“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, D.C. and giving it back to you, the American people.” – President Donald J. Trump

The inaugural address of the 45th president of the United States exhibited overwhelmingly populistic ideals and promises for a better future. Sworn in on January 20, 2017, Donald Trump spoke directly to the hearts of his voters as he declares that the day “will be remembered as the day the people became the rulers of this nation again.” This populist approach in Trump’s speech acknowledges the power of the masses and their unlikely accomplishment of electing Trump to the highest office of the land. Yet, it also served as a reminder that Donald Trump is not a commonplace Republican; from his address, the president appears to be willing to break from the orthodoxy of the right when it clashes with the will of the public.

The target audience of the inaugural address was most prominently those who supported Trump’s 2016 campaign. The president spoke to this audience directly, announcing, “You came by the tens of millions to become part of a historic movement the likes of which the world has never seen before. At the center of this movement is a crucial conviction: that a nation exists to serve its citizens.” This statement, clearly aimed towards his supporters, further reinforces tones of populism in his speech, and Trump is right about the historic significance of his presidency. His rise to president of the United States as a non-politician is unprecedented in American history, and according to his speech, he owes the honor to the American citizens.

Besides reflecting populist sensibilities, Donald Trumps inaugural address also portrays no noticeable change from Republican nominee Trump to President Trump. The speech was consistent with the themes and diction used during the campaign trail, albeit in a slightly more formal manner. The president still posed himself as classic Trump with the use of his slogan “make America great again,” an emphasis on “winning,” and his application of phrases like “totally unstoppable” to describe a united America. Many expected Trump to pivot towards a more unifying tone during his time as president, but this pivot has yet to come. In his message, Trump reiterated the basic policy promises from his campaign, including a tight stance on immigration, a foreign policy that puts “America First,” and an opposition to free trade.

Putting the priorities of America first was discussed extensively in Trump’s address. Branding this notion with the slogan “America First,” which was first used in opposition of America entering WWII, President Trump elucidated the fact that America must help itself before assisting other nations. In his speech, he states,

For many decades, we’ve enriched foreign industry at the expense of American industry; subsidized the armies of other countries while allowing for the very sad depletion of our military; we’ve defended other nation’s borders while refusing to defend our own; and spent trillions of dollars overseas while America’s infrastructure has fallen into disrepair and decay.

President Trump vows that this lack of American priority will cease to exist during his presidency, and he believes this can be achieved by following two simple rules: “buy American and hire American.” In saying this, Trump brings an isolationist view to the government and favors leading by example rather than imposing the American way of life on other countries.

The “American First” ideology may prove beneficial in bolstering American industry, infrastructure, and economy, but it also sends an intimidating message to other countries that America may not be a reliable ally. However, the prioritization could help bring jobs to America and alleviate nearly 20 trillion dollars of national debt.

Even in his most scripted speech, President Trump continues the rhetoric he delivered during his rigorous campaign. For Trump supporters, this inaugural address is exactly what they wanted to hear. For those in opposition to Trump’s policy platform, this speech shattered any hope of a different President Trump than the one on the campaign trail.

Yet, like President Trump proclaims, now “we are looking only to the future.” Many months ago, the American media and public laughed at the possibility of Trump being the Republican nominee, let alone winning the presidential race. Donald Trump has already done the unexpected and accomplished the impossible, so only time will tell how 4 years of a Trump administration will treat the United States.