Within a day, he has already approved some controversial executive orders, like pardoning the January 6 rioters, halting the TikTok ban, establishing a policy that states there are ‘only two genders’, reinstating capital punishment, and pulling out of the Paris climate agreement.
With Trump leading the nation, America is poised for significant changes, yet there’s more than just policy shifts catching public attention.
Observers have been scrutinizing the highs and lows of the inauguration ceremony, noting several cringe-worthy and questionable moments.
Here are eight particularly awkward moments from the event.
In his inauguration speech, Trump couldn’t resist taking jabs at his political rivals.
While declaring that the ‘golden age of America begins right now’, he criticized the previous administration for failing to handle ‘a simple crisis at home’.
This remark was met with silence from former President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, who appeared unamused.
Among the attendees, tech moguls and some of the wealthiest individuals held VIP positions during the ceremony in the Capitol Rotunda.
Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg, Amazon’s Jeff Bezos with his fiancée Lauren Sánchez, and SpaceX and Tesla’s Elon Musk, all mingled on the prominent inaugural platform ahead of most of Trump’s anticipated Cabinet members.
Musk’s peculiar actions during the event did not go unnoticed, including a bizarre ‘thumbs up’ next to a disinterested-looking Barron Trump and an alleged ‘Nazi salute’, when emotionally charged by the idea of sending a person to Mars.
A tender moment between First Lady Melania Trump and the President turned awkward when Trump missed kissing his wife on the cheek.
A body language expert suggested that while Trump intended for a lip-to-lip kiss, Melania leaned in for a cheek kiss, resulting in an awkward ‘air kiss’.
Commentators noted that the failed kiss might have been due to Melania’s enormous hat, which obscured her face.
Former President Barack Obama did not receive a warm welcome when he arrived without his wife, Michelle.
He was met with ‘resounding boos’, as noted by NBC News reporters. It was an awkward moment.
He was not alone in this, as the Clintons and Mike Pence also faced boos from the crowd.
Amid a sea of formal business attire, one individual stood out for not adhering to the dress code.
Pennsylvania Senator John Fetterman arrived wearing grey shorts, sneakers, and a black hoodie, which his supporters describe as his ‘trademark outfit’.
Last month, the Democrat told ABC News that wishing for Trump’s failure is akin to ‘rooting against the nation’, reported The Independent.
Country music star and American Idol winner faced a technical glitch during her performance of ‘America the Beautiful’.
Underwood paused for a few moments while officials tried to fix the audio, eventually deciding to sing without it.
She invited the audience to join in, though reactions to her impromptu performance were mixed.
Some praised her for maintaining grace under pressure, while others criticized her singing as ‘pitchy’.
Kamala Harris’ seemingly unamused expression behind her was noted by some, including Ariana Grande.
During Trump’s speech, former First Lady Hillary Clinton found herself unable to suppress her laughter.
When Trump suggested renaming the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America, Hillary appeared to hold back laughter, her shoulders shaking.
Trump broke from some presidential traditions, notably choosing not to place his hand on the Bible while taking the oath of office and selecting an unusual performer.
Instead of a major pop star like Lady Gaga or Beyonce, Trump opted for lesser-known opera tenor Christopher Macchio to perform the anthem.