Trump's Inauguration: Power, Capital, and the Spectacle of Humanity
Why did capitalism bring a ladder to the inauguration? Because it’s always trying to climb higher—even when the ceiling’s about to cave in. | January 20th, Trump's Inauguration day
Fouad FARJANI
1/16/2025
January 20th approaches, and with it comes the inauguration of Donald Trump, a familiar face returning to the Oval Office, this time with Elon Musk by his side. The world watches, transfixed, as this unlikely duo takes the stage. There is almost no tension, the usual micro doses of hope, fear, and confusion. Some cheer with reckless optimism, believing in a new age of disruption and innovation. Others shiver, pushing for the chaos that might occur when unchecked power dances with unstoppable capital.
I’ll admit it, I feel alive. This moment feels surprisingly similar to those strange, electric days before the war broke out in Ukraine. I was in Kyiv then, excited and ignorant of the storm about to immerse us all. There’s a thrill in the air we breath before a seismic shift, a mix of dread and anticipation like watching a pendulum swing wildly before it snaps. This inauguration, too, feels like the beginning of something big. But is it a dawn or a light switch off?
Let’s dissect the players in this global drama, the figures of power, the architects of systems, and the spectators who let it all unfold.
Elon Musk is the epitome of capital personified. A man whose influence isn’t confined to the billions he commands but extends into the culture he’s shaped. From Tesla’s sleek cars to Twitter’s chaotic soapbox, Musk is less a businessman and more a cultural force with 0% fun. And now, standing beside Trump, he becomes something more, the manifestation of capitalism’s marriage to raw, remorseless power.
Those with degrees in political science will nod knowingly, pointing out that this partnership is inevitable. Power gravitates toward capital, and capital craves the legitimacy that power bestows. But let’s be honest about these so-called political experts. Aren’t they the same people who manipulate systems behind the curtain? The bureaucrats, the policymakers, the think-tank intellectuals, they wrap simple truths in layers of complexity, leaving the average person bewildered. They preach democracy while designing systems so intricate that only they understand how to pull the levers. And now, as they analyze this latest spectacle, one can’t help but wonder, are they critiquing the system or just lamenting that they’re no longer the ones in control?
And then there’s the public, the average Joe. This is the largest group of all, the spectators, the ones who sit passively by, scrolling their phones and swallowing fast food while history unfolds before their eyes. These are the people who will change their profile pictures to flags for a week, then forget all about it by the weekend. They are slaves, not in chains, but to their habits, their ignorance, and their distractions.
Most people couldn’t care less about geopolitics, economics, or the delicate dance between power and capital. They’re too busy binge-watching Netflix, arguing over sports, or consuming carbs faster than they consume information. And you know what? That’s by design. A distracted, disinterested populace is easier to control. Give them bread and circuses or in this case, TikTok and takeout and they’ll never question the system. They’ll never pause to wonder why the same few people keep climbing to the top, leaving the rest of us scrambling for crumbs.
But here’s the irony, this group also holds the most power, not individually, but collectively. If the masses ever decided to wake up, to rise above their distractions and demand change, the system would have no choice but to listen. Yet history shows us that they rarely do. Why? Because change is uncomfortable, and comfort is the ultimate sedative.
Capitalism is gearing up for one last sprint before the tiny bang, a metaphorical explosion marking the end of this era. If the Big Bang was the beginning of everything, the tiny bang is the beginning of the end. We’re hurtling toward a point where the system can no longer sustain itself. Wealth inequality has reached absurd levels. The planet is groaning under the weight of unchecked consumption. And the very institutions designed to protect us are now cracking at the seams.
Yet here we are, celebrating the union of power and capital as if it’s something new. It’s not. It’s just more blatant now, more in-your-face. Trump and Musk aren’t pretending to be humble servants of the people. They’re openly flaunting their dominance, and perhaps that’s what makes this moment feel so surreal. The masks are off, and the spectacle is laid bare.
But what comes after the tiny bang? Will we rebuild something better, or will we cling to the same broken systems, hoping they’ll somehow fix themselves? Will we finally prioritize people over profit, or will we double down on the same greed and short-sightedness that got us here in the first place?
So, as the world prepares for this inauguration, let’s take a moment to reflect. Not on Trump or Musk or the political scientists or the average Joe, but on ourselves. What role are we playing in this grand drama? Are we the manipulators, pulling strings behind the scenes? Are we the slaves, blindly following the script? Or are we something else entirely, the changemakers, the dreamers, the ones who refuse to accept the world as it is and dare to imagine something better?
Because here’s the truth. The system isn’t some monolithic entity beyond our control. It’s a reflection of us, our values, our priorities, our choices. And if we want it to change, we have to change first. We have to wake up, speak up, and act up. It’s not easy, and it’s certainly not comfortable. But it’s necessary.
As we watch Trump and Musk take the stage, let’s remember that the future isn’t set in stone. It’s shaped by the actions we take today. So, let’s make those actions count.
As the curtain rises on this new chapter, let me leave you with a parting thought: "Even the most powerful storms start as a single gust of wind."
And if that’s too poetic, here’s a joke: Why did capitalism bring a ladder to the inauguration? Because it’s always trying to climb higher, even when the ceiling’s about to cave in.
The tiny bang might just be the loudest noise we’ve ever heard. Let’s hope we’re ready for the silence that follows.