Donald Trump's Inaugural Message Aimed At Pennsylvanians
WASHINGTON (KDKA) - It was a day the political class thought would never happen: the inauguration of a businessman who has never held political or governmental office who promised Americans he would drain the swamp of Capitol Hill and Washington.
The swearing-in was comfortably familiar, but the new president had a message sure to jar politicians of all stripes.
Americans have done this 58 times since 1789 -- transferring power peacefully -- and this one was no exception.
"Congratulations, Mr. President," Chief Justice John Roberts said to the new President after he took the Oath.
The 45th president -- Donald J. Trump -- was viewed by many as the unlikeliest of candidates when he hit the campaign trail two years ago.
But with predecessors Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton, George Bush, and Barack Obama on the platform, President Trump said his inauguration was unlike others.
"Today we are not merely transferring power from one administration to another, or from one party to another, but we are transferring power from Washington DC and giving it back to you, the people," declared.
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In an address taken from the campaign trail, the new president took on both the majority Republican Congress and minority Democrats.
"For too long, a small group in our nation's capital has reaped the rewards of government while the people have borne the cost," said Trump.
"Politicians prospered but the jobs left and the factories closed."
In a message clearly directed at states like Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Michigan that gave him the presidency, Trump said, "We will get our people off welfare and back to work, rebuilding our country with American hands and American labor."
"We will follow two simple rules: buy American and hire American."
To a region that's lost thousands of manufacturing jobs, he promised, "That all changes, starting right here and right now."
And to Congress, he warned, "We will no longer accept politicians who are all talk and no action, constantly complaining but never doing anything about it."
President Trump has an ambitious agenda to rebuild America, and it's not at all clear that Congress will go along with his plans.
But the president served notice that he intends to represent what he calls the ignored American, not the political elites.
