In one of his first major policy announcements after being sworn in as the 47th President of the United States, Donald Trump declared that the US government will officially recognize only two genders—male and female. Trump stated that this move aims to foster a “merit-based” and “colorblind society,” and his administration will take steps to reform federal policies on gender and diversity.
The announcement aligns with Trump’s broader agenda to overhaul Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs. Notably, several major US companies, including McDonald’s, Walmart, and Meta (Facebook’s parent company), have scaled back or ended their DEI initiatives since Trump’s election victory in November.
Donald Trump took the oath of office at the US Capitol in Washington, DC, administered by Chief Justice John Roberts. Prior to his swearing-in, JD Vance was sworn in as the 50th Vice President of the United States.
During his inaugural address, Trump emphasized his campaign promises, including a focus on immigration and border security. He announced his intention to declare a “national emergency” at the southern border, deploy troops, and end policies like “catch and release” to prevent illegal immigration.
“First, I will declare a national emergency at the southern border. All illegal entry will immediately be halted, and we will begin the process of returning millions and millions of criminal aliens back to where they came from. We will reinstate my ‘Remain in Mexico’ policy,” Trump said. He added, “Under the orders I signed today, we will also designate cartels as foreign terrorist organizations.”
Trump declared the beginning of a “golden age” for America, calling his inauguration day the country’s “Liberation Day.”
Addressing economic challenges, Trump blamed inflation on “massive overspending” and rising energy prices. He reiterated his commitment to energy independence by declaring a “national energy emergency” and vowed to expand oil drilling. “The inflation crisis was caused by massive overspending and escalating energy prices, and that is why today I will also declare a national energy emergency. We will drill, baby, drill,” Trump said, echoing his earlier campaign slogan.
Trump also criticized the response to recent wildfires in Los Angeles, highlighting the devastation caused and emphasizing the need for improved disaster management. “In Los Angeles, we are watching fires tragically burn—weeks later, they are still raging through houses and communities. Even some of the wealthiest and most powerful individuals in our country no longer have homes. This can’t be allowed to happen,” he stated.
The 47th President’s inaugural address set the tone for an administration focused on stringent immigration policies, energy independence, and significant changes to diversity and inclusion practices, all aimed at what Trump called restoring America’s greatness.