The article discusses the stark division among Americans in response to Donald Trump's inauguration for his second presidency. While conservatives and rightwing pundits celebrated the event as a revolutionary moment, expressing joy and a sense of empowerment, liberals reacted with concern and sadness. Pundits framed Trump's return as part of a larger global rightwing populist movement. Notably, reactions included claims of the end of a liberal era, alongside discussions of societal themes like race and masculinity. Despite the celebratory tone, there were concerns about rising extremism and polarization within political discourse.
As Trump swore his presidential oath, the writer Walter Kirn, a pro-Trump, anti-establishment agitator on X, grandiloquently declared: This is a revolution against a corrupt ancien regime.
The conservative City Journal described Trump's inauguration as exhilarating, arguing it was safe to be a white male again while criticizing Trump's speech for failing to offer any gestures of reconciliation.
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