We Got Who They Voted For

The president chose not to take the high road

Credit: Getty Images

For what is supposed to be an esteemed, tradition-rich ceremony, full of grandeur and history, our presidential inauguration in the Capitol Rotunda today ended with what has become a Trump tradition: a long, hate-filled rant that would best be described in polite company as one giant load of hooey.

Most incoming presidents use their inauguration speech to optimistically look toward a bright future. Most presidents are not Donald Trump. His inaugural address was so dark, no one would have been surprised if it had started raining inside the rotunda.

Trump made America sound like a struggling nation rather than a country with one of the most robust and envied economies in the world. That is his schtick. It’s like Munchausen by Proxy, politics edition. He convinces people things are dire so that he, and only he, can swoop in to be their savior. To bring this point home, he said, “I was saved by god to make America great again.”

In the exact spot where rioters tried to carry out a coup four years ago, Trump unironically predicted that his proudest legacy will be as “peacemaker and unifier.” With all the grace of a thundering rhino, he laid blame for our country’s ills at the feet of Democrats sitting close by, accusing the Biden administration of a “horrible betrayal.” Way to be a peacemaker and unifier. We’ve all been here before. This bully has no filter, by design.

With oozing bravado, he said he would get back control of the Panama Canal, end the Green New Deal (including revoking electric car mandates — happy about that one, Elon?), and rename the Gulf of Mexico the Gulf of America (cue the shot of Hillary Clinton seated behind Trump guffawing). But what about all those promises made during the campaign? I’ve been taking notes, and it will be up to us, all of us, together with a robust and vigorous press, to hold the new president accountable.

Many Americans are in no mood for his nonsense, which, unsurprisingly, has already begun. Trump has started backtracking on some of his major pledges, promises he made in order to get elected. Many of which have never had a chance of becoming reality. Here is just a sampling:

Ending automatic citizenship for everyone born in the United States
In December, he hedged on this promise, telling NBC News that “We’ll maybe have to go back to the people.” It was, however, apparently one of the executive orders he signed today. Most constitutional scholars believe this birthright is enshrined in the 14th Amendment, so Trump’s executive order will be challenged in the courts.

Ending the war in Ukraine
Trump claimed he would do this before he took office. Clearly that didn’t happen, nor could it have. Last week Trump’s special envoy for Ukraine and Russia told Fox that the president wants to take “100 days” to see if he can “figure a way we can do this in the near term.”

Lowering the cost of gas to $2 a gallon
Presidential action has little effect on the price of gas. Global prices fluctuate because of things like wars and pandemics, not who is sitting in the Oval Office. He said today that he would “drill, baby, drill” to bring down the price of oil. One problem: Right now the U.S. is already drilling more than ever before. Also, to bring down prices, oil companies, i.e. many Trump supporters, would take a hit on profits.

Cutting automobile insurance costs in half
During the campaign, Trump erroneously claimed that the cost of auto insurance had jumped 73%, and that he would cut it by half. First, car insurance costs are up 16.5% year to year — a lot, to be sure. Second, since it is the states that regulate insurance rates, he is limited as to what, if anything, he can actually do.

Impose high tariffs on Canadian, Mexican, and Chinese imports
The Wall Street Journal is reporting that he will hold off on the tariffs while he awaits a review of trade and currency imbalances with the three nations. It seems someone talked some sense into Trump, since most economists believe raising tariffs would increase inflation and thus consumer costs.

Closing the border
Trump claimed in a post-election interview that he “wasn’t speaking literally” when he said he would close the U.S. border with Mexico. He has subsequently said he meant he would strengthen enforcement against illegal entry.

Lowering food prices
After asserting numerous times on the campaign trail that he would “rapidly drive down prices” of groceries on his first day in office, Trump walked back that promise just one month after winning the election. He told NBC News, “I’d like to bring them down. It’s hard to bring things down once they’re up. You know, it’s very hard.”

Dismantling the social safety net
Much waffling on this one. Trump has said he won’t touch Social Security, but Elon Musk has said everything is on the table. Reportedly, plans are circulating on Capitol Hill to make trillions of dollars in cuts to Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid over the next decade. Nearly 100 million Americans are beneficiaries of one or more of these programs. That is almost a third of the population. You know who isn’t in that group? Any of the billionaires currently advising the president.

Sadly, it appears one promise he will keep is pardoning the January 6 insurrectionists, in what has become one of the most sickening attempted rewrites of American history.

Just before leaving office, President Biden had one final shot for Trump, preemptively pardoning several members of government against whom Trump had promised political retribution, including Dr. Anthony Fauci and General Mark Milley.

As for the promises, how many will go unfilled before a large majority of people realize they have elected a charlatan?

The silence of critics is essential to the growth of authoritarian power. So time for another gentle reminder that the press has an imperative role to play in holding the powerful accountable. Here at Steady we are rededicating ourselves to doing our small part.

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Stay Steady,

Dan