Inauguration Day: Mixed Feelings Around Campus 

President Trump and Vice President JD Vance stand together during the 47th presidenttial inauguration at Capitol One Arena in Washington D.C. on Jan. 20, 2025. Photo Credit: WikiMedia Commons.

President Donald Trump’s inauguration has brought mixed emotions to the University of Miami’s campus, as the 47th U.S. President clinched his second win since his term in 2016. Before Trump, the last Republican to win the presidency was George W. Bush, who secured reelection in 2004.

The UM College Republicans hosted a watch party at the Titanic Brewery to witness the inauguration and many students were spotted wearing MAGA hats around the Coral Gables campus on Jan. 20.

With a mixture of excitement and apprehension, many Miami-Dade residents and UM students are monitoring the effects of his proposed policies on their everyday lives. 

Trump expressed his promise to commence the “golden age of America” in his inaugural address, which took place indoors in the U.S. Capitol. He addressed topics such as border protection, economic measures like implementing tariffs on imported products and repealed environmental initiatives like the Green New Deal. 

“Trump spoke about his wishes to make America great but he fails to acknowledge how his doubling down on fossil fuels is a disaster for the planet and future generations,” said Kayla Williams, a sophomore majoring in biomedical engineering.

Shortly after the speech, the president declared his intention to sign executive orders that would affect inclusion initiatives by recognizing only two genders in the U.S., revoking federal electric vehicle regulations and declaring a national emergency at the southern border to crack down on immigration and unauthorized crossings at the U.S.-Mexico border

“As a person of color and a member of the LGBTQ+ community, I have great concerns about the future of democracy,” said Daniel Mair, a freshman majoring in political science at UM. “Trump has intentions of getting rid of checks and balances, encouraging monopolistic practices and the concentration of wealth. I’m also concerned about the inclusive community we as people worked so hard to build and whether marginalized groups will ever be heard again.”

Some students view Trump’s victory as a chance to bring traditional values and economic revitalization back to the U.S. However, others continue to question whether political institutions will remain intact. 

Lazaro Chavez, a political science student and PR Chair for the UM College Republicans, traveled to D.C. for the inauguration with The Leadership Institute. 

“Despite the inauguration being pushed inside, I believe President Donald Trump was able to make it a memorable ceremony with a great address that outlined his priorities,” said Khristian Parrish, a Florida native and member of the institute, who was also present in D.C. during the presidential inauguration. 

“My main reason for supporting Donald Trump has always been his economic and foreign policy stances. I want to see President Trump help alleviate inflation first and foremost,” Parrish said.

In Florida, Trump obtained support from a number of demographics, including Black voters, Cuban communities and U.S. immigrants.

Trump gained 15% of the vote among Black voters in 2024, a five-point increase since 2020.

Regardless, many Black voters remain discontent with his victory. Aliyah Heaven, a freshman studying political science, expressed her feelings about Inauguration Day falling on Martin Luther King Jr. Day for the third time in recent history.

“It is very unfortunate that the holiday honoring the man who lost his life for Black civil rights and the inauguration of a president who has made derogatory remarks about immigrants and Black people coincide,” she said.  

The red wave in Miami-Dade during this election has been observed and has sparked controversies on campus about which political issues matter most to Floridians.

The 2024 FIU Cuba Poll, the longest-running survey of Cuban Americans in the country, found that 68% of Cubans in Miami-Dade County prefer Trump as their leader.

“A big part of [Trump’s win] has to be the Cuban community in Miami and the desire to not revert back into ways of socialism, which have been associated with the Democratic party,” said Osei Allen, a junior at UM studying political science and psychology.

Miami-Dade is also home to one of the largest immigrant populations in the U.S., with 53% of its residents born abroad

Advocacy groups, like the Florida Immigrant Coalition, have noted a sharp rise in fear and uncertainty among undocumented residents, which is approximately 5% of Floridians. 

Student opinions on the implications of the new administration have clashed since Trump’s reelection in November 2024. 

“It’s going to cause a lot of problems in the country, but we should still respect the president,” said Nadiya Baig, a sophomore majoring in entrepreneurship.