Donald Trump Vows a ‘Golden Age’ in His Inaugural Speech
Good morning. Donald Trump launched his second term with a strident inaugural address. A banking executive comes to the defense of DEI initiatives. And a new study reveals the potential benefits of weight-loss drugs for the brain. Listen to the day’s top stories.
Donald Trump wasted no time putting his mark on his second term, promising a “golden age” as he was sworn in as the 47th US president. He vowed to prioritize America’s interests and took aim at a “radical and corrupt establishment.” The president also announced a flurry of planned executive orders that he has been telegraphing for months, including declaring a national emergency at the southern border. Follow our live coverage here.
Trump also took aim at environmental causes during his inaugural speech, announcing his intentions to yank the US out of the Paris climate pact and end tax credits for electric vehicles. He aims to declare an energy emergency, doubling down on his “drill, baby, drill” mantra with plans to fill the US’s strategic oil reserve “right to the top.”
One of his most hyped actions though, has been placed on the back burner—at least for day one. The president is said to be holding off on unveiling China-specific tariffs—sending the US dollar lower and US stock futures higher. Instead, he will shift into a negotiating mode with Xi Jinping and call for federal agencies to study tariff policies and US trade relationships.
TikTok CEO Shou Chew was one of many tech CEOs attending Trump’s inauguration—even as his video-sharing app faces the threat of a nationwide ban. The president has promised to sign an executive order giving the platform more time to find a new owner, as required by law, but it remains unclear whether he has the legal power to authorize an extension.
Former President Joe Biden used the last hour of his presidency to grant blanket pardons to five family members. In an effort to protect government officials Trump has labeled political enemies, Biden also issued preemptive pardons to retired General Mark Milley, infectious diseases expert Anthony Fauci and members of Congress who investigated the new president’s role in the assault on the Capitol four years ago.
The anti-anti-woke argument. The head of Deutsche Bank’s investment arm has taken to social media in defense of so-called woke finance. In a post on LinkedIn, DWS CEO Stefan Hoops said the ongoing backlash against diversity, equity and inclusion and environmental, social and governance efforts risks allowing “anti-woke rhetoric” to lead the finance industry “straight back to the macho Wolf of Wall Street era.”
More on DEI and ESG
If a China-US conflict emerges, Americans would have a far more serious threat to their everyday lives than TikTok propaganda, Catherine Thorbecke writes. It’s time to tackle the glaring weaknesses shown when hackers penetrate critical facilities or the devices of top officials.
More Opinions
One of the world’s largest studies of Ozempic, Mounjaro and other blockbuster diabetes and obesity drugs showed benefits for the brain, addressing issues from addiction to schizophrenia. It added to evidence that the medicines may not only suppress appetite but also help curb alcoholism, opioid use and other addictions.
A Couple More
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