Here's how long past presidential inauguration speeches were
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President Trump's Monday inaugural address was about double the length of his 2017 speech, touching on immigration, economy and cultural policy priorities.
Why it matters: Although Trump's first inaugural address was the shortest in modern history, it was memorable for the graphic and violent imagery he used about the country.
The latest: In his Monday speech, now the longest in modern history, Trump called his return to office the start of a "thrilling new era."
- He became the second president in U.S. history (after Grover Cleveland) to deliver a second, non-consecutive inaugural address.
State of play: During his most recent campaign, Trump called his stream-of-conscious oration "the weave," saying he intentionally delves in and out of topics.
- His rhetoric during the campaign was often violent and included threats to seek retribution against his perceived enemies.
- President Biden's inaugural address was the longest since Ronald Reagan's second term in 1985. Biden's speech focused on unity and the resilience of democracy.
Who gave the longest inauguration speech
Zoom out: Every president since George Washington has delivered an inaugural address, per the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies.
- William Henry Harrison delivered the longest one at 8,445 words, in 1841. He died a month later of pneumonia, some said brought on by exposure to the elements during his ceremony.
- Washington's second inaugural address was the shortest, at 135 words. Franklin D. Roosevelt's fourth in 1945 was the next shortest, at 559 words, according to the committee.
Trump inauguration speech 2017
Flashback: Trump's 2017 inauguration speech was widely seen by opponents as radical and divisive. But his first-term focus on immigration and the economy served as a foundation for his second victory — and today's Republican Party.
- He used the term "American carnage" to describe urban poverty, deserted factories, violent crime and a broken education system.
The intrigue: In December, fundraising for Trump's inauguration was set to surpass that of all past ceremonies.
- Contributions from companies like Meta, Apple, OpenAI, Uber and Amazon have been seen a an effort to build bridges with the incoming administration.
Go deeper: Companies line up to fund Trump's inauguration
Editor's note: This story has been updated with the length of Trump's second inaugural address.
