President Trump's "American carnage" inauguration speech makes Twitter cringe

Twitter reacts to President Trump’s skewed world view

By Jessica Lipsky

Published January 20, 2017 6:53PM (EST)

(AP/Evan Vucci)
(AP/Evan Vucci)

The inaugural ceremony for President Donald Trump included a closing performance of “America the Beautiful” and admonishments from Trump and the religious community that the United States will manifest its God-given destiny to be great (again). Prepare to turn back the clocks by 300 years.

While Trump spoke to a sea of mostly white-faced, red-hat wearing followers, thousands of protestors rallied against the incoming administration, which will likely victimize its supporters. The Twitter universe, too, blasted the new president for his tone-deaf and occasionally incorrect speech. “We are one nation and their pain is our pain. Their dreams are our dreams. And their success will be our success," Trump said, in dog-and-pony show of solidarity that defied everything else said during the campaign. "We share one heart, one home, and one glorious destiny. The oath of office I take today is an oath of allegiance to all Americans."

In his inaugural speech, President Trump attacked Washington and promised to bring governance back to the people. “We've made other countries rich while the wealth, strength and confidence of our country has dissipated over the horizon,” he said. “From this day forward, it's going to be only America first.” This prompted reaction:

I'll be unembarrassedly old-fashioned here: It is profoundly depressing and vulgar to hear an American president proclaim "America First."
— Bill Kristol (@BillKristol) Jan. 20, 2017

.@NicolleDWallace on Trump speech: "it was unnecessarily dark. He is the leader of our country now."

— Michael LaRosa (@MichaelLaRosaDC) Jan. 20, 2017

Trump also promised to “protect our borders from the ravages of other countries" — a thinly veiled allusion to the president's anti-immigrant and anti-NAFTA stances. The latter could have serious impacts on consumers, Salon reported.

Stand by for international trade wars... https://t.co/V5JhcqMG0K
 — Keir Simmons (@KeirSimmons) January 20, 2017

This message, if carried out, will detach conservatism from the Republican Party. Potentially epochal moment

— Jonathan Martin (@jmartNYT) Jan. 20, 2017

The term has to be used with great caution but USA MIGHT have just got its first fascist President. #Inauguration

— Andy Wightman MSP (@andywightman) Jan. 20, 2017

For a moment it almost seemed as if Trump's vision could be stopped. 

 As Trump left the podium on Capitol Hill, it started to drizzle.

While a photo of Trump once suggested that the president would write his own inaugural address, Jezebel believes that the new president might have plagiarized Batman villain Bane:

The new president may have had a larger speechwriting role than anticipated, however, as Mother Jones reported that it was written for an elementary-level listener.

As the country braces for the sharp right turn President Trump will herald, we can collectively find brief respite.

Going to enjoy this brief moment while it lasts pic.twitter.com/zXCBfXOkGi
— Freddie Campion (@FreddieCampion) Jan. 20, 2017

We cannot, however, let Trump reign without being checked. The Twitter-happy president will soon have nuclear codes and dismantle progress toward curbing climate change.

— Amy Harder (@AmyAHarder) Jan. 20, 2017  

Perhaps, though, we can channel former first lady Michelle Obama, whose class, charm and side-eye are goal-worthy.

And as the helicopter takes off, Michelle raises an elegant middle finger to the window to salute Donald Trump #Inauguration

— Jill Biden (@JillBidenVeep) Jan. 20, 2017


By Jessica Lipsky

Jessica Lipsky is a cover editor at Salon.

MORE FROM Jessica Lipsky

Related Topics ------------------------------------------

Donald Trump Inauguration Reactions Twitter