Trump may 'randomly disrupt the international order' but it's 'not clear that much will change'
American politics expert Dr David Brockington, from the University of Plymouth, has been looking ahead to Trump's inauguration
Last updated 20th Jan 2025
A Devon-based international politics expert believes the world has an idea of what to expect from Donald Trump in his second term in office – and it’s possible ‘not a whole lot will change’
The businessman will be officially sworn in this afternoon as the 47th US President this afternoon after his re-election - and is promising to begin his second term with 'historic speed and strength.'
The new President was joined on stage at a rally last night by incoming efficiency tsar Elon Musk, and his son. Mr Trump’s team say he'll quickly sign up to 100 executive orders - or legal written directives - including around immigration policy.
Dr David Brockington is a lecturer in politics & social science methods at the University of Plymouth and leads the Masters in International Relations.
He said: "The world is rightly a little concerned, especially with the random claims to Greenland, Canada and to the Panama Canal. As in his first four years we fully expect him to randomly disrupt the international order.
"Hopefully the international order, such as it is, will take into consideration the experience from the last four years and recognise that not a whole lot changed over that time.
"If everybody just holds their breath and keeps tight for four years we can come out of this at the end.
"Thinking about what will happen over the first few months, one of the mistakes that everybody made in the first Trump Administration was assuming there's some grand master strategic plan in play - that he's playing four-dimensional chess - unlike any politician has ever done before - that's now he operates as he is impulsive."
The first time Mr Trump was sworn into office eight years ago, the former reality TV star billionaire came in as an outsider disrupting Washington's norms, delivering a dark inaugural address as his swearing-in drew large protests and some clashes in the street.
This time, the protests are expected to be far less noticeable, eclipsed by the ceremonies and celebrations around Mr Trump's taking power.
As one more marker of Mr Trump's remarkable comeback, the events surrounding his inauguration will be more celebrity-studded than the last time, along with a noticeable turnout by a cadre of tech-world billionaires.
Country music stars Carrie Underwood, Billy Ray Cyrus and Jason Aldean, disco band the Village People, rapper Nelly and musician Kid Rock have all been scheduled to perform at inauguration-related ceremonies and events.
Actor Jon Voight and wrestler Hulk Hogan are also expected to make appearances, as are a crew of Trump-embracing business executives: Tesla and X chief executive Elon Musk, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, Meta chief executive Mark Zuckerberg and TikTok chief executive Shou Zi Chew.
On Inauguration Day, Trump will start with the traditional prayer service at St John's Episcopal Church before heading to the White House for a customary tea with the outgoing president and first lady.
Mr Trump then heads to the Capitol, where his ceremony has been moved indoors as temperatures are set to plummet and make it the coldest Inauguration Day in 40 years.
It is not quite clear how the ceremony will be adapted to the Capitol Rotunda, but only a fraction of the original crowd will be allowed in.
Eight years ago, Mr Trump's critics were wrestling with whether to attend his inauguration, contemplating whether to buck long-standing practice and send a signal to the divisive new president.
This year, much outspoken resistance to Trump has faded away, though there will be two notable absences: former first lady Michelle Obama and former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
Neither gave an explanation as to why she was skipping the ceremony.
After Mr Trump takes the oath of office and delivers his inaugural address, there will be a ceremonial farewell to Mr Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris.
As the new Republican government takes power, Mr Trump will head to a signing ceremony at the Capitol to approve some of his first official acts, followed by a congressional luncheon and review of US troops.
The planned traditional parade down Pennsylvania Avenue has morphed into an indoor event because of the cold, with Mr Trump again planning to speak to his gathered supporters before he heads to the White House for a signing ceremony in the Oval Office.
A trio of glitzy balls will follow in the evening, punctuated by musical performances.
Mr Trump's arrival in Washington will once again be accompanied by protests and vigils on issues such as abortion, immigration rights and, this time, the Israel-Hamas war, but the feel and the force of those demonstrations are expected to be different from the outset of his first term.