Quotes
Don’t act like you’re doing it just because of Reagan, ... Honey, it’s not that I couldn’t perform in bed last night. It’s just that out of respect for President Carter I’m flying at half-staff.”
Colbert huffed, quipping
He said that that last group was the most dangerous. But he never completed the quartet of the possible combinations,
Colbert continuedI have ordered the Inauguration Address, in addition to prayers and other speeches, to be delivered in the United States Capitol Rotunda, as was used by Ronald Reagan in 1985, also because of very cold weather.”
Reading aloud the president’s Truth Social post in his best Trump voice, the late-night host recitedIt’s tired, it’s not working,
Doescher said on Fox News at Night
We will do it at a level that has never been seen before."
As his speech progressed, Trump deviated from the teleprompter, reverting to familiar phrases like
Drill, Baby, Drill."
The audience's biggest reaction came after Trump's emphatic declarationI have an important announcement to make,
Colbert began his monologue
Unlike when Trump first began his ascent to the pinnacles of US political power in 2015, however, Trump represents the current emerging establishment as much as any one man. And sitting behind him on the dais were a collection of some of the wealthiest, and most influential, corporate leaders in the world”.
Zurcher stuck a cautionary note, writing
He applauded just once during the speech, when his old enemy mentioned the release of Hamas hostages, and spent much of it looking at the ground,
Diver wrote, reflecting on polarised political environment in the USThe challenges lie ahead, both to the substance of the first round of orders and more importantly to issues that executive orders cannot solve,
he notedTrumpism has always been about making brash, blunt and blatant the forces shaping society for years. An oligarchy has long held sway in America. He is now elevating it without apology or shame,
he writesThe American revolt against the liberal order has been brewing for some time in the 21st century,
he writesBut despite the warm tone of his rhetoric, there were also hints of the battles to come. His call for “national unity” did not extend to the Democrats in the room, who sat silently, aghast,
he wroteThe only bipartisan thing about Trump on Monday was his purple checked tie and opening promise of ‘the golden age of America’,
he addedWhat made this day different from that one, however, was considerable evidence that Trump is more focused and better prepared to act swiftly and in doing so, establish himself and his powers,
he addedTrump’s revolution challenges four key aspects of entrenched liberal hegemony in America, with significant implications for the global order centred around Washington as the leading power,
he added
We are all going to be sworn in tomorrow, that’s the way I look at it,
Trump told his admirers
Starting tomorrow, I will act with historic speed and strength and fix every single crisis facing our country,
Trump pledged at the euphoric victory party in Washington’s Capital One ArenaEveryone in our country will prosper. Every family will thrive, and every day will be filled with opportunity and hope,
he promisedHave a good life. We will see you soon.”
He was still in disgrace two weeks after the assault on the US Capitol by supporters fired up by election lies, and he signed off with