During the benediction at the inauguration on Monday, Rev. Lorenzo Sewell referred to it as a “miracle millimeter.”
The Detroit minister was reflecting on the quarter-inch that determined the distinction between merely grazing a right ear and sustaining a lethal head injury when 20-year-old Thomas Crooks tried to take President Donald Trump’s life nine months prior. Trump displayed his flair for theatrics as he emerged from a shield of Secret Service agents, blood running down his visage, defiantly raising a clenched fist against the backdrop of a large American flag.
“Fight! Fight! Fight!!” he yelled.
The potency of this imagery was unmistakable, ultimately leading to Trump being sworn in as the 47th President of the United States.
“Just a few months ago, in a lovely field in Pennsylvania, an assassin’s bullet went through my ear,” Trump remarked during his inaugural speech. “Yet at that moment, and now even more so, I believe my life was spared for a purpose. God saved me to make America great again.”
He might have convinced himself that he was returning to the White House on a sacred mission. His address was more measured than his usual tone, even while addressing numerous campaign issues. Moreover, he projected more optimism for the future than before, following such a close brush with violence.
“The future is in our hands, and our golden age has just begun,” he declared.
However, the tempered delivery and focus on future aspirations may also reflect the influence of Vice-President J.D. Vance and Elon Musk, noted as the “first buddy.” Both are reported to have encouraged a more moderate approach.
Musk stands out as the most significant supporter among a group of multi-billionaires who have rallied behind him since that pivotal day post-shooting, making his presence more socially acceptable. Seated with Musk, they formed a prominent row ahead of Trump’s cabinet selections, whose primary qualification appears to be unwavering loyalty to Trump.
Musk’s placement at a more prominent position than Secretary of Defense nominee Pete Hegseth offered a glimmer of hope that these billionaires could act as at least occasional moderating forces in the absence of pragmatic advisors like John Kelly, one of Trump’s former chiefs of staff.
The inaugural address, as delivered by Trump from teleprompters, concluded without any lines likely to echo through history, presenting a troubling contrast since it was also Rev. Martin Luther King Day.
Rev. Sewell’s benediction, drawing significant attention when Trump visited his church in June to win over black voters, resonated with the late civil rights icon, who lacked the benefit of a miracle millimeter. Sewell emphasized judging individuals by their character rather than their race.
“Free at last!” he exclaimed. “Let freedom ring!”
A seemingly more measured Trump later descended to address an overflow audience in Emancipation Hall, dedicated to the enslaved individuals who contributed to the Capitol’s construction. He delivered what he termed “a better speech” without the constraints of teleprompters and the moderating effects of Musk and Vance.
In this unfiltered environment, the Trump we know resurfaced, once again perpetuating the unfounded assertion about the 2020 election that incited a violent mob to overrun the building, resulting in injuries to over 140 police officers.
“By the way, that election was totally rigged,” Trump stated. “It was a rigged election.”
At a later gathering in Capital One Arena, Trump announced plans to pardon supporters imprisoned for storming the Capitol four years ago in an attempt to thwart a peaceful transfer of power—the same process that reinstated him as president on Monday.
He appeared oblivious to the irony in labeling them as “the Jan. 6 hostages” while standing alongside families of various Israeli hostages.
Trump then proceeded to the White House, where he signed a comprehensive pardon and six commutations for over 1,500 individuals involved in the Jan. 6 insurrection. He penned his signature with a Sharpie, instructing an aide to expedite the process so that the prisoners could be released promptly.
“Yes, sir,” the aide acknowledged.
Trump continued to sign other directives while conversing with a group of reporters admitted to the Oval Office.
He reflected on his significant day.
“I received great feedback on that speech,” he commented regarding his measured inaugural address.
The aide presented him with yet another order to endorse.
“Withdrawal from the World Health Organization,” the aide noted.
“O-o-o, that’s a significant one,” Trump remarked.
We march forward into the future, with Musk and Vance standing as the guardians.
