Conflicting Evaluations of Inaugural Address... Declaration of a Golden Age vs. Causing Division

Optimistic Outlook on the Declaration of a "New Era of National Success"
Criticism for Focusing Only on a Strong President and Self-Glorification
Policies Emphasize Breaking Away from Past Administrations

Will he be the leader to lead America's golden age, or a president who causes division rather than unity?

Yonhap News

On the 20th (local time), reactions from major U.S. foreign media to President Donald Trump's inaugural address as the 47th President of the United States were mixed. Conservative-leaning media positively evaluated Trump's message emphasizing a return to America's golden age, while other outlets criticized him for focusing solely on portraying a strong president and listing policies that cause division rather than unity.

In his inaugural speech, President Trump declared, "We will make America the greatest, most powerful, and most respected nation on Earth." However, evaluations from major U.S. foreign media on Trump's message, which proclaimed the era of 'America First 2.0,' were divided.

Fox News, known for its conservative stance, reported on Trump's inaugural address, stating, "President Trump pledged a 'new expectation of national success' and offered an optimistic outlook that 'a wave of change is sweeping across the country.'" They also highlighted a key part of Trump's speech: "We will be a country filled with compassion, courage, and excellence unlike any other."

The Wall Street Journal (WSJ), which broadcast the inauguration live, commented that "Trump presented groundbreaking policy changes to reverse America's decline," showcasing the most popular version of Trump's campaign speeches. WSJ also reported, "Trump declared a new 'golden age' for America," adding, "The new president vowed to prioritize issues related to borders, energy, and government reform, announcing sweeping policy changes."

There were also concerned reactions that Trump's inaugural address could cause division rather than unity. Critics pointed out his open criticism of former President Joe Biden and Democratic figures who attended the inauguration.

In his speech, President Trump said, "Our government is facing a crisis of trust. For years, extreme and corrupt elites have extracted power and wealth from our people, and the pillars of our society seem to have collapsed and become completely devastated." He also indirectly criticized the Biden administration's border policies, stating, "The government has failed to protect our great and law-abiding American citizens but has provided sanctuary and protection to dangerous criminals."

Regarding this, The New York Times (NYT) noted, "In his inaugural address, President Trump painted a bleak picture of a crumbling nation that only he can save," adding, "He largely omitted the noble themes or unifying expressions preferred by most presidents and instead outlined a series of policies that often cause division."

Some media outlets evaluated that Trump was overly focused on portraying himself as a hero and emphasizing the image of a strong president. CNN stated, "(Trump's) display of power at his inauguration is based on his 'strongman' persona and his view of presidential authority as omnipotent," warning, "This suggests that his second term could cause significant turmoil both domestically and internationally."

The Washington Post (WP), in an article titled 'Six Lessons from Trump's Inaugural Address,' commented, "Trump was obsessed with portraying himself as a hero who defeated evil and relied on a clear sense of destiny," adding, "Trump often spoke nobly about unity and emphasized it in this speech. However, he consistently painted a dark image of the country he promised to save (as he did in his 2017 inaugural address), which ultimately led to political retaliation."

There was also an assessment that he appeared trapped by past grievances. NBC reported, "President Trump said he wanted to be 'a peacemaker and a unifier,' but he spoke from the perspective of someone fixated on past grievances, from his 2020 election loss to investigations into the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot," adding, "This repeated the themes and complaints characteristic of his trademark (supporter) rally speeches."

Although he promised a new golden age, critics pointed out that he was more focused on breaking away from past administrations than introducing anything new. AFP reported, "Donald Trump took the oath for a historic second presidential term, promising a new 'golden age' for America, but spent most of his inaugural address promoting tough policies aimed at reversing what he called 'America's decline.'" They added, "The 47th U.S. president (Donald Trump) declared one of the most notable comebacks in American political history through often divisive speeches targeting illegal immigration and culture wars."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.