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Donald Trump has officially begun his second term as President of the United States, taking the oath of office on Monday (20 January) at the US Capitol in Washington, D.C., alongside his vice president, JD Vance. His return to the White House signals what many see as a challenging four years ahead for LGBTQ+ Americans.

Due to a severe winter storm bringing freezing temperatures and Arctic winds to the east coast, the inauguration ceremony was moved indoors, with more than 70 million Americans under winter weather advisories across multiple states.

Trump’s inauguration follows mass protests in Washington, where thousands marched in opposition to his administration.

In his first speech as the 47th US president, Trump declared that “the golden age of America begins right now” and pledged to make the country “the envy of every nation.”

“I will – very simply – put America first,” he stated.

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Trump also vowed to rebalance “the scales of justice” and end what he described as the “weaponisation” of the Department of Justice.

“A tide of change is sweeping the country,” he continued, adding: “Sunlight is pouring over the entire world, and America has the chance to seize this opportunity like never before.”

Among his immediate policy announcements, Trump stated that his administration’s official stance would be that there are only two genders – “male and female” – and pledged to end “the government policy of trying to socially engineer race and gender into every aspect of public and private life.”

“We will forge a society that is colour-blind and merit-based,” he added.

Trump secured his return to the White House after defeating Democratic candidate Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential election. His victory was confirmed on 6 November after surpassing 270 electoral college votes, winning key swing states, including Wisconsin.

Before the swearing-in ceremony, Trump attended a church service at St. John’s Episcopal Church, known as the “Church of the Presidents” due to its proximity to the White House. He then met with outgoing President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden for tea at the White House, following tradition.

Trump’s first day back in office was packed with events, including signing executive orders, attending an inaugural luncheon, participating in the Pass in Review military parade, and the presidential parade. The day’s events concluded with the Oval Office ceremony and three inaugural balls.

Trump has signalled a swift rollout of executive orders targeting key issues such as immigration, energy policy, and government operations.

On the campaign trail, he vowed to roll back LGBTQ+ rights, particularly for transgender individuals, promising to ban trans women from sports, reinstate the military ban on transgender service members, curb LGBTQ+ inclusive education, and halt diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies in government.

During his victory rally at the Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C., on Sunday (19 January), Trump assured supporters they would soon see executive orders that would make them “extremely happy.”

“We have to set our country on the proper course,” he said.

“By the time the sun sets tomorrow evening, the invasion of our borders will have come to a halt, and all the illegal border trespassers will, in some form or another, be on their way back home.”

LGBTQ+ advocacy organisations have expressed deep concern over Trump’s return to office, fearing a rollback of hard-fought rights.

Sarah Kate Ellis, President and CEO of GLAAD, issued a statement emphasising the importance of inclusivity:

“LGBTQ people are in all states, communities, families, and workplaces, and leaders should include and protect us with the fundamental freedoms all Americans enjoy,” she said.

Ellis also noted the significance of Inauguration Day coinciding with Martin Luther King Jr. Day, a day honouring one of America’s greatest civil rights leaders, urging people to remain committed to justice and equality.

Jaymes Black (they/she/he), CEO of The Trevor Project, addressed LGBTQ+ youth directly, acknowledging fears about the future under Trump’s administration.

“You are not alone. You are loved. And you have millions of people fighting for you to lead the healthy, safe, and long life that you deserve,” Black stated.

The Trevor Project reported a surge in crisis calls following Trump’s election win, with many young LGBTQ+ people expressing anxiety over potential policy changes.

“There may be negative news about your rights or your identity in the coming days and months. It may be hard to hear – or even understand. But I want you to know the vast majority of people want you to thrive exactly as you are,” Black continued.

The organisation reassured LGBTQ+ youth that they would continue fighting for their rights and encouraged those in distress to seek support from their 24/7 crisis hotline.

As Trump’s second term begins, advocates, activists, and LGBTQ+ organisations remain vigilant and prepared to challenge any policies that threaten equality and civil rights in the United States.

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