Trump returns to power after unprecedented comeback, emboldened in his desire to reshape American institutions

WASHINGTON (AP) — Donald Trumpwho overcame indictments, criminal charges and two assassination attempts to win another term in the White House, will take an oath Monday as the 47th president, taking charge as Republicans assume unified control of Washington and set about reshaping the nation’s institutions.

Trump is expected to act quickly after the ceremony, with executive orders already ready to be signed to restart deportations, increase fossil fuel development and roll back protections for public employees, promising that his term in office will bring “a whole new day of strength American”. and prosperity, dignity and pride.

The freezing weather rewrites the spectacle of the day. Trump takes oath was moved inside at the Capitol Rotunda — the first time this has happened in 40 years — and the inaugural parade was replaced by an event at a downtown arena. Crowds of Trump supporters who descended on the city to watch the inaugural ceremony on the West Front of the Capitol from the National Mall will have to find somewhere else to watch the festivities.

“God has a plan,” said Terry Barber, 46, who drove nonstop from near Augusta, Ga., to Washington. “I’m fine with that.”

When Trump is sworn in at noon, he will achieve a political comeback unprecedented in American history. Four years ago, he was locked out of the White House during an economic collapse caused by the deadly COVID-19 pandemic. Trump denied his defeat and tried to cling to power. He ordered his followers to march on the Capitol as lawmakers certified the election results, sparking a riot that interrupted the country’s tradition of peaceful transfer of power.

But Trump never lost his grip on the Republican Party and was undeterred by criminal cases and two assassination attempts as he crushed his rivals and exploited voters’ exasperation over inflation and to illegal immigration.

Now, Trump will be the first person convicted of a crime — for falsifying business records related to hush money payments — to serve as president. He will pledge to “preserve, protect and defend” the Constitution in the very place that was invaded by his supporters on January 6, 2021. He said one of his first acts in office will be to pardon many of those who participated in the Constitution. the riot.

Eight years after entering the White House as a political newcomer, Trump is much more familiar with the operations of the federal government and has the courage to adapt it to his vision. He promised retaliation against his political opponents and critics, and placed personal loyalty as a primary condition for appointments in his administration.

He has pledged to go further and move faster in implementing his agenda than in his first term, and already the country’s political, economic and technological leaders have realigned to accommodate Trump. Democrats who once formed a “resistance” are now divided on whether they should work with Trump or defy him. Billionaires have lined up to meet with Trump because they recognize his unrivaled power in Washington and his ability to use the levers of government to help or harm their interests.

Trump has pledged to bring rapid change at home by reducing immigration, enacting tariffs on imports and rolling back Democrats’ climate and social initiatives.

Long skeptical of U.S. alliances, his “America First” foreign policy is viewed with suspicion at home and abroad, as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine soon comes into its own. third year and that a fragile ceasefire seems to be holding in Gaza after more than 15 months of war between the two countries. Israel and Hamas.

Trump, who spent Saturday and Sunday evening at Blair House across the street from the White House, will begin Monday with a prayer service at St. John’s Episcopal Church. Afterwards, he and his wife Melania will be welcomed to the Executive Mansion by the President. Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden for the usual tea. That’s a stark change from four years ago, when Trump refused to acknowledge Biden’s victory or attend his inauguration.

The two men and their wives will head to the Capitol in a joint procession before the swearing-in.

Vice President-elect JD Vance will take the oath of office first, taking the oath read by Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh from a Bible given to him by his great-grandmother. Trump will follow, using both a family Bible and the one used by President Abraham Lincoln during his inauguration in 1861 as Chief Justice John Roberts administered the oath of office.

Inaugural festivities began Saturday, when Trump arrived in Washington aboard a government plane and viewed fireworks at his private golf club in suburban Virginia. On Sunday, he laid a wreath at Arlington National Cemetery and rallied supporters at the Capital One Arena in downtown Washington.

A group of billionaires and tech titans who have sought to curry favor with Trump and donated generously to his inaugural festivities, including Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg and Jeff Bezos, will be in attendance.

Also attending will be the director of TikTok, the popular Chinese social media app considered a national security risk by the United States. Trump has promised to lift the effective ban on TikTok through one of several executive orders expected to be issued Monday as the new president attempts to show rapid progress.

At his Sunday rally, Trump teased dozens of executive actions to comepromising that “by sundown” on Monday he will have signed executive orders regarding border security and immigration policy, including a revival of Trump’s first-term efforts to shut down access to many new entries under what are called the emergency provisions of Title 42. .

Other orders are expected to allow more oil and gas drilling by rolling back Biden-era policies on domestic energy production and repealing Biden’s recent directive on artificial intelligence.

More changes are planned for the federal workforce. Trump wants to end diversity, equity and inclusion programs known as DEI, require employees to return to the office and lay the groundwork for downsizing.

“Expect shock and awe,” said Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas.

“What I have urged the president and my colleagues to do is stay focused on delivering on our promises,” Cruz said. “And that’s what I hope we do.”

With control of Congress, Republicans are also working alongside the new Trump administration on legislation that will further roll back the Biden administration’s policies and establish their own priorities.

“The president is going to come in with a wave of executive orders,” said House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La. “And we will work alongside the administration and in tandem.”

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AP Congressional Correspondent Lisa Mascaro and AP Writer Aamer Madhani contributed to this report.