Donald Trump, Prophet of American Doom and Restoration? His 2025 Inaugural Address

Donald Trump's 2025 Inauguration

“The future is ours, and our golden age has just begun.”

So said United States President Donald Trump during his second inaugural address, delivered in the United States Capitol on January 20, 2025. Trump warned that Joe Biden’s presidency had crushed America. However, by returning to the old ways, rejecting sexual variations, providing security, and ensuring justice, Trump promised to restore the United States of America. Conservatives blame disasters on change. Restoring the old ways brings renewal. Simple.

Although I doubt very much whether either Trump or any of his advisors realized it, he spoke in the prophetic style of repudiation and restoration – a rhetorical program that has echoed through American political rhetoric since the nation’s founding, and which, historically, reflects the teachings of the ancient Hebrew prophets. I question Trump’s accuracy—the nation is not really declining, and Trump’s policies will restore nothing of value—but the metaphorical pair of doom and restoration nevertheless carries great power. Return to the old ways, and everything will be fine—that was Trump’s message.

This theme resonates through centuries of conservative speeches. “The whole land shall be desolate,” the biblical prophet Jeremiah warned (Jeremiah 4:27). Subsequently, prophets of restoration, like Zechariah, showed that a nation can restore justice only by returning to the old ways: “Turn ye unto me, saith the LORD of hosts, and I will turn unto you” (Zechariah 1:2). While they brazenly ignore Zechariah’s moral imperatives, conservative speakers from the Puritans to Barry Goldwater often warned of impending collapse. Indeed, although I don’t think Trump and his speechwriters know anything about Jewish or Christian teachings, they clearly absorbed the attitude. (Although, unlike Trump, the prophets demanded mercy for poor people and immigrants, Malachi 3:5.).

Disaster!

So, early in his inaugural address, Trump cited an apocalyptic “crisis of trust.” Speaking to the Capitol crowd, Trump complained, with his billionaire sponsors literally listening from the front rows, but without a trace of irony, about a “radical and corrupt establishment:”

“As we gather today, our government confronts a crisis of trust. For many years, a radical and corrupt establishment has extracted power and wealth from our citizens while the pillars of our society lay broken and seemingly in complete disrepair.” [italics added]

Continuing, Trump complained that his predecessor’s government was unable to manage even the simplest emergencies, while “stumbling” through “catastrophic events.” Trump elaborated on the bizarre conspiracy theories that had propelled his campaign rhetoric:

“We now have a government that cannot manage even a simple crisis at home, while at the same time stumbling into a continuing catalog of catastrophic events abroad. It fails to protect our magnificent, law-abiding American citizens, but provide sanctuary and protection for dangerous criminals, many from prisons and mental institutions that have illegally entered our country from all over the world.”

Natural disasters, including hurricane Helene, which devastated the mountainous areas of North Carolina, and terrible fires in Los Angeles, spread terrible misery. Scientists might partially attribute these disasters to climate change. In contrast, Trump attributed them to the government’s moral failure:

“Our country can no longer deliver basic services in times of emergency, as recently shown by the wonderful people of North Carolina — who have been treated so badly and other states who are still suffering from a hurricane that took place many months ago or, more recently, Los Angeles, where we are watching fires still tragically burn from weeks ago without even a token of defense.”

Trump’s hyperbolic language callously ignored the massive efforts of the Federal Emergency Management Agency and California firefighters. But I digress.

Having reviled his predecessor’s alleged failures, Trump promised to restore the United States:

“After all we have been through together, we stand on the verge of the four greatest years in American history. With your help, we will restore America promise and we will rebuild the nation that we love — and we love it so much.” [italics added]

Donald Trump's 2017 Inaugural Address, Part 1: Parallel Phrases

Donald Trump's 2017 Inaugural Address, Part 2, "American Carnage"

Restoration!

Trump, however, assured the nation that he would restore what was lost. He would restore what was lost by reversing Biden’s “betrayal.” Trump would return the United States to the old ways:

“My recent election is a mandate to completely and totally reverse a horrible betrayal and all of these many betrayals that have taken place and to give the people back their faith, their wealth, their democracy, and, indeed, their freedom. From this moment on, America’s decline is over. And we are going to bring law and order back to our cities.” [italics added]

Trump promised, not only to restore the United States, but to return to the 19th century concept of American exceptionalism and to bring about a new golden age – an age of peace – an age of unity – an age of power:

“We will be a nation like no other, full of compassion, courage, and exceptionalism. Our power will stop all wars and bring a new spirit of unity to a world that has been angry, violent, and totally unpredictable.”

Donald Trump, official portrait

Among his many proposed reforms, Trump promised to remove government protections for minority races or people who did not conform to conservative sexual behavior. Indeed, rejecting Civil Rights reforms like Affirmative Action, Trump promised to restore the nation’s traditional racial and sexual attitudes:

“This week, I will also 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 colorblind and merit-based.

“As of today, it will henceforth be the official policy of the United States government that there are only two genders: male and female.”

Those statements, which much shocked mainstream moderators, make perfect sense if we understand that Trump sought to restore what was lost. The 14th amendment to the Constitution promised everyone “equal protection of the law.” Conservatives have never liked the 14th. The 14th mandated change—and, to Trump, change caused our troubles.

Trump also promised to restore traditional sexual mores. Scientists contend that sex and gender are far from simple. The Cleveland Clinic points out that about 1%-2% of people are not unambiguously male or female, and many people vary from the XX or XY chromosome types. For example, some people might be XYY. Instead of facing such complexities, Trump promised to outlaw them. To return to the old ways. To value tradition, not newfangled ideas. To keep things simple.

John F. Kennedy's Inaugural Address: A Call to Service

Jonathan Edwards "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God:" Prophecy in American Rhetoric

Move Forward by Going Back!

So, overall, probably without realizing it, Trump spoke in the prophetic rhetorical tradition. Just as ancient prophets sought to restore the old ways, Trump sought to restore tradition. If that required him to misrepresent the Biden administration, to overlook basic biology, or to make absurd promises, so be it. It was the formula, not the facts, that carried his power. We failed, he said, because we changed. To succeed does not mean to move forward: it means to restore what we have lost. To go back. To restore what we forsook. To restore our old values. Such was the prophetic message as often (mis)represented in American rhetoric, and such was Trump’s agenda.

by William D. Harpine  

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Research Note: American speakers from Jonathan Edwards to Daniel Webster to Ronald Reagan spoke in the prophetic style. Now, I do not in any way mean that Judeo-Christian teachings require us to move backwards, nor that the prophets rejected basic moral teachings. Evidently unknown to Trump, the prophets wrote of caring for the marginalized and spreading justice. I refer instead to the way that American speakers talk in the prophetic tradition. Prof. James Darsey has written that radical speakers often quote the Old Testament prophets. My University of Illinois mentor, Prof. Kurt Ritter, published an important and much-cited research article about the jeremiad, the typical American doom-saying rhetoric that warns us of upcoming calamity. Prof. James Gilmore and his colleagues have written brilliantly about jeremiad themes in Trump’s earlier speeches.

Copyright @ 2025 by William D. Harpine

Image of Trump's inauguration: United States Congress, public domain

Image of Donald Trump: official White House portrait, public domain

John F. Kennedy's Inaugural Address: A Call to Service

John Kennedy's Inauguration

A president’s inaugural address sets the incoming president's themes and values. So it was on January 20, 1961.

“Let both sides,” said President John F. Kennedy in his inaugural address, “explore what problems unite us instead of belaboring those problems which divide us.” In this magnificent speech, Kennedy asked for unity. He called the nation to its values: liberty, compassion, and service.

Commentators dwelled on the magnificent phrasing, but let us not neglect what truly inspired – Kennedy’s theme. Kennedy praised concord, not division. He promulgated a vision, and it was the only kind of vision that could possibly make a nation great. That is, Kennedy began his presidency by calling the nation and the world together. His message still resonates in the cynical days of the 21st Century. 

So, today, I focus not on speaking techniques, although Kennedy’s technique was admirable, but on theme. Every beginning speech student learns to establish a thesis or central idea. Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s theme was that “we have nothing to fear but fear itself.” Donald Trump’s 2017 theme was “American carnage.” 

Donald Trump's 2017 Inaugural Address, Part 1: Parallel Phrases

Donald Trump's 2017 Inaugural Address, Part 2, "American Carnage"

Kennedy’s 1961 theme was selfless service. Of his many sonorous phrases, it is his magnificent call to American service that rings across the decades:

“And so, my fellow Americans, ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country.”

So powerful! Kennedy did not promise that the nation would reward our selfish desires. Instead, he asked us to work together.

My mother’s favorite statement from the speech came next:

“My fellow citizens of the world, ask not what America will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man.”

And, in my view, Kennedy’s most powerful message – a message that should ring true today – a theme that we need to hear today more than ever – called for strength, sacrifice, and conscience:

“Finally, whether you are citizens of America or citizens of the world, ask of us here the same high standards of strength and sacrifice which we ask of you. With a good conscience our only sure reward, with history the final judge of our deeds, let us go forth to lead the land we love, asking His blessing and His help, but knowing that here on earth God's work must truly be our own.”

With such words, Kennedy articulated values that have all but vanished from American political discourse. He promised no easy ride. He did not pledge to free us from risk. Instead, he asked all Americans – all citizens of the world – to work together in common cause for justice and peace. He asked us to serve one another. 

Do these values still resonate in 2025? Donald Trump will give his second inaugural address tomorrow, January 20, 2025. As you listen to the speech, and I hope that all my readers will, set aside, for a moment, their thoughts about Trump’s specific arguments or policies, and look instead at his values. What theme does he state? Does he ask to bring the nation and the world together, or to tear us apart? Does he call for conscience, or for rage? Listen without prejudgment, but listen, above all else, for his theme.

Each president’s inaugural address establishes the speaker’s values and hopes. Yes, unexpected challenges can arise. After all, no one expected George W. Bush’s presidency (which started on economic themes) to be devoted to terrorism. The COVID epidemic disrupted Trump’s first presidency. Values, however, still reign supreme. So, what are those values? Do we all share those values? Does the president call us to common values? And what do the president’s values say about us, the nation who put him in power?

“Here on earth, God’s work must truly be our own.” God bless the United States of America.

 

“We Are All Republicans, We Are All Federalists:” Thomas Jefferson's First Inaugural Address Urged the United States to Find Unity

by William D. Harpine

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P.S. I attended Kennedy’s inauguration as a nine-year-old child. My family skipped the speech itself: my father cared more about the parade. That parade featured wonderful marching bands and a replica of PT 109. My mother pitied the superbly-drilled majorettes who marched bravely through the bitter cold, dressed only in tights and short dresses. Kennedy and his wife Jacqueline rode past in the famous presidential limousine. My family got separated amongst the crowd, but we reunited at the Willard Hotel’s elegant coffee shop and made our way safely home.

P.P.S. Kennedy’s inaugural address was drafted by speechwriter Theodore Sorensen. The speech expresses much wisdom, and I hope that everyone will take time either to listen to it or to read the entire text. Its message is as true today as it was 64 years ago. The website AmericanRhetoric.com lists this speech as the second-best United States speech of modern times, ranking only below Martin Luther King’s magnificent “I Have a Dream.” Kennedy spoke outdoors on the United States Capitol porch, enduring the horrible winter storm dressed only in his suit, with no hat or overcoat. Brrr!

Copyright © 2025 by William D. Harpine

Jimmy Carter's 1980 State of the Union Offered Moral Guidance

James "Jimmy" Carter

As we celebrate today a National Day of Mourning for the late President Jimmy Carter, let us revisit key wisdom from his final State of the Union Address, delivered in the United States Capitol on January 23, 1980. Carter reminded all of us that the United States of America is, and should be, the world’s center of just government. Yet, he stated, we can meet our problems only by determined effort, not simplistic slogans. Carter, never an eloquent speaker, was often a wise one. In this speech, Carter offered the nation an eternal message.

Since the United States seems to have forgotten Carter’s simple lessons, let us remind ourselves that, as Carter said, the right way is always the best way, while we should never trust the easy way. In politics as in life, there are no shortcuts.

Carter offered those key points as he neared his conclusion:

“We will never abandon our struggle for a just and a decent society here at home. That’s the heart of America -- and it's the source of our ability to inspire other people to defend their own rights abroad.”

In his typically preachy language, Carter implied that having a “just and decent” society never comes easily. Yes, the founders of our great Republic created the world’s first modern representative government. Each generation, however, must continue the fight: never abandon our struggle. Carter continued:

“Our material resources, great as they are, are limited. Our problems are too complex for simple slogans or for quick solutions. We cannot solve them without effort and sacrifice.”

That is as true today as it was then. That point is, unfortunately, even less popular than it was in 1980. Now, as then, people pursue easy but chimerical solutions that lead them blindly on an unchanging course of failure.

Sadly, today, public figures who should know better scream that the solution to climate change is to rake our forests, or insist that we can hide in isolation from other nations’ struggles. In contrast, Carter remarked that, although we cannot do everything, we also must eschew easy answers. We must instead know that only “effort and sacrifice” can resolve our concerns. We must seize our greatness, not by force, but by justice and dedication.

Carter was sometimes criticized as a Preacher-In-Chief. Maybe so. But we needed to hear what he said. We still do.

Good luck to us all. Heaven preserve the United States of America as a land of justice, freedom, and equality.

Happy New Year!

Biden's 2024 State of the Union Warned of Impending Calamity

by William D. Harpine  

Copyright © 2024 by William D. Harpine

Image: Official Presidential Photo, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons