_Bureau

President Trump took the oath of office for the second time and was sworn in as the 47th president. He laid out a sweeping agenda and declared that the country’s golden age

In what was arguably the most unusual inauguration in American history, President Donald Trump pledged a “golden age” for the country, while castigating the outgoing administration with now-former President Biden sitting just feet behind him.

“The golden age of America begins right now,” Trump said in his second inaugural address, which was moved inside because of cold weather. “From this day forward, our country will flourish.”

He added: “We will be the envy of every nation and we will not allow ourselves to be taken advantage of any longer.”

Trump stuck to the teleprompter in his official address. There was a lot that he promised to do, but a lot that he also left out — purposely, he later revealed in an off-script speech to supporters that was actually longer than his inaugural address.

Here are four takeaways and key moments from Trump’s formal — and informal — addresses:

1. The country got a better idea of what Trump will focus on.

Trump said he would quickly sign executive orders related to deportations, energy, tariffs and more. He said he would declare a “national emergency at our southern border,” halting immigration and deporting “criminal immigrants.”

“We will do it at a level nobody has ever seen before,” Trump promised. He also said he would declare a “national energy emergency,” would rescind the Green New Deal and any mandate to produce more electric vehicles.

“In other words, you’ll be able to buy the car of your choice,” he said.

2. There was a lot he didn’t talk about in his formal address, notably Jan. 6 and his promises of political retribution — but he did later.

In the lead up to the election, Trump promised political retribution against many of his critics. But it was – and remains – unclear how far he will go and how, if or when he will follow through.

“The scales of justice will be rebalanced,” Trump said. “The vicious, violent and unfair weaponization of the Justice Department and our government will end.”

Trump was charged in four different criminal cases, though only one made it to trial before the election because of delays and prosecutorial setbacks. He was convicted for, among other things, fraudulent business practices in New York.

“I was going to talk about the J6 hostages,” Trump said in Emancipation Hall in the Capitol after his formal address, with House Speaker Mike Johnson standing off to Trump’s left. “But it’s action, not words that count. And you’re going to see a lot of action.”

Trump speaks to the crowd alongside House Speaker Mike Johnson in the VIP overflow viewing area in Emancipation Hall after his inauguration at the U.S. Capitol.

Pool/Getty Images

Trump has pledged to pardon many, if not all, of those convicted of attacking the Capitol that day, though the latest NPR poll found 62% disapproved of Trump going through with those pardons.

Trump has been embittered by the congressional investigation into his role leading up to and on Jan. 6. In his inaugural address, he kept aside his grievances against those who served on that committee. But he didn’t hold back in his informal speech later, calling them “thugs” and, again, sharply criticizing people like Republicans and former Reps. Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger, who served on the committee.

Earlier in the day, before the inauguration, Biden preemptively pardoned the Jan. 6 committee (as well as many in his own family).

3. Trump delivered sharp criticism of the outgoing administration, right in front of Biden and Vice President Harris.

Despite pledging in his inaugural address to be a “peacemaker and unifier” — and saying that’s what he wants his legacy to be — with Biden looking on, Trump bitingly claimed that the government cannot manage simple domestic crises “while at the same time stumbling into a continuing catalog of catastrophic events abroad.”

Joe Biden listens to Donald Trump speak during his inauguration in the U.S. Capitol Rotunda.

Pool/Getty Images

He leveled criticism related to crime and immigration and was seemingly critical of U.S. funding of Ukraine’s defense against Russia’s invasion.

“We have a government that has given unlimited funding to the defense of foreign borders, but refuses to defend American borders or, more importantly, its own people,” Trump said.

He also claimed the government “can no longer deliver basic services in times of emergency,” like after the hurricane that wreaked havoc in North Carolina or the wildfires in Los Angeles

4. Democrats tried to show respect for the office and the peaceful transfer of power, but they couldn’t all hold back their reactions at some more eye-opening moments.

Despite Trump falsely claiming to have won the 2020 election, despite Jan. 6 and despite Biden repeatedly calling him a threat to democracy, Biden and Democratic officials participated in the inauguration ceremonies as an endorsement of the peaceful transfer of power.

^{_{(L-R) Priscilla Chan, Meta founder Mark Zuckerberg, Lauren Sanchez, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, Google CEO Sundar Pichai and Tesla CEO Elon Musk attend the inauguration.}}

Another former first lady, Michelle Obama, who blistered Trump in multiple campaign addresses, didn’t attend the formalities. That left former President Barack Obama on his own on a dais that included billionaire tech moguls Jeff Bezos, Mark Zuckerberg and Elon Musk.

Donald J. Trump Attends the Presidential Parade