When people tell me that I became President on January 20th, 1981, I feel I have to correct them. You don’t become President of the United States. You are given temporary custody of an institution called the Presidency, which belongs to our people.

Having temporary custody of this Office has been for me a sacred trust and an honour beyond words or measure. Many is the time that I’ve said a prayer of thanks to all Americans who placed this trust in my hands.

— US President Ronald Reagan (1981)

Last evening I was glued to the TV watching CNN and BBC live telecast of the inauguration of the second-coming of Mr. Donald John Trump as the President of the United States of America (USA). Yes, to me it looked like the greatest political show on earth. The power and glory of world’s most powerful country in all aspects of human endeavour and achievements — economic, military, science and arts.

The way the Office of the President was transferred from the outgoing President Joe Biden to the incoming President Donald Trump was a feast to the eyes of those who saw it on the TV screen and must have been a once-in-a-lifetime experience to those who participated in the ceremony. The protocol was observed with clock-work precision, except once when there seemed a delay of a few minutes for the woman singer to appear immediately after President Trump’s address. While some heads turned and necks craned in anxiety, Mr. Trump was sitting quietly unperturbed, confident. And the lady singer rushed in blushing and rendered the song.

The inaugural proceedings were so very meticulously conducted it would be hard to find a lapse or a discordant note in what those who spoke prior to oath-taking or in the dress each one of those present wore. Everyone was impeccably dressed for the occasion. The only disappointment for me personally about the sartorial get up was to see Mr. Donald Trump, the cynosure of all eyes of the world, giving up on his signature red neck tie and preferring a dull, pale one. Interestingly, his deputy, Vice-President James David Vance (JD Vance) wore a red tie and was beaming with his Indian wife Lady Usha Vance.

Like our country and many other, US prides itself as a Secular country with a Constitution that is a Secular document without being explicitly mentioned in the Constitution. Our original Constitution was also a Secular document, like of US, without the word being written into it. Thanks to Mrs. Indira Gandhi, she got it written into it.

A Secular State should treat all its citizens equally regardless of religion and must avoid preferential treatment to a citizen based on his religion. In America, they follow this cardinal principle of Secularism unlike India where majority religion was made irrelevant till the year of our Lord 2014 when Donald Trump’s friend Narendra Modi became the Prime Minister. Let it be.

However, I observed the new President going to the Church before going for the swearing-in which might be a tradition and saw a majority audience Whites. Probably, it suggested the power or the influence of the White Supremacists. It shows the majority in America is not made irrelevant as in India.

Be that as it may, to revert to the Orwellian Big Brother Mr. Donald Trump’s inauguration, it was a spectacular show mounted on a grand scale as per the great American tradition. The timing, the bugle, the announcement of the entry of VIP guests, the two uniformed guards at the door and their gait, the way they opened and closed the doors, may seem mechanical but there was order, dignity and discipline. There is much to learn for our law-makers and the LoP of the day. Socially speaking, all VIPs were accompanied by their spouses, with a couple of exceptions and it could be for reasons. American flags were seen in rows and rows. Here, flag hoisting on special occasions itself becomes an issue, even screening flag in theatres!

In his address, Mr. Trump spoke with confidence and authority spelling out what he would do immediately — sign Executive action to rename Gulf of Mexico as Gulf of America and about illegal immigration. In our country?

He spoke of 250 years of enduring Democracy of America, as a testament to its commitment to freedom and equality. He assured that the State Power will not be weaponised against “our people.” He said American soldiers are “guardians of our country.” The sole object of Armed Forces is defeating enemies. They are peace-makers and unifiers.

Trump even made a prophesy, like President John F. Kennedy who said in his inaugural speech that America would put a man on the moon, saying that American flag will fly on Planet Mars. Like Kennedy’s prognosis, this too may become true.

He said it was a historic come back for him and the American people have spoken. I remembered the historic come back  of Indira Gandhi in 1980 following the collapse of the ruling Janata Party for whom Power came first and not             the Nation.

Mr. Trump said, America’s Power will stop all wars. That Power comes from the People. The scale of Justice will be rebalanced. “January 20, 2025 is liberation day for America,” he said.

I remembered 26th May 2014 when Narendra Modi became the Prime Minister of our country. A liberation day for India still under works!

With his German roots, Trump may well execute his warning when challenged. He said he would not forget his country’s Constitution and God — like Narendra Modi.

He concluded his speech with the words: “The Golden age of America has just begun. Thank you.”

As I turned off the TV, I was left wondering if from now on I am a citizen of the world and Mr. Donald Trump is the President of the world. Amen.

Tailpiece: Presently, Donald Trump is seen not as a War-monger, like some of his predecessors, but as a Peace-maker. Already, there is a thaw in the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine. Trump has vowed to end this war and also the war between Hamas and Israel.

Trump’s return to power has also impacted the countries around the world in many ways. The Israeli hostages must be released before 20th January 2025, Trump had said on winning his second term. And already, three hostages were released and rest will follow unless Hamas asks for more trouble.

And then Trump once again vowed to take back Panama Canal and spoke unambiguously about the reason for the decision.

I wish our leader, Prime Minister Modi, too speaks in that language about taking back PoK and ending the persecution of Hindus in Bangladesh. Why not take a cue from Trump’s ‘Make America Great Again’ (MAGA) call and work to Make India Great?

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