiration and awe globally. Soon, we will rename the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America and restore the name of our esteemed president, William McKinley, to Mount McKinley, where it rightfully belongs. President McKinley enriched our nation through tariffs and talent; he was an astute businessman who funded many of Teddy Roosevelt’s significant achievements, including the Panama Canal, which was ill-advisedly handed to Panama.

The United States, consider this: we invested more than ever in constructing the Panama Canal and lost 38,000 lives in the process. We have been unreasonably treated regarding this foolish gift that should never have been offered, and Panama has broken its commitments to us. The essence of our agreement and spirit of the treaty has been completely disregarded. American vessels are being excessively charged and receiving unfair treatment, including our Navy. Most importantly, China operates the Panama Canal, which was not meant to be the case; we entrusted it to Panama, and we plan to reclaim it.

Above all, my message to Americans today is that it’s time for us to act with the boldness and vitality characteristic of history’s greatest civilization. By liberating our nation, we will guide it toward unprecedented victories and successes. We will not be swayed. Together, we can end the epidemic of chronic disease and ensure our children are safe, healthy, and disease-free.

The United States will once again be viewed as a growing nation that increases its wealth, expands its territory, develops its cities, elevates its aspirations, and boldly carries our flag into new horizons. We will pursue our manifest destiny into space, sending American astronauts to place our stars and stripes on Mars.

Ambition fuels the lifeblood of a great nation, and our nation is currently the most ambitious of them all. No other country compares to ours. Americans are explorers, builders, innovators, entrepreneurs, and pioneers. The spirit of exploration is embedded in our hearts, and the call for the next significant adventure resonates within our souls.

Our American forebears transformed a small collection of colonies on the edge of a vast continent into a formidable republic home to the most extraordinary citizens. No other nation draws close. Americans traversed thousands of miles across unpredictable wilderness. They crossed deserts, scaled mountains, and faced countless dangers, conquering the Wild West, abolishing slavery, liberating millions from oppression, lifting millions out of poverty, harnessing electricity, splitting the atom, reaching for the stars, and placing the vast knowledge of humanity in the palm of our hands. When we unite, there is nothing we cannot accomplish and no aspiration beyond our reach.

Many doubted my ability to stage such a remarkable political comeback, but here I stand today—proof that nothing is truly impossible in America. The impossible is what we do best.

From New York to Los Angeles, Philadelphia to Phoenix, Chicago to Miami, and Houston to right here in Washington D.C., our nation was built by generations of patriots who sacrificed everything for our rights and freedoms. They were farmers, soldiers, cowboys, factory workers, steelworkers, coal miners, police officers, and pioneers who advanced forward, facing every challenge with unyielding spirit and pride. Together, they laid down railroads, erected skyscrapers, constructed extensive highways, won two world wars, defeated fascism and communism, and triumphed over each obstacle they encountered. After all we’ve been through, we stand on the brink of the most remarkable four years in American history. With your support, we will restore the American promise and rebuild our beloved nation.

We are one people, one family, and one magnificent nation under God. To every parent with dreams for their child, and every child with dreams for their future, I stand with you. I will fight for you, and I will prevail for you. We will achieve victories like never before.

Thank you.

Recently, our nation has faced significant challenges, but we will revitalize it to become greater than ever before. We will embody a nation like no other, filled with compassion, courage, and exceptionalism. Our strength will end wars and usher in a new era of unity in a world that has been hostile, violent, and unpredictable.

America will regain respect and admiration, including from people of faith and goodwill. We will flourish, be proud, be strong, and achieve victories like never before. We will not be defeated. We will not be intimidated. We will not be broken, and we will not fail.

From this moment onward, the United States of America will be a free, sovereign, and independent nation. We will stand with courage, live with pride, dream boldly, and nothing will hinder our progress, because we are Americans. The future is ours, and our Golden Age has just begun. Thank you. God Bless America. Thank you all.