A Eulogy for Democracy: Trump’s Inauguration, Take Two

How a second oath became the death knell for the democracy he will gut.

Remember the time when inaugurations were about hope, unity, and the peaceful transfer of power? When they felt like a fresh start, a moment to set aside differences and believe in something bigger than ourselves? When they were less about division and more about what Americans could achieve together?

Yeah, I remember, too—and it seems that time is dead.

The first indicator, if somewhat superficial, was Melania Trump’s attire. If the mourning of democracy could choose an outfit, it would be hers. So somber and haunting, she looked like the headliner at democracy’s wake.

And really, wasn’t that the theme of the day?

From the moment Trump took the podium, it was clear: This wasn’t a celebration. It was a declaration of war, wrapped in a threat. His speech, straight from the fascist playbook, painted a dystopian vision of America: a fallen empire, overrun by immigrants, crime, and (gasp) pronouns. But don’t worry—Trump will fix it. With more Trump. More power. More revenge.

“The golden age of America begins right now,” he declared, as if manifesting prophecy—conveniently ignoring that the last four years had been truly golden for his legal team. And for the economy!

“The vicious, violent, and unfair weaponization of the Justice Department and our government will end,” he promised. The unspoken truth? The very institutions meant to protect the American people will be turned against the people—a bitter pill to swallow.

“As commander in chief, I have no higher responsibility than to defend our country from threats and invasions. And that is exactly what I am going to do. We will do it at a level that nobody has ever seen before,” we heard Trump say. A level nobody has ever seen before? Sounds promising! I doubt anyone imagined Canada as the 51st state, but hey, maybe that’s just me.

If you want to refresh your memory on Trump’s rather dark vision for the United States, you can check the official transcript here.

What else was different? Right, the front-row seats at Trump’s second inauguration looked…different. No dignitaries, past presidents, or esteemed guests. No, this was a billionaire showcase—a grotesque display of America’s new ruling class. Silicon Valley opportunists, real estate tycoons, wannabe space colonizers—every soulless shark who bought their way into power sat there, smirking.

And why wouldn’t they? They weren’t just watching an inauguration. They were celebrating an investment paying off. A down payment on the biggest money grab yet.

Meanwhile, outside, the MAGA faithful—many of whom had drained their savings to be here—never even got to see their leader take the oath. The inauguration had been moved inside, away from the people, behind closed doors, where power operates unchecked. Officially, the ‘dangerous’ cold was blamed, but his fanbase was pissed.

The People’s President, once again, showed just how much he cares about his people.

Then came the moment of swearing in. Trump refused to place his hand on the Bible—never quite making contact, as if the thing might do something. It was a perfect metaphor: the words were spoken, the ritual was performed, but the spirit of it was dead.

In the past, even corrupt presidents at least pretended to believe in the institution they were leading. But Trump? He didn’t even bother. The country, the laws, the history—it was all just a stage for his sick ego trip.

If you had a bingo card of every authoritarian trope, you won on Inauguration Day. His speech hit all the classics:

1. The Nation in Ruins: America, according to Trump, is a lawless wasteland teetering on the edge of collapse. It’s as if he spent four years watching Mad Max like a documentary and decided it was time to stop the madness.

2. The Enemies Within: Democrats. Immigrants. The media. Local women’s groups. Trans people who read books to children. The list of traitors grows daily.

3. The Savior Complex: Only Trump can fix it. Only he can bring law & order. If you don’t support him, you’re not just against him—you’re against America itself.

4. The Revenge Tour: The usual promises of mass deportations, military crackdowns on protesters, jailing political enemies, and gutting federal institutions.

Sounds familiar, right? Trump numbed us with threats for years, but this time? He’s not joking.

And yet, his cult ate it up. Red hats bobbed in approval. Shirts flashed slogans that belonged in a psychiatric case study. The people who stormed the Capitol just four years ago now stood in the cold, celebrating, as their guy swore an oath to the very Constitution they tried to tear down.

Normally, an inauguration is a festive affair—music, unity, a sense of occasion. This one had all the warmth of a hostage video. The National Mall, once packed with hopeful faces, was now a sea of grim expressions and oversized flags. And then there was the man himself: orange, loud, and seething. The world’s most bitter wedding cake topper. His body language screamed resentment like he couldn’t believe he had to work for this.

This inauguration wasn’t just a return to power—it was a declaration of war. On his enemies, on democracy, on reality itself. And the people cheering? They aren’t looking for policy changes. They’re looking for destruction, revenge, or the best deal.

So, here we are. The speech marked Day One of Trump’s second term, and the masks are off—both metaphorically and literally, because let’s be honest, this crowd never believed in COVID.

The question isn’t just what happens next. It’s whether anyone is still left to stop it.