I was determined to look for a silver lining in President Donald Trump’s inauguration [“Back in office,” Inauguration 2025, Jan. 21]. This task quickly became exceedingly difficult.

Despite Trump’s opening his address with the promise of a “Golden age of America,” his rhetoric fell short, reflective of a man who relishes sowing discord.

From promises of ushering in a new age of colonialism by reclaiming the Panama Canal and renaming the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America, to reversing efforts to combat climate change and assembling an administration of billionaires and the ultrarich, essentially transforming our republic into an oligarchy, it was clear that the era we were beginning was anything but golden.

The only positive takeaway was a smooth transition of power, thanks to former President Joe Biden, who afforded Trump the respect he never showed Biden after the 2020 election. Biden’s hosting the traditional morning tea and attending the oath of office are events that Trump skipped out on when he lost, reflective of the character of the man.

Donald Trump, while signing important executive orders, seemed to answer every journalist’s question. He did so with professionalism, passion, knowledge, and humor in an engaging way, working from the first minute in office for all Americans.

Joe Biden rarely dealt with the media in such an engaging manner.

For Donald Trump to keep his promise to return America back to some golden age and reverse this country’s decline, he will have to take us backward to a time that only he knows.

His administration has been handed an America with low unemployment, lower gas prices, a booming stock market, decreasing inflation, a strong jobs market, and a strengthened infrastructure. If this is what it means to be declining, I’ll take it.

A golden age? Americans can always look back with fondness but need to look ahead if they are to continue to be the world’s strongest economy and grow as a healthy and sturdy republic.

 Just go to and follow the prompts. Or email your opinion to [email protected]. Submissions should be no more than Please provide your full name, hometown, phone number and any relevant expertise or affiliation. Include the headline and date of the article you are responding to. Letters become the property of Newsday and are edited for all media. Due to volume, readers are limited to one letter in print every . Published letters reflect the ratio received on each topic.