'America's decline is over': Top quotes from President Donald Trump's inauguration speech

International leaders congratulate Trump ahead of inauguration

President Donald Trump declared on January 20 that America's "decline is over," framing his return to power as a rejection of the "radical and corrupt" establishment he claimed defined outgoing President Joe Biden's term.

"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," Trump said. "From this moment on, America's decline is over."

Significantly, the President announced that the US government will end the new green deal, the mandate for electric vehicles, and will officially have only two genders- male and female.

He also declared a national energy emergency and used his popular remark "drill baby drill" to reiterate his position on the use of conventional energy sources.

Trump took oath as the 47th President of the US on January 20 along with Vice President JD Vance. The Republican leader and the 45th President retuned to office after defeating outgoing Vice President Kamal Harris in the 2024 US Presidential elections.

Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts administered the oath to President Trump in an indoor event that saw the participation of some of the most influential billionaires and politicians of the world.

Here are the top quotes from Trump's address to the US citizens during his swearing-in ceremony:

-"I will put America first, our sovereignty will be reclaimed, scales of justice will be rebalanced"

-"The vicious weaponization of the justice department will end"

"I will also end the government policy of trying to socially engineer race and gender into every aspect of public and private life... As of today, it will henceforth be the official policy of the United States government that there are only two genders, male and female."

-"The Golden Age of America begins right now."

-"From this day forward, our country will flourish and be respected again all over the world. We will be the envy of every nation, and we will not allow ourselves to be taken advantage of any longer."

-"America will soon be greater, stronger and far more exceptional than ever before."

-"Over the past 8 years, I have been tested and challenged the most in America’s 250 year history"

-“I felt then, and believe even more so now, that my life was saved for a reason — I was saved by God to make America great again,” Trump said, drawing a standing ovation from Republicans in the room while Democrats, including Biden and Harris, remained seated and still.

-"Former Americans. January 20, 2025 is a liberation day. We will not forget our country, constitution and god."

-"All illegal immigration will be immediately halted and aliens sent back, we will have a return-to-Mexico policy"

-“My election is a mandate to completely and totally reverse a horrible betrayal,” he said

-"I declare a national energy emergency, “drill baby drill”. America will be a manufacturing country again and we will use our oil and gas reserves"

-“With my actions today, we will end the green New Deal, and we will revoke the electric vehicle mandate.”

-"We will not be conquered, we will not be broken and the golden age has just begun."