Donald Trump has been sworn in as the 47th President of the United States.
Crowds gathered in Washington DC today despite freezing -6C temperatures – but many of them did not catch a glimpse of the 78-year-old as he was sworn in away from the cold.
Former presidents Barack Obama, Bill Clinton and George Bush Jr were among the attendees at the ceremony, which unusually is being held indoors in the Capitol Rotunda Hall due to the extreme weather. Trump’s former election rivals Hillary Clinton and Kamala Harris were also in attendance.
After taking the oath of office, President Trump launched into a speech in which he outlined a sweeping raft of policies concerning trade, immigration and foreign policy – and pledged to send humans to Mars. Many of his priorities will seek to reverse policies brought in under the Biden administration as the President spoke of a new “golden age” of “common sense” for the US.
The incoming president and his wife Melania attended a traditional morning service at St John’s Episcopal Church, then headed for morning tea at the White House before the official swearing-in ceremony ushered the controversial ex-President back into the Oval Office, with millions of people watching as Trump prepares for an anticipated and feared second four-year term.
The ceremony, as well as reintroducing a fired-up and potentially vengeful Trump to the most powerful office in the world, also marked the end of Joe Biden‘s one-term Presidency. He is expected to sit with national and international leaders as his two-time rival takes his place later this afternoon.
The formal swearing-in isn’t the only event on the cards in the United States today, however, with a full programme of performances, formal balls, and musical performances due to take place afterwards. Once those have concluded, the new President will usher in his term with a flurry of executive orders – as many as 200 – to kickstart his agenda.
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A prisoner swap between the United States and Afghanistan’s Taliban freed two Americans in exchange for a Taliban figure imprisoned for life in California on drug trafficking charges, officials said Tuesday.
The deal came as President Joe Biden, who oversaw the chaotic U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021, handed power over to returning President Donald Trump. The Taliban praised the swap as a step toward the “normalization” of ties between the U.S. and Afghanistan, but that likely remains a tall order as most countries in the world still don’t recognize the militants’ rule.
President Donald Trump has had a busy day. Not only did he have the pomp and ceremony of his second inauguration and a series of formal balls, but he also signed a series of executive actions to fulfil some of the promises he made to MAGA supporters on the campaign trail.
While on stage at a celebratory rally, Trump signed a series of orders in front of crowds of adoring fans, repealing 78 of his predecessor President Joe Biden’s own Executive Orders and making a few of his own. Then, he took to the Oval Office to sign dozens more.
These included:
At the end of his first ball of the night, Trump and his new Vice President JD Vance were presented with sabers to cut an Air Force One shaped cake.
In a bizarre moment, when one of President Trump’s favourite tunes began to play, he lifted the cake-cutting sabre and began to dance.
Trump concludes his speech at the first inaugural ball by dancing while waving a sword in the air pic.twitter.com/6bx5rscAZo
Keeping with more than 200 years of tradition, President Trump attended his Inauguration Ball alongside First Lady Melania, as well as throngs of his family members, close supporters, political appointees, and adoring MAGA fans.
Kicking off the ball, following the first dance with his wife, Trump made sure to thank all of those who had helped to get him elected, as well as stumping for his pick for Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth. The Fox News host faces an uphill Senate hearing before assuming the role.
His children, including Ivanka and husband Jared Kushner, joined him for the dances on the main stage. Twelve hours after starting his jam-packed inauguration day, Trump will attend three balls on his inauguration night.
While signing around 80 executive actions and orders in front of reporters and camera crews, Donald Trump discovered a letter from Biden that had been left in the desk of the Oval Office desk after returning to the White House after his inauguration.
Trump was asked if Biden had left a letter in the famous Resolute Desk, after fumbling with the drawers, he found a small white envelope. Trump gave an audible ‘ooh’ before holding the letter to cameras, revealing it was simply addressed to ’47’ – with Biden addressing his successor by number rather than name. Trump chose to set the letter aside to read later, as he continued signing his long-promised executive orders.
Joe Biden followed the tradition initiated by Ronald Reagan, leaving a letter for his successor during the transition of power. Biden confirmed writing a letter to Trump but chose not to disclose its contents, preferring to keep it between them.
A man who was sentenced to 22 years in prison on sedition and conspiracy charges for his role in the January 6 insurrection has been freed by President Trump.
In one of his first acts in the Oval Office, Trump pardoned or commuted the sentences of more than 1500 people involved in the Capitol riots, which reportedly includes Enrique Tarrio – leader of the far right militia known as the Proud Boys.
Tarrio was among a small group made to stand trial for crimes more serious than assault and resisting arrest, as many of the other protestors were. The neo-fascist Proud Boys leader was found guilty of organising and directing groups to storm the Capitol on January 6, without even being present in Washington DC.
During the 2020 election, Trump told Proud Boys to “stand back and stand by” during a televised debate, though he later denied knowledge of the group. Now, Tarrio will walk free, with his mother confirming to the media that he will be out by Tuesday afternoon.
President Trump has now returned to the White House after a lengthy inauguration day, where one of his first moves has been to pardon or commute the sentences of roughly 1500 people who stormed the Capitol on January 6, after his previous election loss.
It puts to an end a four-year investigation to identify and imprison those who stormed the steps of Congress in January 2021, with the aim of stopping the ratification of the 2020 election. Some fought with and injured Capitol police, others brought a hangman’s noose for Trump’s then-vice president and chanted, “Hang Mike Pence.”
He told the press: “We hope they come out tonight, frankly.”
Senator Marco Rubio has been approved as Secretary of State in a rare bipartisan vote, winning the approval of the Senate 99 to 0. This position places Rubio at the head of a powerful government agency, the US State Department and makes him one of Trump’s principal advisors on foreign policy.
As Secretary of State, the former Senator will be fourth in the line of succession and the second most powerful politician in Trump’s orbit, after Vice President JD Vance. Rubio, 53, is the son of Cuban migrants and the first member of his immediate family to be born a US citizen.
During Trump’s first run for office in 2016, Rubio was among his principal opponents in the primary and a vocal critic of his politics. However, with the MAGA movement in full control of the Republican party, he has become one of his most vocal supporters in the years since.
Speaking on the Senate floor after the resounding vote, Secretary Rubio said: “I hope it’s because they know me and my sense is most of them voted for me because they thought I’d do a great job, and maybe a few because they wanted to get rid of me. All kidding aside, it’s a great honour.”
Newly inaugurated President Trump, after a lengthy speech about the election, the campaign ran by the Democrats, and the January 6 insurrectionists that occupied the US Capitol in 2021, has begun to sign Executive Orders on live television.
Sat at a miniature wooden desk with the seal of the President of the United States, Trump signed a series of orders that would “undo” up to 80 policies set out under the Biden administration. He said to his supporters: “Could you imagine Biden doing this? I don’t think so.”
This included withdrawing from the Paris Climate Agreement, ending the “politicisation” and legal prosecution of himself, telling all federal employees that they could no longer work from home, and a nebulous order to end the cost-of-living crisis faced by millions of Americans.
After showing the Executive Orders to the crowd, President Trump began to throw the pens he used to sign the documents into the crowd to chants of “USA.”
President Donald Trump gaffed in front of millions of people as he took the oath of office without placing his hand on the bible as planned.
The new president’s inaugural committee announced on Friday he would use the same holy books he used in January 2017, including one Abraham Lincoln put his hand on in 1861, and another given to him by his mother in 1955. The US Constitution does not require a Bible for the oath of office, but the tradition began back in 1789 when George Washington borrowed one from a Masonic Lodge in New York City.
Trump did not place his hand on a stack of two Bibles held by first lady Melania Trump during his swearing-in, but instead stood with his left arm down by his side as he raised his right hand for the oath of office.
President Trump, his Vice President JD Vance, and their families are continuing to watch the speeches in the Capital One hall, but taking a moment to speak with the families of Israeli hostages still being held captive in Gaza.
However, on the other side of Washington, Trump’s major picks for his cabinet look set to be approved – despite facing fierce criticism in the media and on Capitol Hill for some of his choices.
Florida Senator Marco Rubio looks set to be the US’ next Secretary of State. He will vote on his own confirmation in the coming hours and is expected to win the Senate’s approval easily, despite being one of Trump’s harshest critics during his first run for office.
While a more controversial choice, the Fox News host Pete Hegseth, who has previously served in the US armed forces but has faced criticism for his personal conduct, was given the nod by the Armed Services Committee in a tight 14-13 vote, while Trump continued to enjoy his lengthy inauguration rally.
Speaking to thousands of his fans packed into the arena, President Trump was bullish, saying: “We won, we won, but now the work begins…As soon as we leave, I will be heading to the Oval Office, and we will be signing pardons for a lot of people.”
Trump entered the arena via stairs in the stands that had him walking closely passed his supporters.
There was no buffer between the president and his fans, who were close enough to touch him and pat him on the shoulder.
It was a marked contrast from the Republican National Convention, when Secret Service agents kept a wide aisle between Trump and Republican officials amid heightened security following his near-assassination.
The indoor parade — attended by regular supporters — is serving as a visual contrast to the events at the Capitol, where Trump was surrounded by lawmakers and many of the country’s richest men.
Donald Trump entered the Capital One Arena to wild cheers from his supporters just moments after his Vice-President JD Vance walked in.
Trump, along with his wife Melania, walked by the crowd and signed supporters’ autographs. As the new president entered, he placed a binder on a podium where he would later address the crowd.
Trump then stood and smiled, pumping his fist as sustained cheers continued.
Elon Musk’s X account edited a moment from his Donald Trump inauguration speech where he appeared to give a ‘Nazi salute.’
The erratic tech billionaire shocked many – including those watching at Washington DC’s Capital One Arena – when he put his hand on his chest, then stretched out his arm with an open hand.
To many it appeared Musk had performed a fascist salue – familiar to most from their use by the Nazis in reverence to Adolf Hitler. Others have suggested he was merely gesturing that his “heart goes out” to the crowd.
Read more here
Donald Trump is now leaving the Capitol. He’s expected to head next to the inaugural parade at Capital One Arena.
Supporters have been there all day, watching video of the swearing-in and other events.
While red baseball caps have become synonymous with Donald Trump, Melania made her own millinery-related fashion statement, sporting a navy wide-brimmed hat by an American designer on Inauguration Day.
The hat designed by Eric Javits shielded the first lady’s eyes as her husband was sworn in Monday for the second time. Javits said dressing the first lady has been one of the greatest honours of his career.
The hat made its mark throughout the inauguration ceremony: As Trump went to kiss his wife after entering the Capitol Rotunda, the hat left only room for an air kiss. Even now-former President Joe Biden had to navigate around the hat while trying to talk to her husband on the other side.
In a departure from 2017’s sky blue cashmere dress and gloves by Ralph Lauren, this time, Melania Trump paired a muted navy silk wool coat with a navy skirt and an ivory silk crepe blouse underneath, all by independent American designer Adam Lippes.
Donald Trump will strip trans people of their legal protections in one of his first acts after returning to office.
The convicted felon and US President will sign an executive order declaring that the federal government would recognise only two genders: male and female, an incoming White House official said Monday.
And he’ll sign a second order terminating diversity, equality and inclusion programs within the federal government in what he described in his inauguration speech as a move to end efforts to “socially engineer race and gender into every aspect of public and private life.”
Read more here
Elon Musk’s weird gesture during a speech following the inauguration of Donald Trump has raised questions online.
The SpaceX CEO made the odd gesture during a speech in front of jubilant Trump supporters in Washington DC. Much of his speech was supportive of Trump’s vision for America with the tech billionaire taking particular interest in the president’s pledge to take astronauts to Mars.
“Elections come and go, some are important and some are not, but this one really mattered and I just want to say thank you for making it happen,” Musk told Trump supporters. He proceeded to place his right hand above his heart and quickly raise it toward the crowd.
Read more here
Donald Trump today declared the USA would enter a “golden age” and made a flurry of pledges including sending Americans to Mars, “take back” the Panama Canal and renaming the Gulf of Mexico.
The 47th President said he would immediately begin issuing executive orders that would designate cartels as terrorist organisations, send the military to the southern border with Mexico and tackle gender recognition. He is expected to sign upward of 200 executive orders today.
Read more here
In what may yet prove to be the most dramatic first days of any presidency, Donald Trump has set the stage for an aggressive and sweeping change in US policy.
Within hours of retaking his seat in the Oval Office, the Commander-in-Chief will sign close to 200 executive orders – many undoing his predecessor Joe Biden’s administration. Fulfilling his campaign promises, he immediately began by tackling immigration, environmental regulations, and even American history. Ten of the executive orders implemented Trump’s longstanding campaign promises of mass deportations, altering landmark geography names, and dismantling birthright citizenship.
Read more here
Donald Trump’s second inaugural speech will do nothing to dissuade those who think he’s a dangerous lunatic, hell-bent on taking revenge on his political enemies, imposing the extreme ideologies pushed by his most hardline allies and encouraging the very worst American impulses.
It was by turns bitter and self aggrandising, full of impossible promises, sinister threats and abject fantasy. If anyone else, at any other point in history had stood up at that podium and claimed to have personally saved from an assassin’s bullet by the almighty so they could be President again, they would have been rightly branded a fruit loop.
Read more here
Donald Trump joked about Melania’s large hat, saying that she nearly blew away earlier when the two stepped outside to see Joe Biden off.
“She almost blew away,” Trump said with a laugh, joking that, “She was being elevated off the ground.”
First lady Melania Trump visibly struggled to keep the hat on her head amid wind gusts and the force of the military helicopter that carried Biden from the Capitol.
Media mogul Rupert Murdoch was seen sitting before the 60th Presidential Inauguration in the Rotunda of the US Capitol in Washington.
The 93-year-old was in attendance along with Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, Meta boss Mark Zuckerberg, Apple leader Tim Cook, and Google chief Sundar Pichai .
Trump, who once asked Murdoch to stop negative Fox News against him, has had a rocky relationship with the billionaire but they are seemingly back on speaking terms following his win in November.
Donald Trump described himself as having been saved by God to “make America great again” vowing to deliver a new “golden age” for the country’s citizens.
The 47th President weaved bizarre priorities into his grim assessment of America’s present situation, vowing to send astronauts to Mars, rename the Gulf of Mexico and take back the Panama Canal.
The Republican said his election victory was a “mandate” to reverse a supposed “betrayal” of the American people.
He went on to declare the perceived era of American decline “is over.” Trump promised to designate cartels as foreign terrorist organisations, order troops to the southern border and define gender in documents such as passports.
In his lengthy speech, Trump vowed he would be a “peacemaker” and would dismantle the achievements of the administration of Joe Biden.
Read the full speech: Donald Trump’s historic inauguration address – read president’s speech in full
The price of Melania Trump’s inauguration outfit is sure to make some eyes water.
The former model was by her husband Donald Trump’s side as he was sworn in as the 47th President of the United States. Melania, 54, wore a custom double-breasted navy coat by Adam Lippes.
She paired it with a matching boater hat by Eric Javits. Both items were expertly made by American designers for the occasion.
Cost of Melania Trump’s outfit as fans brutally mock look
In the hours leading up to Trump taking office, thousands of desperate migrants headed to the US border, hoping to beat the brutal changes the new president was set to impose.
One of the biggest human caravans was seen in Tapachula, Mexico.
But within seconds of being sworn in and while still in the Capitol building, Trump immediately ended the use of the US order app called CBP One.
It had allowed migrants to legally enter the States. The move shut off a key pathway for people looking to come to the US. Homeland Security officials have cited the app as helping drive down migrant crossings by providing an orderly way to apply to the States.
With it now gone, and restrictions in place, the border is effectively shut down to asylum seekers. Existing appointments have all been cancelled.
Joe Biden is currently speaking at a sendoff ceremony at an airfield in Maryland, after being flown by helicopter from the US Capitol.
He said Trump’s inaugural speech showed “we have a lot more to do” and told the crowd: “Never give up.”
President Donald Trump has now moved on to another part of the US Capitol building, where he is currently giving a speech to lawmakers after an introduction by JD Vance.
Joe Biden and wife Jill have arrived at a farewell ceremony at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland in a helicopter. They will later fly to California.
Donald Trump has pledged to withdraw the United States from the landmark Paris Climate Agreement again, dealing a blow to worldwide efforts to combat global warming and once again distancing the U.S. from its closest allies.
The announcement echoed Trump’s actions in 2017 when he announced that the U.S. would abandon the Paris accord, which is aimed at limiting long-term global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels.
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