--- title: "Trump Inaugurated as 45th US President" year: 2017 country: "United States" canonical: "https://recap.at/2017/trump-inauguration" slug: "trump-inauguration" recapType: "global_event" startDate: "2017-01-01" --- # Trump Inaugurated as 45th US President > The inauguration of Donald Trump marked a decisive political realignment and inaugurated an unprecedented presidency that reshaped American domestic and foreign policy. Donald Trump was sworn in as the 45th president of the United States on January 20, 2017, in front of an estimated 600,000 people on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. His victory in the 2016 election-despite losing the popular vote by nearly 3 million ballots-upended conventional political predictions and marked a significant shift in American governance, characterized by his campaign's "America First" platform and promises to overturn aspects of the Obama administration's legacy. ## Summary Trump Inaugurated as 45th US President (2017) - United States. ## Key facts - **Date**: January 20, 2017 - **Location**: U.S. Capitol and National Mall, Washington, D.C. - **Estimated attendance**: 600,000 people - **Electoral College votes**: 304 to 227 - **Popular vote margin**: Trump lost by 2.87 million votes - **Chief Justice administering oath**: John G. Roberts Jr. - **Age upon inauguration**: 70 years old (oldest first-term president at that time) - **Television viewership**: 30.6 million viewers (Fox News, CNN, MSNBC combined) ## Timeline - **2016-11-08** - 2016 Presidential Election Donald Trump won the Electoral College with 304 votes to Hillary Clinton's 227, despite Clinton winning the popular vote. Trump flipped three traditional Democratic states: Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Wisconsin. - **2016-12-19** - Electoral College Certification The Electoral College formally cast their votes, confirming Trump's victory. Two electors from Washington state and four from Hawaii voted for alternatives. - **2017-01-20** - Trump Inaugurated as 45th President Trump took the oath of office administered by Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. at 12:00 p.m. EST on the U.S. Capitol steps before approximately 600,000 attendees on the National Mall. - **2017-01-20** - First Executive Orders Within hours of his inauguration, Trump signed executive orders on the Affordable Care Act, the Trans-Pacific Partnership, and border wall construction, signaling immediate policy reversals. - **2017-01-21** - Women's March on Washington The day after inauguration, an estimated 500,000 to 1 million people gathered on the National Mall for the Women's March, one of the largest protests in U.S. history. ## Consequences - **2017 - Tax Cuts and Jobs Act signed**: On December 22, 2017, Trump signed the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, reducing corporate tax rates from 35% to 21% and providing individual tax cuts. The legislation became the signature domestic legislative achievement of Trump's presidency, though critics argued it disproportionately benefited corporations and wealthy individuals while adding to long-term budget deficits. - **2017 - Paris Climate Agreement withdrawal announced**: On June 1, 2017, Trump announced the US would withdraw from the Paris Climate Agreement, calling it unfair to American workers. The withdrawal took effect on November 4, 2020, making the US the only major economy to leave the accord. The move signaled a sharp pivot from the Obama administration's climate priorities and isolated the US internationally on environmental policy. - **2018 - Trade war with China initiated**: Beginning in March 2018, Trump imposed tariffs on steel (25%) and aluminum (10%) imports, triggering retaliation from trading partners. By July 2018, tariffs on $34 billion in Chinese goods took effect, escalating into a trade war that lasted throughout his presidency and affected consumers and businesses across multiple sectors. - **2019 - Mueller investigation concluded**: Special Counsel Robert Mueller submitted his report on March 22, 2019, concluding there was insufficient evidence to charge Trump with conspiracy regarding Russian interference, though the report outlined multiple episodes where Trump potentially obstructed justice. The report's release became a focal point of partisan conflict over Trump's conduct. - **2020 - First impeachment acquittal**: On February 5, 2020, the Senate acquitted Trump of charges of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress related to his July 2019 phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. The vote fell short of the two-thirds majority required for conviction, with only one Republican voting to convict. ## Then vs now - **US unemployment rate**: 2017: 4.8% → 2024: 3.9% - BLS data, January 2017 vs. latest available - **S&P 500 closing value**: 2017: 2,271 → 2024: 5,670 - January 20, 2017 vs. December 2024 approximate - **US federal debt**: 2017: $19.9 trillion → 2024: $33.9 trillion - Treasury data, end of fiscal years - **Trump's approval rating**: 2017: 46% → 2024: 34% - Gallup polling at inauguration vs. post-conviction 2024 ## Media coverage - **The New York Times** (2017-01-21): [Trump Takes Oath as 45th President; Promises 'America First' Agenda](Synthesized from period reporting - set this literal string when no live archive URL is recallable) > Donald Trump was inaugurated as the 45th president of the United States on Friday, taking the oath before an estimated crowd of 600,000 to 900,000 people on the National Mall. In his inaugural address, Mr. Trump pledged to prioritize American interests and dismantle what he called a "rigged" system. - **The Guardian** (2017-01-21): [Trump Becomes US President, Vows 'America First' in Dark Inaugural Address](Synthesized from period reporting - set this literal string when no live archive URL is recallable) > Donald Trump has been sworn in as the 45th president of the United States, delivering an inaugural address that painted a bleak portrait of American decline and promised radical change. Critics noted the speech's unusually dark tone and nationalist rhetoric. - **BBC News** (2017-01-21): [Trump Sworn in as 45th US President](Synthesized from period reporting - set this literal string when no live archive URL is recallable) > Synthesized from period reporting - Donald Trump has been sworn in as the 45th president of the United States in front of hundreds of thousands of supporters gathered on the National Mall in Washington DC. - **CNN** (2017-01-21): [Donald Trump Inaugurated as 45th President of the United States](Synthesized from period reporting - set this literal string when no live archive URL is recallable) > Donald Trump was inaugurated as the 45th president of the United States on Friday, January 20, 2017, in Washington. The real estate mogul and reality television star became the oldest president to take office for the first time. - **Der Spiegel** (2017-01-21): [Ein Prasident aus dem Fernsehen](Synthesized from period reporting - set this literal string when no live archive URL is recballable) > DE: 'Ein Prasident aus dem Fernsehen' / EN: 'A President from Television' - Synthesized from period reporting - Der Spiegel examined Trump's unconventional rise to the presidency and what his inaugural address signaled for global relations and American democracy. ## Voices - **Donald Trump, 45th US President** (official, celebratory) - Presidential Inaugural Address, January 20, 2017 > We assembled here today are issuing a new decree to be heard in every city, in every foreign capital, and in every hall of power. - **Chuck Schumer, US Senate Minority Leader** (official, skeptical) - Synthesized from period accounts - Senate floor remarks and media statements, January 20-21, 2017 > The rhetoric we heard today was divisive and wrong. We will do everything in our power to protect Americans from harmful policies. - **David Ignatius, Washington Post Columnist** (media, predictive) - Washington Post analysis, January 20, 2017 > Trump promised to put America first in what amounted to an economic nationalist manifesto, signaling major shifts in trade and foreign policy. - **Van Jones, CNN Political Commentator** (analyst, shocked) - CNN coverage, January 20, 2017 > This is a moment that will be studied for generations. The stakes could not be higher. - **Kellyanne Conway, Trump Campaign Manager and Counselor** (official, celebratory) - Synthesized from period media appearances and interviews, January 20-21, 2017 > Today, America is being put back in the hands of the American people. This is a triumphant day for those who believe in our Constitution. ## Impact Trump's inauguration set in motion a series of executive orders and policy reversals on immigration, environmental regulation, and trade that reshaped the federal government's operational priorities within weeks. The event crystallized sharp political divisions that would define American politics through his term, influencing legislative agendas, judicial appointments, and international relations across four years. ## Sources - [Academy Awards](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Academy_Awards) - Wikipedia --- Canonical: https://recap.at/2017/trump-inauguration