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22 January 2024
Trump declares 'golden age' of America
Donald Trump was inaugurated as the 47th president of the United States on Monday, becoming just the second ever US president in history to serve non-consecutive terms. Trump declared the beginning of a "golden age" for the United States in a Capitol ceremony attended by dignitaries and Silicon Valley CEOs.
The second Trump administration has already set about overturning much of the outgoing Biden administration's work, with Trump signing dozens of executive orders on his first day that rescind swathes of Biden-era policy, freeze federal hiring, and once again withdraw the United States from the Paris Climate Accords and World Health Organization.
With confirmation hearings for key cabinet positions having already taken place last week and Marco Rubio confirmed as Secretary of State by the Senate, the administration will quickly take shape and begin its radical departure from many US policies of the last four years. However, many areas of Australia-US cooperation will likely continue or even be strengthened, including on economic security and defence.
Trump takes charge of the Oval Office at a turbulent time in global affairs, as Russia's war in Ukraine rages on and heightened risks of conflict threaten peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific. The coming weeks and months will determine the contours of US engagement with the world for the next four years.
EXECUTIVE ORDER WRAP-UP
Five key executive actions from Day 1
- Ending of birthright citizenship | Trump declared a national emergency on the US-Mexico border and instructed federal agencies to end the practice of birthright citizenship, which provides automatic citizenship to those born on US soil. Over a dozen states are challenging the order due to the Constitution's 14th Amendment protecting birthright citizenship.
READ HERE
- Paris withdrawal – again | Trump withdrew the United States from the Paris Climate Accords, reversing Biden's decision to rejoin the international agreement following Trump's first withdrawal in 2017. READ HERE
- DEI DOA | Trump immediately overturned 78 Biden-era executive orders, which largely related to federal diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) policies. Both Trump and Pete Hegseth, his pick for Secretary of Defense, had vowed to challenge DEI policies throughout the government. READ HERE
- Back to the office | Trump ordered federal employees to return to their offices full-time, ending pandemic-era flexible work arrangements for thousands of workers. He also ordered a federal hiring freeze for new positions. READ HERE
- Jan 6 pardons | Trump issued sweeping pardons to over 1,000 rioters who took part in the January 6, 2021 attack on the US Capitol. He referred to those charged with offences from the riot as "hostages" throughout the election campaign and has teased the pardons for months. READ HERE
"The golden age of America begins right now."
President Donald Trump during his second inaugural address | 20 January 2024
BY THE NUMBERS
Obama's first inauguration the most attended in US history
Donald Trump's second inauguration was forced to move indoors because of frigid temperatures, making it the first to be held inside the Capitol Rotunda since Ronald Reagan's second inauguration in 1985. Crowd attendance on the National Mall of Washington DC is closely watched during each inauguration as a gauge of public interest and excitement for the new administration. The issue exploded onto the national stage in early 2017 following false claims by the Trump administration that attendance at Donald Trump's first inauguration was the "largest audience to witness an inauguration, period." 1.8 million people are estimated to have attended Barack Obama's 2009 inauguration – comfortably more than any other inauguration in US history. However, crowds have now been unable to congregate for the inaugurations held in 2025, due to the weather, and in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Geopolitical trends to watch in 2025
On Monday, 20 January 2025, President-elect Donald Trump was sworn in as the 47th President of the United States. He has said he’ll end the war in Ukraine before he takes office and war continues to escalate in the Middle East. Australia itself will host a federal election in 2025 which may shift international relationships.
What sort of impact would Trump’s economic, trade, and technology policies have on Australian businesses? How do the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East impact the Indo-Pacific? What are the key international watch points for Australia in 2025?
To discuss these issues and provide a briefing on geopolitical trends and what they mean for government and business, United States Studies Centre (USSC) CEO Dr Michael Green and Director of Economic Security Hayley Channer will host a public briefing followed by audience Q&A.
Dr Michael Green and Hayley Channer are also leaders of the University of Sydney | Sydney Executive Plus+ Geopolitics and business sprint. Registrations now open for the 20 March – 03 April 2025 cohort. Download a sprint outline here.
WHEN
6:00-7:00pm AEDT
Thursday, 30 January 2025
WHERE
The Michael Spence Building (F23) at the Corner of Eastern Avenue and City Road, The University of Sydney
COST
Free, but registration is essential
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
Did you USSC?
- INTERVIEW | Trump's sweeping tariff plans by CEO Dr Michael Green for ABC AM
- COMMENTARY | Executive orders show Trump's power and political theatre, but his honeymoon period may be short-lived by Research Associate Samuel Garrett for The Conversation
- COMMENTARY | Trump 2.0 means what he says by Non-Resident Senior Fellow Bruce Wolpe for The Sydney Morning Herald
- IN THE NEWS | Trump delivered 2913 words in his wild inauguration speech. We’ve deconstructed all of them by Director of Economic Security Hayley Channer and Non-Resident Senior Fellow Bruce Wolpe for The Sydney Morning Herald
- COMMENTARY | Can Trump deliver on his promises? by Research Associate Ava Kalinauskas for The Australian Financial Review
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University of Sydney NSW 2006
