By Zi Yuan Wong
February 2025
Reality has finally set in; Donald Trump has been inaugurated as the 47th President of the United States of America.
This year’s Inauguration Day was marked by extreme weather, with temperatures dropping to negative figures. Instead of rays of sunshine welcoming a new chapter in American history, a frigid cold welcomed the new administration and forced the event indoors. Billionaires and big tech CEOs were curiously seen at the event, hinting at the target demographic of the upcoming administration.
Despite my worries about America’s future, I could not deny that a part of me was unsurprised at the outcome of observing the events leading up to Election Day. Somehow, despite the notoriety and controversies that he garnered over the years – controversies that would send minor offenders to Guantanamo, it did nothing to his overall reputation. Now, on the steps of Capitol Hill, he is poised to start his second presidential term with full Republican control of the federal government.
Reflecting on the events unfolding, I carry the feeling that the country is slipping closer to an oligarchy, or rule by the few, namely large corporations. Large corporations are encroaching on people’s lives everywhere and with their influence, no regular person can hold them accountable. With Tesla CEO Elon Musk, a close associate of Trump himself, making a gesture on live TV that would get normal people in serious trouble, the reality that rich people can continue to get away with anything immoral is becoming increasingly evident. Meanwhile, we continue to get distracted and argue about things that can be resolved immediately, like the hidden meaning of a Nazi salute.
As both a racial minority and an “outsider,” while I enjoy living in the States, I am under no illusion that I lack strong emotional or familial attachments to the place, and therefore will not be significantly affected by the acts of the new administration. However, what do these policies mean for racial minorities who are born and raised here? What will happen to them, and will new executive orders and laws affect the way of life that they have known for generations? Ideally, nothing too bad will happen to anyone in the short term, but the general atmosphere will get tenser as stricter and more regressive laws are enacted, empowering those who harbor less than pleasant views towards their fellow countrymen.
Ultimately, this inauguration not only signifies the peaceful transfer of power from one administration to another, but it also marks the start of an uncertain future for not only Americans but also for countries where the United States’ presence is felt. The events of the next four years will be interesting to witness; everyone’s lives, for good or ill, will significantly change going forward.