The Beginning of a Movement
It’s been quite a year. However, I wanted to remind everyone of one of the unlikeliest stories in American history. Nearly five years ago, real estate mogul and media celebrity Donald Trump was inaugurated as the 45th president of the United States of America. I sometimes have to remind myself how a complete outsider like Donald Trump was able to break through the established political order and to simultaneously create a new political movement: the MAGA movement.
Consequently, I wanted to discuss President Trump’s inaugural address in this post.
On January 20th, 2017, newly inaugurated president Donald J. Trump addressed the nation.
Just two months prior President Trump won one of the closest, most divisive Presidential elections in recent memory on November 8th, 2016. He edged Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton in several key battleground states (specifically the Rust Belt Region) to lock up the presidential election.
To the dismay of the President Trump’s detractors, he was dutifully inaugurated as the 45th president of the United States and subsequently addressed the nation.
Let’s dive right into President Trump’s speech.
From this day forth, It’s going to only be America 1st …
President Trump started off his inaugural speech with the anti-establishment, populist rhetoric that got him elected.
Here is a quote from the beginning of the speech:
“For too long, a small group in our nation’s capital has reaped the rewards of government while the people have born the cost. Washington flourished, but the people did not share in its wealth. Politicians prospered, but the jobs left and the factories closed. The establishment protected itself, but not the citizens of our country … “
In retrospect, it’s more important to remember that Trump ran as a fully anti-establishment candidate in 2015/2016. He rightfully recognized that disgust that ten of millions of Americans felt toward the “Uni-party” in Washington. For decades, America’s ruling class shipped American jobs away, sent our sons to die in pointless “forever-wars”, and abandoned our nation’s southern border. To all of these issues, Donald Trump said “no more!” For that, we should all be grateful for.
A little later, President Trump reminded us all that a “new sheriff” is in charge: the American people. The Forgotten men of America are now charge because Donald Trump is President.
“What truly matters is not which party controls our government, but whether our government is controlled by the people. January 20th, 2017, will be remembered as the day the people became the rulers of this nation again. The forgotten men and women of our country will be forgotten no longer … “
The Clintons, the Bushes, the bureaucracy, and the lobbyists are no longer in charge. Thank goodness for that.
Now, the best part of the speech comes right in the middle of the speech:
“From this day forward, a new vision will govern our land. From this day forward, it’s going to be only America first. America first. Every decision on trade, on taxes, on immigration, on foreign affairs will be made to benefit American workers and American families … “
Those sweet, sweet words: “Only America First!” That phrase encapsulates everything that the “spirit of 2016” was all about.
For far too long, American politicians, multinational corporations, and the media-industrial complex pursued “America-last” policies. Our nation’s heartland had been pillaged by America’s ruling class, and nobody seemed to care … until Donald Trump came along (well, I’d say that Pat Buchanan did care in the 1990s; but, he didn’t have Trump’s charisma. I digress).
I might sound like a broken record when it comes to discussing the “America First” ideology. Nevertheless, President Trump brought about a necessary change in this country.
Anyways, I hope you enjoyed this post. Enjoy the Christmas season with your family and friends!
I included a YouTube video below of President Trump’s full inaugural speech. It’s pretty short, so go give it a watch.