By Carol E. Lee
WASHINGTON -- Donald Trump took office as the 45th president on
Friday with a fiery address that echoed his campaign rhetoric,
damning Washington's political order, and promising a new
nationalism to shake up America's economy and international
relations.
In a day draped in the pageantry and rituals that mark the
transfer of power from one commander in chief to another, hundreds
of thousands of Americans from across the country gathered in
Washington under rainy skies both to celebrate and to protest.
Mr. Trump's inaugural address spoke squarely to his supporters.
He took aim at the Washington establishment, sounded the
nationalist themes that propelled his insurgent candidacy to the
White House and painted a picture of a nation in distress.
"Every decision on trade, on taxes, on immigration, on foreign
affairs will be made to benefit American workers and American
families," he said. "Protection will lead to great prosperity and
strength."
The combative tone of Mr. Trump's remarks played well to his
supporters in the crowd, yet their dark nature surprised some
historians and political strategists. "At some level, you expect an
inaugural address to feature lofty, inspiring, and soaring
rhetoric," said Lanhee Chen, who oversaw speech-writing for 2012
Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney. "This was, instead, a
statement of the harsh realities that helped propel Trump to the
presidency."
The moment starts the clock on the ambitious agenda on which Mr.
Trump has vowed to deliver, including new jobs, a sweeping
health-care law to replace the Affordable Care Act, new immigration
policies and major upgrades to America's infrastructure.
Despite the challenges he faces in achieving those goals, he set
the country's expectations high. "I will never, ever let you down,"
he said.
In his 16-minute address, the new president lamented the
"American carnage" of struggling families across a country he said
is dotted with shuttered factories and decayed infrastructure and
riddled with crime.
"For too long, a small group in our nation's capital has reaped
the rewards of government, while the people have borne the costs,"
he said. "That all changes, starting right here and right now."
The president vowed to protect the U.S. from "the ravages of
other countries."
"We defended other nations' borders while refusing to defend our
own," Mr. Trump said. Going forward, he said, "we will follow two
simple rules: buy American, and hire American."
Mr. Trump's bleak image echoed his campaign themes and ran
counter to messages President Barack Obama delivered in his final
appearances before leaving office on Friday.
Jobs lost to foreign competition in recent years have been
replaced by jobs elsewhere in the economy, though they may pay
less. Total employment is up by 11% since the end of the recession
in 2009, or 14 million jobs.
Factory employment is up a much smaller amount -- 5%, or 549,000
jobs -- and is still lower than in 2007. That is probably partly
due to trade, but mostly to rising productivity: the same output
can be produced with fewer workers. U.S. manufacturing production
has risen 21% since the end of the recession, and is slightly lower
than in 2007.
Nationally, the murder rate rose in 2015 for the first time in
nearly a decade, though it remains well below where it stood during
the 1990s, according to the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Mr. Trump also emphasized that he will be a different kind of
commander in chief by using just three words -- he promised to
unite the world against "radical Islamic terrorism." Mr. Obama
refused for eight years to rhetorically mix Islam and terrorism. He
argued doing so taints a religion that terrorists seek to
exploit.
"We will reinforce old alliances and form new ones, and unite
the civilized world against radical Islamic terrorism, which we
will eradicate from the face of the Earth," Mr. Trump said.
At a luncheon in the Capitol's ornate Statuary Hall, Mr. Trump
struck a softer tone.
"Whether you're a Republican or Democrat, doesn't make a
difference, we're going to get along," he told a bipartisan crowd
of lawmakers and dignitaries, including his 2016 election opponent,
Hillary Clinton. Mr. Trump acknowledged Mrs. Clinton at the lunch,
and shook her hand.
Underscoring the bitter election fight that preceded Friday's
inauguration, as Mr. Trump prepared to make the customary
presidential trip down Pennsylvania Avenue from the Capitol to the
White House, protestors and police repeatedly clashed nearby.
Police arrested dozens of protestors and used tear gas to try to
contain the situation, as thousands of Mr. Trump's supporters
awaited the first family and the inaugural parade. Mr. Trump, his
wife, Melania, his children and grandchildren watched the marching
bands from viewing stands in front of the White House.
Mr. Trump had promised to make a number of major policy changes
on the first day of his presidency but his aides said he'd defer
most of them to Monday. He takes office with just two cabinet
members in place, Defense Secretary James Mattis and Homeland
Security Secretary John Kelly.
He has outlined an ambitious agenda for his first 100 days in
office. Already he's encountering challenges, with Republicans
disagreeing over the timing of a plan to repeal and replace
Obamacare. Mr. Trump also will need some Democrats to help pass a
replacement law, and Mr. Obama has urged members of his party not
to help the GOP.
Mr. Trump's proposal to impose term limits on members of
Congress hit a roadblock. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell
(R., Ky.) said the idea will not come up for a vote in his
chamber.
He has also differed with congressional Republicans over the
U.S. intelligence assessment that Russia used cyberattacks to try
to interfere in the election in favor of Mr. Trump. Lawmakers have
promised investigations into the matter and called for harsher
punishment than the sanctions and diplomatic censures imposed on
Russia by Mr. Obama. Mr. Trump, meanwhile, has expressed a
willingness to consider lifting those sanctions if Russia takes
steps on nuclear nonproliferation.
His signature promise, however, has been new jobs for the middle
class. "The forgotten men and women of our country will be
forgotten no longer, " he said in his address.
His speech was for some Democrats a poor start to any attempt to
work with them.
"President Trump had an opportunity today to unite this country
in his inaugural remarks," House Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer said
in a statement.
"He chose not to do that, instead repeating the divisive
rhetoric of his campaign and painting a dark picture of an America
in decline -- something very far from the truth."
A New York businessman, Mr. Trump had never held elected office
before Friday.
He took the oath of office with his hand on two bibles held by
his wife, Melania.
Messrs. Obama and Trump participated in several inauguration
rituals together. The outgoing and incoming presidents rode to the
Capitol together in the presidential limousine, and the two couples
posed together. The new president and first lady saw the Obamas off
as they boarded a Marine helicopter on the back steps of the
Capitol.
Write to Carol E. Lee at carol.lee@wsj.com
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
January 20, 2017 19:22 ET (00:22 GMT)
Copyright (c) 2017 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.