On Monday, Jan. 20, President-elect Donald J. Trump began his second term as the president of the United States.
He took office, along with Vice President-elect JD Vance in front of the U.S. Capitol building in Washington, D.C.
Inauguration Day fell on a federal holiday: Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
Annually, on that day, we remember the life and legacy of a great man who championed American civil rights.
Dr. King became known as one of the greatest nonviolent leaders in world history.
The poignancy of this date (and the great man it celebrates) was not diminished by Inauguration Day.
It's a powerful call to action; a reminder to continue to fight for the integrity of our nation, free speech, and our religious rights.
And I believe President Trump will do just that.
In his campaign, Trump promised to "Defend our constitution, our bill of rights, and our fundamental freedoms, including freedom of speech, freedom of religion, and the right to keep and bear arms."
The 2024 Republican Party Platform vowed to protect our First Amendment rights to worship and freely practice our beliefs, combat government censorship and protect free speech online, and fight Christian persecution in the United States — among many other essential protections.
I'm hopeful that Trump’s presidency will continue King’s legacy of advocating for American freedoms and our fundamental religious rights.
I pray we all will strive toward a more unified nation: as one people, under God.
As a university president, I am also excited to see the changes Trump will make to education in the United States.
Trump has already proposed drastic, but necessary reforms to the federal Department of Education (ED) — including abolishing it entirely to give full control of education back to the states.
This move would give greater civil and religious protections to students, put power back in parents’ hands, and allow the states to determine their own educational policies.
Many of these reforms will also affect higher education, as Trump has campaigned on "mak(ing) colleges and universities sane and affordable" by encouraging American values, advocating for student rights, supporting accessible and affordable education, protecting against discrimination, and combating antisemitism.
Vice President-elect JD Vance has also advocated for greater regulations for some of the nation’s university giants (like Yale and Harvard) who have thus far operated without paying appropriate endowment taxes — while offering protections for smaller universities and faith-based institutions.
This will encourage the growth of private, faith-based institutions, allowing them to continue serving their students by helping them develop foundational global views, find like-minded communities, and be inspired to serve those around them through missions and people-focused careers, like nursing and ministry.
Additionally, I look forward to the coming surge of economic growth as industry is revitalized in the United States.
In the 2024 Republican Party Platform, Trump has advocated for increased tax cuts, job opportunities, energy production, and innovation in emerging industries; as well as lowering the cost of living, housing, and healthcare.
I believe his presidency will allow our nation to thrive once again and empower our students to excel in their education and give them a strong runway to begin their careers in a healthy, prosperous nation.
Looking beyond Inauguration Day, let’s continue to pray for the safety and prosperity of our great country and do our part to strive for a better nation.
Dr. Kent Ingle serves as the president of Southeastern University in Lakeland, Florida, one of the fastest growing private universities in the nation. A champion of innovative educational design, Ingle is the author of "Framework Leadership.'' Read Dr. Kent Ingle's Reports — More Here.