"I am a person who has lived with a firm belief in liberal democracy," Yoon said in his opening remarks on Tuesday.

Democratic Sen. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota, the chairwoman of the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies, addressed the theme of the ceremony in her opening remarks.

In his remarks, he condemned the structural nature of poverty, saying “this country has socialism for the rich, rugged individualism for the poor.”

While some have dismissed Trumpov's rhetoric as bluster, or a mere negotiation tactic, others are taking his remarks at face value.

Mr Gallagher had accused Mr Burns of trying to sabotage his career after he intervened earlier this month and threatened legal action if the remarks were not retracted.