In U.S. political history, Donald Trump was sworn in as the 47th president of the United States on Monday, 20th of January 2025 marking his remarkable return to power just four years after being ousted from office.

The ceremony, which took place indoors due to freezing temperatures, saw Trump take the oath of office in the Capitol Rotunda, with a smaller crowd than usual, but a sense of historic significance nonetheless.

This makes Trump the second president in U.S. history to return to office after being voted out, following Grover Cleveland’s second term in 1893.

Despite the frigid weather, Trump’s inauguration was filled with drama and symbolic moments. The day began with a rare gesture of civility as President Joe Biden, who formally handed over the reins, greeted Trump and First Lady Jill Biden with a tea at the White House.

Biden, though leaving office after a single term, extended a hand of grace to his successor, offering a rare moment of bipartisanship. “Welcome home,” Biden told Trump as they met at the White House door, marking a stark contrast to the bitter divisions that marked their previous handover in 2021.

Trump, who spent his campaign promising a return to American greatness, wasted no time in making bold proclamations for his second term. “The Golden Age of America begins today,” said Trump’s spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt, shortly before he took the oath.

Among the president’s immediate actions are plans for a barrage of executive orders aimed at dismantling Biden’s legacy, including the controversial deportation of undocumented migrants and an executive order renaming the Gulf of Mexico to the “Gulf of America,” a symbolic gesture toward Trump’s nationalist vision.

Trump’s inauguration comes on the heels of a volatile period in U.S. politics, punctuated by his impeachment, the Capitol riot, and his eventual conviction on criminal charges. His return to power, however, was secured despite these hurdles, including two assassination attempts.

His vow of “retribution” against his enemies has raised concerns among his critics, many of whom fear that his second term could usher in a period of political retaliation.

On the eve of the inauguration, Biden issued pre-emptive pardons for individuals Trump has targeted, including former Covid-19 advisor Dr. Anthony Fauci, retired General Mark Milley, and members of the House committee that investigated the January 6th Capitol attack.

“These pardons are a safeguard against politically motivated prosecutions,” Biden said in his final hours in office, signaling his deep concerns about the incoming administration’s intentions.