The game is on the line. Trump is the 47th president and, with his sharpie, has immediately dashed any hopes that the barking dog would not bite. For years the incantation has been circulating that we should take Trump "seriously but not literally. But in his first 3 days, it does show, "Promises made are promises kept.
That makes dissecting his inaugural address all the more relevant. What did he say and what intent is behind it?
Because while the speech lacked an overarching vision, the text contains enough references and dog whistles to cast a shadow ahead.
Therefore, 5 hidden messages that tell us something about his intentions.
1. The Golden Age
The speech opens with "The Golden Age of America begins right now." With this sentence, Trump equates the coming prosperity with his taking office and thus with his person. Also, it seems to be a reference to The Gilded Age - the late 19th century - an era that plays a central role in the speech. In it, power lies with a select few tycoons (today tech bosses), the economy floats on exploitation, oil is the liquid gold ("We will drill, baby, drill"), smoking smokestacks are a symbol of progress , and America is spreading its imperialist wings ("We will take back Panama Canal").
Message: the law of the strongest (and richest) will prevail again.
2. Pursue our Manifest Destiny
That yearning for the 19th century is also echoed in: "The United States will once again consider itself a growing nation, [...], expands our territory, [...], and carries our flag into new and beautiful horizons. And we will pursue our Manifest Destiny into the stars, launching American astronauts to plant the stars and stripes on the planet Mars. "A few paragraphs before, Trump had already "reclaimed" the Panama Canal. Imperialism is back.
Interesting is the use of Manifest Destiny: the 19th century idea that the United States was destined by God to expand its territory across the North American continent. This religious framing provided a spiritual justification for the westward expansion of the United States. So now, too, for the battle for the universe.
Manifest Destiny christens America as an exceptional country and is linked to the idea of America as a "City upon a hill": the God-given role of being an example to the world. Later, then, Trump says, "America will reclaim its rightful place as the greatest, most powerful, most respected nation on earth, inspiring the awe and admiration of the entire world." And, "America will soon be greater, stronger, and far more exceptional than ever before."
Message: America has been chosen, I will make her what she should be again: dominant and exceptional. They are also dog whistles to the radical Christian and extreme nationalist constituencies important to him.
3. The 'Führercultus'
Many autocratic and fascist leaders enforce personhood glorification and present themselves as chosen by God: Trump ticks quite a few boxes in his speech: a) Savior of people and nation: "From this moment on, America's decline is over. [...] For American citizens, January 20th, 2025, is Liberation Day."
B) Infallible and God-sent: " [...], but 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.
C) Unifier: My proudest legacy will be that of a peacemaker and unifier. [...] We are one people, one family and one glorious nation under God."
Message: America and I are inseparable and I am the only one who can save you.
4. Chaos, arbitrariness and intimidation
Flood the zone with shit, is the credo of his (former?) adviser Steve Bannon. In other words, create so much madness and chaos that people are overwhelmed and left confused and numb. With his hundreds of extreme decrees, he forces "pick your battles," so many outrageous decisions get little attention. Collateral damage is swamping the legal system, which must challenge many of these decrees.
In pardoning more than 1,500 Capitol stormtroopers, including violent offenders, he also sends a message of arbitrariness. He and his friends are above the law. His enemies, however, should fear his wrath: "My recent election is a mandate to completely and totally reverse a horrible betrayal and all of these many betrayals that have taken place [...] Never again will the immense power of the state be weaponized to persecute political opponents." Meanwhile, Kash Patel is warming up to political opponents and Trump signed an executive order requiring the CIA, FBI and other agencies to gather evidence that the Biden administration acted lawlessly. No one knows exactly what will come of this, but the threat is enough for self-censorship (see also Mark Zuckerberg).
Message: You are at the mercy of the leader's whims.
5. Redefining "American"
Trump and his radical Christian and extreme nationalist supporters have declared war on woke. Because it would impose norms, values and words. And because they would conflict with what is "American. At the same time, his speech imposes its own set of words and standards on America. From now on, it is not Denali but Mount McKinley and Gulf of America instead of - Mexico. And, "As of today, it will henceforth be the official policy of the United States government that there are only two genders: male and female."
Later that afternoon, he signed an executive order redefining birthright citizenship.
Message: from now on, I decide who and what is American.
*Salient detail is that Trump does not put his hand on the Bible during the oath.
Despite the superlatives about all he will accomplish with America, it is a dark and aggressive speech. We return to a masculine world that revolves around him and his dominance. Carefully he creates a cult of personality, presenting himself as God-sent savior of a chosen America. At the same time, with fear, intimidation and dog whistles, he encapsulates a coalition of political yes-men and tech bosses, and forges a knee-jerk reaction of radical Christians and extreme nationalists.
Scholar Matthew Taylor is researching the influential radical Christian movement New Apostolic Reformation. In the The Atlantic article The Army of God Comes Out of the Shadows, he explains that the NAR seamlessly merges into "the MAGA blob," "with the prophets and apostles casting whatever Trump does as part of God's plan, and rebuking any dissent. It's the synchronization with Trump that is most alarming. The agenda now is Trump. And that's how populist authoritarianism works. It starts out as a coalition, as a shotgun marriage, and eventually the populism and authoritarianism takes over."
We will see in the coming time who does dare to defy the biting dog.
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Five hidden messages in Trump's inaugural speech