Donald J. Trump is officially the 47th President of the United States of America. Between Grover Cleveland and Trump, the 60th Presidential Inauguration marks only the second time in history that a U.S. president has won two nonconsecutive terms. During his inaugural address in the Capitol Rotunda, the newly sworn-in president made several promises to the American people. “America’s decline is over,” he stated, and “the Golden Age of America begins right now.”

Trump’s second term comes after four years of the highly controversial and immensely criticized Biden-Harris administration. Countless Americans are eager to see their president fulfill the promises he has made, some of which include securing the border, putting an end to radical gender ideology in government, and granting pardons for the January 6 protestors. Trump signed a number of executive orders to that effect shortly after his swearing-in ceremony, making the first day of his administration a significant start to the next four years.

On Monday’s “Washington Watch,” Representative Robert Aderholt (R-Ala.) spoke with Family Research Council President Tony Perkins about what it was like attending the inauguration. He also shared his thoughts on what some of Trump’s statements mean moving forward. “I was honored to have a chance to actually be in the rotunda,” he said. Trump’s second oath “felt like [the start to] a new morning. Things are looking very positive. … [And] it was just great being in the room and seeing the president … take the oath of office.”

Perkins noted how Trump used his speech as a way of “laying out his plans [for] what he wants to see America do and become. What were your major takeaways?” he asked. Aderholt replied that one of the most important changes America can expect in the near future is “that border security is going to be a number one priority in this administration.” In fact, Trump’s appointed border czar Tom Homan had announced in an interview shortly before the inauguration that large-scale raids could begin as soon as Tuesday of this week.

As Aderholt explained, Trump’s focus on national security is important because the U.S. has been “lacking” a sense of “strength on the international scene. … America has not had the respect that we really [need].” In terms of the military and the economy, America is supposed to be “number one around the world,” the congressman urged. As such, “it’s important that we stand strong for democracy. And I think people feel better that … with Donald Trump in that role, that will definitely be the case.”

In fact, Aderholt shared that during the inauguration ceremony, he could hear some of the members of Congress around him “saying just under their breath, … ‘Thank you.’” People are grateful that Trump is “standing for a strong border, for … energy freedom, that we will make sure that we are number one on the world stage, making sure that we put in those commonsense practices that are so important that have gone lacking over the last four years.” Ultimately, he added, there was “really a sense of gratefulness that the president is going to move forward on these policies and that it’s not going to be just talk.” And clearly, Aderholt emphasized, “he is not wasting time.”

“I had a chance to talk to some of the members of his Cabinet,” he added, “and they are ready to get to work. … [T]hey’re just very excited about starting … work and … implementing the president’s policies as soon as they get their confirmation.” Speaking of that, Perkins asked, what is the “biggest challenge going forward, and how do [we] need to be praying?”

Aderholt concluded that the “biggest challenge will be … the House. We only have a very thin majority. So, getting these policies through is going to be very difficult. … Because even though [as] Republicans we’re together, we sometimes don’t always agree on what [is] the best way to move forward.”