Trump vs. Obama Inauguration Speeches: From Muslims To Religion To Politics, How Their First Presidential Addresses Compared

When President Donald Trump gave his inaugural address Friday, the speech had a major theme: Trump inherited a country in crisis. Under his administration, the United States of America will be rebuilt and the people will prosper.

“American carnage,” Trump called the state of the U.S., citing poverty and abandoned industry. But he went on to promise American citizens that the country would not stay in this condition: “Your voice, your hopes, and your dreams will define our American destiny.”

President Barack Obama first took office in 2009, after inheriting an economy that had dipped into financial crisis. When he was inaugurated, the gist of his speech wasn’t too different.

“That we are in the midst of crisis is now well understood… Starting today, we must pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off, and begin again the work of remaking America,” Obama said.

But that’s where the similarities stopped.

One enormous difference: how the two presidents view foreign policy.

Trump was critical of the United States’ decisions in other countries, suggesting that America’s focus on helping foreign nations was at the expense of U.S. armed forces.

“For many decades, we've enriched foreign industry at the expense of American industry; subsidized the armies of other countries, while allowing for the very sad depletion of our military,” Trump said. “We've defended other nations' borders while refusing to defend our own.”

Trump’s statement is more-or-less the antithesis as that of Obama, who said, “To the people of poor nations, we pledge to work alongside you to make your farms flourish and let clean waters flow; to nourish starved bodies and feed hungry minds.”

Trump’s isolationist policies spilled over into industry and businesses as well: “We will follow two simple rules; buy American and hire American,” the new president said.

Much of Trump’s speech was directed at “the people,” such as when he declared, “We are transferring power from Washington, D.C. and giving it back to you, the people.”

Who “the people” were, exactly, wasn’t clearly defined. Based on the president’s rhetoric, “the people” seemed to be everyone who wasn’t a politician. Trump, who won with white voters but lost with Hispanic and black voters, explicitly mentioned race once (“whether we are black or brown or white, we all bleed the same red blood of patriots”) and said prejudice would be dissolved by patriotism (“when you open your heart to patriotism, there is no room for prejudice”).

Although Obama also spoke about keeping politicians accountable, much more of his speech was dedicated to the historical conditions that created divisions of racism and intolerance: “We are shaped by every language and culture, drawn from every end of this Earth; and because we have tasted the bitter swill of civil war and segregation… we cannot help but believe that the old hatreds shall someday pass.”

Obama and Trump both mentioned Islam, but in contrary ways.

“To the Muslim world, we seek a new way forward, based on mutual interest and mutual respect,” said Obama.

“We will reinforce old alliances and form new ones and unite the civilized world against radical Islamic terrorism, which we will eradicate from the face of the Earth,” said Trump.

And finally, the presidents’ inauguration speeches each had a distinct tone.

In 2009, Obama ended on a hopeful note, encouraging the people to harness their unique American privileges help rebuild a country that had fallen into financial crisis:

“Let it be said by our children's children that when we were tested we refused to let this journey end, that we did not turn back nor did we falter; and with eyes fixed on the horizon and God's grace upon us, we carried forth that great gift of freedom and delivered it safely to future generations.”

The tone of Trump’s speech was one of populism and nationalism. “A new national pride will stir ourselves, lift our sights and heal our divisions," he said.

And while Obama acknowledged God’s grace, Trump spoke about God’s protection:

“We will be protected by the great men and women of our military and law enforcement. And most importantly, we will be protected by God.”

Unsurprisingly, Trump ended with his best-known line: “Together we will make America great again.”

Videos of both speeches follow below.