Trump vows swift action to end “American decline” in Inauguration Eve rally

WASHINGTON — In a high-energy rally ahead of his inauguration, Donald Trump pledged a series of bold actions to reverse what he called “American decline,” promising to crack down on immigration, “woke” ideology, and other issues that dominated his campaign.

Speaking to a packed arena in Washington on Sunday, Trump, 78, vowed to act with “historic speed” and restore American strength and prosperity starting on his first day back in the White House.

“Tomorrow at noon, a curtain shuts on four long years of American decrease and we begin a brand new day of American strength and prosperity,” said President Trump to his supporters. Who cheered wildly throughout his speech.

Trump was joined by tech mogul Elon Musk, who will lead a major cost-cutting initiative in Trump’s administration. Musk expressed his commitment to making America strong “for centuries.”

The rally also featured a light-hearted moment when Trump danced with the disco band Village People to their 1970s hit “YMCA,” which has become an unofficial anthem for his political campaign.

Immigration and Border Security A major portion of Trump’s speech focused on immigration. The former president reaffirmed his plans to target undocumented migrants and launch raids on his first day in office. “We’re going to stop the invasion of our borders,” he declared.

Trump also announced plans for a flurry of executive orders, including one to ban “transgender insanity” and critical race theory in schools and to prevent transgender athletes from competing in women’s sports.

In addition, Trump reiterated his promise to release classified files on the assassinations of former President John F. Kennedy, his brother Robert Kennedy, and civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr.

Symbolic Visit to Arlington Cemetery Earlier in the day, Trump paid a solemn visit to Arlington National Cemetery, where he laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, accompanied by Vice President-elect JD Vance. The quiet ceremony contrasted with past moments, including an August 2020 visit that sparked controversy due to staff pushing a cemetery employee.

Despite snowy weather conditions, long lines of Trump supporters waited outside the rally venue, eager to witness history. Alan McNeely, a 21-year-old student from Connecticut, said he wanted to “see history unfold before my eyes.”

Plans for Inauguration Day Trump’s hopes for a large outdoor crowd on Inauguration Day were dampened by forecasts of freezing temperatures. The swearing-in ceremony will now take place indoors in the Capitol Rotunda, the last time used for such an event during Ronald Reagan’s 1981 inauguration.

Incoming Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt promised that Trump’s inaugural address would mark the beginning of a “Golden Age of America.”

Outgoing President Joe Biden, meanwhile, spent his final day in office visiting South Carolina to mark Martin Luther King Jr. Day. He urged Americans to “keep the faith in a better day to come” while preparing to hand over the presidency to Trump, whom he has called a threat to democracy.

Global Affairs and TikTok Even before taking office, Trump has made waves in global affairs. He took credit for restoring TikTok’s service in the U.S., which was briefly suspended due to national security concerns. “We have to save TikTok,” Trump told the rally, adding that he would issue an executive order delaying a ban to give time to negotiate the app’s ownership.