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Finnish Media Yle Barely Hides Disappointment With New Trump Era

 

Nordic Press Comments On Trump's Inauguration With Restraint

In his inaugural address, Donald Trump made it clear how his second term will differ from his first

Photo: Yle

Nothing will stand in our way,

Trump said

As the day turned to evening, it became clearer by the hour that Trump truly believes this and intends to act on it.

Trump won the election clearly but not overwhelmingly. Trump did not receive more than half of the votes cast, and he has only a few seats’ majority in the House and Senate.

Yet both he and the rest of the world around him seem to accept that the mandate he has received is much clearer than the election result

Trump told House Republicans last week that Democrats are damaged, depressed and confused by the election. He said that the Democrats’ momentary weakness must be exploited. Trump received further assurance of the paralysis of liberal America last weekend when an anti-Trump rally in Washington subsided. The estimated number of participants was only a few thousand, when at least half a million people marched in the capital against Trump's presidency eight years ago.

Trump supporters rejoiced in a bar in Washington on Monday. Photo: Yle

Both the spirit of the times and Trump himself have become radicalized over the past four years.

In his first hours, he issued orders that would have been unheard of in his first term.

Of course, there were the expected decisions to repeal the orders of the previous president, Joe Biden. Decisions to withdraw from the Paris Climate Agreement and the World Health Organization (WHO) were also expected.

The long-promised deportations of those living in the country illegally will begin, and the administration will recognize only two genders in the future. Details on tariffs were left open to keep the markets calm.

Trump left his toughest decisions for the evening.

In the strongest sign of his confidence, Trump signed an executive order that directly attacks the current interpretation of the Constitution on granting U.S. citizenship. The 14th Amendment states that all people born in the United States and subject to the laws of the land are citizens of the United States.

Trump argues in his executive order that the constitutional provision does not guarantee citizenship if neither parent of the child is a U.S. citizen or if the parents are in the country illegally or temporarily.

Trump signed an executive order that prohibits officials from issuing birth certificates to children the administration interprets as being outside the birthright of citizenship.

Trump acknowledged that the executive order would likely be challenged in court as unconstitutional, but he was confident that he would be able to win the case to the Supreme Court.

He called the amendment “ridiculous,” a sign of his efforts to bring constitutional provisions he dislikes to the Supreme Court during his second term.

The biggest news of the evening was Trump's decision to pardon almost all of the people accused and convicted of the 2021 Capitol attack, about 1,600 in number.

Among those released was Enrique Tarrio, the leader of the far-right Proud Boys organization, who had been sentenced to more than 20 years in prison for planning the attack.

Trump had called those convicted of the Capitol attack "hostages" throughout his election campaign, but the scope of the pardons still exceeded expectations.

With the pardons, Trump hinted to armed far-right groups that those who fight on his behalf, even violently if necessary, do not have to worry about legal troubles, at least for the next four years. Attacking Congress is no longer a matter of shame but a proof of loyalty to Trump.

After the news of the pardon, Trump supporters began to gather in front of the prison in Washington to wait for the pardoned ones to be released. Some of those pardoned hoped to be released soon enough to attend Trump's dinner party.

The photo shows the riot at the US Capitol on January 6, 2021, when protesters stormed the Capitol to disrupt the confirmation of the presidential election results. The event included violent clashes and tear gas was used to control the situation.

Trump ended the lawsuits over the 2021 Capitol attack with pardons. Photo: Lev Radin / AOP

In addition to Trump himself, his inner circle exudes self-confidence, and caution is in order.

Trump's right-hand man, the oligarch Elon Musk, fanned the flames at the victory party and thanked those who voted for Trump "from the bottom of his heart" while raising his hand in a position reminiscent of a Nazi salute.

Whether the hand position was intentional or unintentional, is of little importance. More interesting was the reaction from the ADL, a non-governmental organization that opposes anti-Semitism, which said that the greeting should be interpreted in the best way, that is, as a harm.

Elon Musk raised his hand in a Nazi-like salute in Washington on Monday. Photo: Angela Weiss / AFP

The euphoria of Trump's first days is certainly increased by the abundant congratulations he has received from Western countries that depend on U.S. military support.

European governments defending liberal democracy do not dare to criticize Trump for fear of being the target of Musk's flood of criticism in X. Europe no longer has a strong leader like former German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who would take on the role of leader of the free world if necessary.

Finnish President Alexander Stubb wrote eight years ago that nationalism and populism are a combination that can do a lot of damage in a short time. Stubb wrote in 2016 that he hoped Hillary Clinton would win from the bottom of his heart and in 2021 he wished the United States back after the Trump era.

Yesterday, Stubb sent Trump heartfelt congratulations and, imitating Trump's unique writing style, assured that Finland is an Ally with a capital letter to the United States.

Source: Yle

22.01.2025