José Antonio Gurpegui
Director of the Instituto Franklin-UAH
The colorful fireworks have faded, the musicians are traveling by bus to their winter quarters, a squadron of workers is working hard to return Washington to its usual capital look, clean of confetti and streamers… The new -or old- king already reigns in his white castle. And now what?
The results of the American elections of November 5 last year reflect, beyond the fine print – which it has – an uncontested victory of the Republican candidate Donald Trump. I cannot recall a single U.S. president with the power of the current one, and I am not referring to the majority of votes in both houses -that has been the case for many others-, but to the control of the will of those who cast those votes lacking the traditional autonomy of decision. Moreover, he governs the structures of the Republican Party like no one before and there is a majority of judges in the Supreme Court sympathetic to his social proposals. The sum and the continuation continues with the unconditional support of the large corporations that control the traditional and alternative media, and the bewilderment of the Democrats, still licking their wounds and as confused as disoriented by what has happened.
This is the zeitgeist, the spirit of the moment in which the inauguration of the 47th president of the United States took place.
The ceremony was certainly atypical not only because of the location -due to the cold weather it took place in the rotunda of the Capitol instead of the outdoor terrace-, or because in his infinite ego Trump forgot to place his hand on the Bible -something that is not mandatory unlike the acceptance formula which is- but because of the total lack of modesty -I would even dare to say lack of education- of the protagonist both in the ceremony and in the events surrounding the event. At this point, little or nothing should surprise us about the current president, but even Hillary Clinton’s restrained gestures revealed her astonishment at the spectacle she was experiencing live. I use the term “spectacle” in its literal meaning, since the speech, both in tone and content, had little of the institutionalism required for a historic event or the obligatory organic decorum proper to such a solemn act; on the contrary, it had a lot of cheap populism lacking the minimum of chivalry and respect.
During the official speech, he proffered a series of Manichean assessments of the outgoing government with the aggravating factor of bad manners in the presence of the outgoing president and vice-president, whom he described as traitors, since the mandate that now begins intends to “completely and totally reverse a horrible betrayal” and proclaimed that January 20, 2025 was “for American citizens… Liberation Day”. According to Trump the previous administration did not know how to “manage even a simple crisis at home”, furthermore “provides sanctuary and protection to dangerous criminals” and finally “has given unlimited funding to the defense of foreign borders, but refuses to defend […] its own people”.
He stated in his speech that “America’s golden age begins right now”, as well as “the complete restoration of America” that will take the country “to new heights of victory and success” and will shape, that is nothing, “the best four years in American history”.
It could not be less, since the American nation has a president touched by the hand of God to carry out such a task. The attack suffered in Pennsylvania during the electoral campaign is irrefutable proof that “God saved me to make America great again”. I wonder if in the face of such an assertion we should understand that it is to God, before whom Trump must render an account for having saved his life, instead of the American citizens who voted for him.
The day’s festivities continued at the Capital One Arena, with a delirious signing of executive orders. But that and more will be discussed in the next installment.
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