President Trump’s inauguration provoked widespread interest from Iran’s media and across its political spectrum. Front pages covered everything from the President’s first days in office to how the First Lady provided a “light on [the] scary face of Trump.” Newspapers analyzed how the new U.S. administration might deal with the Islamic Republic, particularly the future of the 2015 nuclear deal. They focused heavily on the Inauguration Day protests and the Women’s Marches worldwide the next day. The implicit message was that the American political system had failed—and produced social unrest. “[Sixty] Cities in the World Start Riots against Trump,” one hardline paper declared. Below is a selection of newspaper covers with their translated headlines from the days leading up to and following the inauguration.
Tamashagaran
Photo: “White House Knight:
Trump Rises!
In Photo: New Controversy: Trump’s Remarks Were Similar to Those of the Villain of the Batman movie”
Aftab-e Yazd
In photo: “Melania; A Light on the Scary Face of Trump!
A Report on the Ways Melania Trump Is Different from Previous US First Ladies”
Payam-e Zaman
At the top: Iran VP: “JCPOA Prepared the Grounds for Working with the World”
Mid-page: “Women Hold Rallies against Trump in Washington”
Noavaran
In photo: “Old rivalry and forced partnership: Trump’s self-interest isolationism doesn’t include Russia”
Resalat
Lower right: “Political Earthquake in West:
What Do Massive Protest Rallies against Trump Mean?”
Photo: “Millions of people in Europe and America rally against Trump”
Khorasan
In photo: “World-wide demonstrations against Trump: Trump’s first decisions to repeal Obamacare and create a missile shield against Iran”
Setareh Sobh
In photo: “Accusation; Ties with Russia
Trump’s Senior Advisor Michael Flynn Interrogated”
Bottom right: “Analyst: Trump Doesn’t Have a Correct Understanding of Political Equations”
Setareh Sobh
Center photo: “Obama to Trump: JCPOA Is Not a Deal between Iran and US”
Under Kerry: “John Kerry: JCPOA Is a Historic Deal”
Under Trump: “Trump: JCPOA Is Most Stupid Deal I’ve Ever Seen”
Under Obama: “Obama: Diplomacy Is Preferred to War”
Jomhouri Eslami
Lower center: “Unprecedented Global Opposition to New US President Continues”
Middle left: “Pope Warns against Beginning of New Era of Populism in US”
Siasat-e Rooz
In photo: “An Excuse Called Trump:
Rallies of millions of women held against America’s ruling structure”
Ebtekar
On middle right: “A positive step: political experts examine reasons Trump didn’t mention the issue of the JCPOA in the inauguration ceremony”
Javan
Top headline: “Trump Comes with Iranophobia:
60 Cities in the World Start Riots against Trump”
Kayhan
At bottom left: “Several Months after Controversial Election: Unrest and Chaos in America don’t relent”
Kayhan
Bottom photo: “West Terrified that Trump May Become another Gorbachev”
Shahrvand
Bottom left: “Psychological View of New US President: The Donald with Seven Faces”
Images and most translations via Iran Front Page for the days of Jan. 18, Jan. 22, Jan. 23, and Jan. 24.
Daniel Schnur, a research assistant at the U.S. Institute of Peace, contributed to this roundup.