Why Trump’s false statements in his inaugural address matter
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
I can say with confidence that I’ve seen or read every inaugural address ever delivered, and there’s never been one quite like Donald Trump’s second presidential inaugural . That’s not, however, intended to be a compliment.
Among the most glaring problems with the remarks were contradictions that dominated the new/old president’s speech. On the one hand, it was needlessly small and petty, referencing wins in “swing states” and the popular vote, hardly the stuff of a traditional inaugural address. On the other hand, the same prepared speech also pitched overly ambitious ideas, such as putting Americans on Mars — a goal that certainly will not happen before 2029.
On the one hand, Trump boasted that he expects his “proudest legacy” to be “that of a peacemaker.” On the other hand, the Republican also declared, in reference to the Panama Canal, “[W]e’re taking it back.”
On the one hand, he presented himself as a “unifier” (a word he used twice). On the other hand, much of the speech echoed his usual campaign rhetoric, and there was little in the address for anyone outside the GOP base.
But just as importantly, Trump relied heavily on the kind of brazen falsehoods and wild exaggerations that are rarely heard in inaugural addressed that are traditionally about the nation’s future.
- He condemned “the vicious, violent and unfair weaponization of the Justice Department,” which did not happen in reality.
- He said North Carolinians were “treated so badly” by the government, but his post-hurricane lies have been repeatedly and thoroughly discredited .
- He claimed the United States has provided “sanctuary and protection” for immigrants “from prisons and mental institutions.” Trump has said this before, but there’s literally no evidence to support the rhetoric.
- He said wildfires in the Los Angeles area have burned “without even a token of defense,” which would probably come as a surprise to firefighters in the area.
- Trump complained about “record inflation” in the Biden era, apparently indifferent to the fact that inflation rates were nowhere near record highs .
- He vowed to “revoke the electric vehicle mandate,” adding that Americans will soon be able to “buy the car of your choice.” In reality, there is no electric vehicle mandate, and consumers can already buy the car of their choice.
- Trump promised to “tariff and tax foreign countries to enrich our citizens,” despite the fact that it’s impossible to impose tariffs to “enrich” Americans, and there’s also no way for the United States to “tax foreign countries.”
- He described “a national energy emergency,” necessitating “drill, baby, drill,” which was bizarre given that domestic oil production hasn’t just reached an all-time high in the United States , it’s also outpaced every other country on the planet.
- Trump decried “devastating crime” rates, despite the fact that crimes went down, not up , during the Biden era.
I could keep going, but you probably get the idea.
At face value, the fact that Trump couldn’t even get through a relatively brief inaugural address without peddling fictions probably didn’t surprise those who watched his remarks. The president is, after all, one of the most dishonest public figures in the history of American politics.
But inaugural addresses are rarely filled with lies, and the fact that the Republican couldn’t stick to reality with the eyes of the world and the eyes of history upon him tells us quite a bit about what to expect from Trump’s second term.
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Trump doesnt care that history will excoriate this inaugural address. Probably shouldnt have let Stephen Miller write it.
Many regard it as his best speech ever. Ambitious but doable, unlike the lies and deception of the Biden regime.
I do not put any faith in anything Rachel "Mad Dog" Maddow has to say about the conservative right. Whatever she says, I will most likely believe the opposite.
They leftwing lunatic fringe hasn't learned their lesson. 24 hours in the Crazy ones are pushing lies about Nazi salutes. Similar to the "Nazi stage" insanity they ran with before. The good thing is no one takes people like Maddow seriously anymore, and their crazy lies damage themselves. As they grow more isolated, they'll get even shriller and crazier.
Musks mind is not an open book, but he did make a gesture associated with white supremacy. Maybe it was an accident or an overzealousness, but it was not nothing.
Nazi groups on social media praised Musk for showing solidarity with them. That is an issue in itself.
Thats one way to conduct independent research. /s
Even the ADL, as faithful a water carrier for democrats as you could ask for, debunked that claim.
He said "my heart goes out to you" and enacted throwing his heart to the people.
It is nice that people identify themselves by falling for this sort of nonsense, but sad that so many do.
Nazi groups and many racialist progressives share the same obsession with race. I'm not surprised that they too try and turn every innocent interaction into something with racial overtures.
Musk made a highly questionable , yet specific, gesture some associate with white supremacy. He might be the one obsessed with race.
By the way, it was hard to find any black or brown faces at the inauguration yesterday. In the rotunda there appeared to be almost none once you get past the spouses of his cabinet members.
The Nazi salute lie nicely sums up the Democrats and their meida MO:
They don't actually deal in reality. They tell you how they want the world to look (Biden is sharp as ever!) and expect everyone to go along with mythical world.
e vowed to “revoke the electric vehicle mandate,” adding that Americans will soon be able to “buy the car of your choice.” In reality, there is no electric vehicle mandate, and consumers can already buy the car of their choice.
So four more years of dishonest "fact checking" to look forward to. He did not say "soon"or imply "soon" in his speech. No surprise, MSNBC lied about what he said to make it appear like he said something other than what he did.
It takes about 30 seconds to find out that we did not have record inflation. Maybe he doesnt know how to operate Google.
Does MSNBC not even know how to read the transcript of the speech it's supposedly analysing?
No, the ability to read isn’t a DEI requirement.
Actually, MSNBC is probably banking on them thinking nobody else did either.
sa id North Carolinians were “treated so badly” by the government,
Dozens kicked out of WNC hotels despite FEMA Jan. 25 extension
Trump's right again...
He was saying that the day after the hurricane happened.
In his third lie fest of the day, which is going on right now, he thanked his son Baron for helping him "win the youth vote by 36 points. "
FACT CHECK: Did Trump Win The Youth Vote By 34 Points In 2024?
Dec 18, 2024 · The claim is false as data shows that Harris won the youth vote, not Trump . Tufts University’s Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement (CIRCLE) …
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It would be nice if people stopped enabling this man's insanity, but clearly that is not going to happen.
Steve Benin is going to tell us why something matters.
Has anyone ever heard of him?
Rachel Maddows producer so you know it is not biased. S/
Isn’t that they guy that has two shows on MSNBC?
Trump just signed an executive order declaring that free speech is restored.
LMAO.
All for show....it's all trump really is; a figurehead that's there for show, President Musk and Putin are running the show.
Nice to see that trump welcomed a young lady that had her head blown off. Medical tech has really come a long way.
Trump's barely coherent rambling psychobabble was fun to watch.
I saw him say that. Stumbling and bumbling.
Say it with me, Trump is your president if you are an American.
I respect the office, not the man in the office. Trump is a disgusting POS.
Thank-you. That is how I fee, also
Marco Rubio is your new Secretary of State America!
At least three times today Trump said he will unify the country. Then he spent at least half of his speaking times during the day attacking his "enemies". Its all a joke.
I will unite the country like never before, no one has united the country like I will. I have received 100 gross of duct tape and gorilla glue that’s how I’ll do it.
Bigly bro bigly.
he'll get them to 'stick' together then, like a stick of butter without a margarine of error or bounds does this total frckn clown seem to no. His rant about Cheney and the January 6th investigation was the only thing I've heard besides a few things on NT i\ve read. The 1/6 story he told, holy shit is he one faced liar Bold
He was just sworn in as president of the United States and he spent a good part of his speaking time today listing his fricking grievances.
Its crazy and a profound embarrassment to this country.
His signing press conference has just eclipsed the length of 4 years of biden press conferences. How refreshing to have a government that communicates instead of just constantly lying about being transparent
I watched that too. It not only put biden to shame it also put harris to shame.
In Joe’s defense, he has been suffering from dementia for the past two years, they couldn’t lie about his cognitive abilities if he gave an actual press conference.
It's nice to see a President able to interact with the media without his aides screaming at the media to keep the President from being able to talk.
If you think this administration will have something refreshing for you, then I’ve got an all natural skunk tail air freshener that you’d love. Get ready for the ugliest abuse of American democracy in history. What will be the excuse of those dimwits who enabled this upcoming nightmare?
I am talking about things that happened, you are talking thing some on the left hope happens
If they can excuse Trump, and they most certainly have, for what that POS has done, instead of either lying, or just lying to themselves, cause i've interacted with some Trumpers recently, and it is depressing how convinced it is not Trump as the breaker of so many Rules and norms, no, it's the brilliant senile old dude that wasn't fit for office, yet somehow had no charges brought against him. Projection that should have lost Trump the election but because these clowns would rather see liberals, the left, and or all Dem squirm, whilst they drink the Tequila and then swallow their liters tiny little worm. What an absolute child having a meltdown, perhaps he needs a little time out, out in the Cooler withabuncha others to see him cry his face into the covers
Lucy and Linus anyone?
Ask and ye shall receive.
He's already being sued by multiple groups including 19 states on immigration. We'll see what else is unconstitutional soon I suppose.
Hope those groups and states don't mind potentially losing federal funding.