Trump’s second inaugural address was a triumph for him and his supporters.

The second inaugural speech of President Donald Trumpthe 45th and 47th president of the United States, was magnificent. It should be remembered as the “Golden Age of America” ​​speech, but it will probably only be referred to as Trump’s Second Inauguration.

It was Abraham Lincoln who borrowed from the Book of Proverbs when he described the American commitment to individual liberty as the “golden apple” protected by the “silver frame” of the Constitution.

Lincoln declared in 1861 that “in the Union there is a crucial promise of ‘Liberty for all'” and noted that it was “the principle that clarifies the path for everyone — da hope to everyone—and, consequently, to the company, and industry to everyone.”

“He expression of that principle,” Lincoln stated, “in our Declaration of Independence, was very happy and fortunate.” Our greatest president continued: “Without this, as well as with Thus, we could have declared our independence from Great Britain; but without I believe we would not have been able to secure our free government and consequent prosperity. No oppressed people struggle and endureas our fathers did, without the promise of anything better than a simple change of masters.”

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“The statement that principle“Lincoln continued, “in that timewas he word, ‘spoke appropriately‘ which has turned out to be a ‘golden apple’ for us. He Unionand the Constitutionare the image of silverlater framed around it. The image was made, not for disguiseeither destroy the apple; but to decorateand preserve he. He image It was made for the apple—No the apple for the photo.”

“So let us act,” Lincoln admonished all American citizens living then and in the future, “that neither imageeither apple It will never be blurred, bruised or broken. “To be able to act like this, we must study and understand the danger points.”

TRUMP SAYS AMERICA’S DECLINE IS OVER IN HIS INAUGURAL SPEECH

President Trump Second inaugural address had at its core the crucial promise: “We will forge a color-blind, merit-based policy.”

This is what the Constitution has required since the 14th Amendment was ratified, and too often in recent years it has been ignored.

“The way to stop discrimination on the basis of race is to stop discriminating on the basis of race,” is how Chief Justice Roberts put it more than a decade ago in a crucial Supreme Court decision, and that belief is the essence of the Declaration. of Independence and the Amended Constitution: All men are created equal and that, of course, means all men and women everywhere.

US President-elect Donald Trump arrives before President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration at the US Capitol on January 20, 2025 in Washington, DC. Donald Trump assumes his second term as the 47th president of the United States. (Melina Mara – Pool/Getty Images)

It is fitting that Chief Justice Roberts administered the oath of office to President Trump. The Chief Justice has long championed this “weight wall” of our Republic, and the fact that President Trump has taken up this cause should make all Americans happy.

There will be a lot of criticism of the speech because it was, necessarily, divisive. It had to be. It was a repudiation of almost everything that had happened in the last four years and, indeed, of President Barack Obama’s eight years in the White House. Trump is committed to the “big push” to restore the Declaration promise made true by the Constitution as amended by the 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments: equality before the law, for all.

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Lincoln’s second inaugural address was also a divisive speech. How could it be anyone else? The nation was devastated by something far worse than a deep political division, but a necessary but bloody Civil War. Lincoln declared in 1865: “However, God willing, this will continue until all the wealth accumulated by the bondsman’s two hundred and fifty years of unrequited labor is sunk and until every drop of blood drawn with the whip is paid for by another drawn with the whip.” “The sword, as it was said three thousand years ago,” declared the Great Emancipator, “so it must still be said ‘the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous as a whole.'”

It doesn’t get more divisive than that, but President Trump’s statements about weaponizing our justice system, about the crisis at our southern border and much more will be harsh for many on the left in America.

But those statements are not “harsh” but, borrowing from popular culture, “tough but fair.” The chaos left in so many places by the chaos of Joe Biden’s presidency is undeniable, but supporters will deny it.

President Donald Trump delivers his inaugural address during the 60th presidential inauguration in the Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Monday, Jan. 20, 2025. (Julia Demaree Nikhinson/Pool via REUTERS)

“So it still needs to be said,” and President Trump said it. The United States is going to reclaim its sovereignty on the border and enforce the treaties it has signed. The leaders of the Chinese Communist Party must have heard President Trump’s comments and immediately understood what the Panama Canal passage was about: them.

The opening, and especially the closing, of Trump’s second inauguration was giddy and optimistic. A “golden age” of America is a huge goal. Many, including me, are unsure about the tariffs from President William McKinley’s era. However, I am not the least bit sure that it is necessary to expand the US military and significantly increase its strength. If you believe in a renaissance of American manufacturing, then you have to hope that the returning president can make good on that promise.

The hallmark of the speech was unapologetic pride in America, and patriots applaud that pride. That millions of deportations of criminal aliens are necessary is hardly debatable. That crime threatens millions of Americans is indisputable. President Trump’s promise to adopt bold policies to address both was at the heart of the Trump-Vance campaign, and the new Administration has a mandate to move forward with both programs.

And much more. Honest observers will give Trump’s speech the highest number of stars in any system they use for its directness. They should applaud his determination.

And those who wish the best for the Republic will also applaud the proud and unapologetic tone of Trump’s second inauguration. American patriotism is once again on display. Bravo.

Hugh Hewitt is the host of “The Hugh Hewitt Show,” heard weekdays from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. ET on the Salem Radio Network and simulcast on the Salem News Channel. Hugh Wakes Up America on over 400 affiliates nationwide and on all streaming platforms where SNC can be seen. He is a frequent guest on the Fox News Channel news roundtable hosted by Bret Baier weekdays at 6 pm ET. A native of Ohio and a graduate of Harvard Law School and the University of Michigan Law School, Hewitt has been a professor of law at Chapman University’s Fowler School of Law since 1996, where he teaches Constitutional Law. Hewitt launched his eponymous radio show from Los Angeles in 1990. Hewitt has appeared frequently on all major national news television networks, has hosted television programs for PBS and MSNBC, written for all major American newspapers, is an author of a dozen books and has moderated twenty Republican programs. candidate debates, most recently the November 2023 Republican presidential debate in Miami and four Republican presidential debates in the 2015-16 cycle. Hewitt focuses his radio show and column on the Constitution, national security, American politics and the Cleveland Browns and Guardians. Hewitt has interviewed tens of thousands of guests, from Democrats Hillary Clinton and John Kerry to Republican Presidents George W. Bush and Donald Trump during his 40 years in broadcasting, and this column previews the main story that will propel his radio and television program today.

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