Donald Trump officially sworn in as US President
The new President took his oath of office at a solemn ceremony under the Rotunda of the US Capitol, the same building that Trump supporters stormed in 2021, leading to his second impeachment.
Mr Trump was sworn in immediately after his Vice President, former senator J D Vance, took the oath of office. The event was held indoors because of freezing temperatures in Washington.
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Trump says military to be so strong 'we don't have to use it'
US President Donald Trump has given an address at the Commander-in-Chief Ball in Washington, which celebrates the US armed forces. He shared a dance with wife Melania alongside Vice President JD Vance and his wife Usha.
Mr Trump told the event it was an honour to serve as commander-in-chief and said the US military would be strengthened so "we don't have to use it".
“As I said in my inaugural address, we will measure our success not only by the battles we win, but also by the wars we end and perhaps most importantly the wars we never get into,” Mr Trump said at the black-tie event. "God bless you, God bless our armed forces, God bless our men and women serving overseas, and God bless the United States of America."
He ended his appearance by cutting a large cake using a sword.
‘Drill, baby, drill’: Trump moves to increase US oil production
Kyle Fitzgerald reports from Washington:
President Donald Trump on Monday declared a “national energy emergency” as he took early steps, including withdrawing the US from the Paris Agreement, to reverse his predecessor's climate legacy.
The energy emergency declaration was signed to increase domestic oil and gas production in a bid to lower costs for consumers, and is part of a broader “America First” agenda by the newly inaugurated president.
“We will be a rich nation again, and it is that liquid gold under our feet that will help to do it,” Mr Trump said during his inaugural address inside the Capitol.
He said the inflationary surge in 2022 was caused by rising energy costs and “massive overspending”.
Trump to impose 25% tariff on goods from Mexico and Canada next month
Kyle Fitzgerald reports from Washington:
US President Donald Trump told reporters that he intends to impose a tariff of 25 per cent on goods imported from Mexico and Canada on February 1. The American leader also said he could impose tariffs of up to 100 per cent on goods from China.
Mr Trump did not take any executive action on tariffs on his first night back in the White House. He said he might impose universal tariffs, "but we're not ready for that yet".
President delays TikTok ban as app fights for US survival
Kyle Fitzgerald reports from Washington:
Donald Trump on Monday signed an executive order aimed at saving TikTok from being banned in the US in one of his first official acts as President, as he began his second term in office.
The executive order instructs the US Attorney General not to enforce the ban for 75 days to allow Mr Trump's administration the opportunity to find a resolution.
Mr Trump said it would be “good for China” if it is approved and it would be considered “somewhat of a hostile act” if they do not approve it.
The new President has said he wants the US to have a 50 per cent ownership of TikTok in a “joint venture”.
Trump 'not confident' Gaza ceasefire will last
Jihan Abdalla reports from Washington:
US President Donald Trump on Monday said he was not confident that all three phases of the ceasefire in Gaza between Israel and Hamas would be implemented.
Mr Trump was speaking from the Oval Office as he signed a batch of executive orders, hours after his inauguration.
“That's not our war over there, but I'm not confident, but I think they're very weakened,” he said, referring to Hamas.
On Sunday, after months of stalemate, a ceasefire began in Gaza, halting 15 months of conflict sparked by a Hamas attack on Israel that killed 1,200 people on October 7, 2023. About 46,900 Palestinians have been killed and much of the coastal enclave has been flattened since then.
Saudi Arabia will join Abraham Accords in due course, Trump says
President Donald Trump said he thinks Saudi Arabia would join the Abraham Accords.
“I think it will happen but maybe not quite yet,” Mr Trump said as he signed executive orders in the Oval Office. “I think Saudi Arabia will end up being in the Abraham Accords.”
Trump signs immigration executive orders
Jihan Abdalla reports from Washington:
President Donald Trump has signed an executive order declaring an emergency at the US southern border, fulfilling a campaign promise.
The move also allows Mr Trump to allocate more efforts and funding to crack down on immigration at the border.
He then signed another order that will try to rescind “birthright” citizenship from children of undocumented immigrants.
Birthright citizenship is a right enshrined in the Constitution that guarantees US citizenship to everyone born in the country, and the move is likely to face challenges in court.
Pardons and commutations of sentences issued for January 6 defendants
On his return to the Oval Office, US President Donald Trump signed “full pardons” for about 1,500 people being prosecuted for taking part in the January 6, 2021, Capitol insurrection.
By executive order, he also signed the commutations of sentences for six defendants, although he did not identify them.
Trump arrives at the White House
Jihan Abdalla reports from Washington:
President Donald Trump arrived at the White House on Monday evening, for the first time since his inauguration, where he was expected to sign more executive orders.
His motorcade arrived in the north portico of the White House before getting out of his vehicle accompanied by his wife, Melania. Their son, Barron, was close behind.
He is expected to leave again soon to attend an evening celebratory ball.
Marco Rubio confirmed as US Secretary of State
Ellie Sennett reports from Washington:
The US Senate unanimously approved Marco Rubio as Secretary of State in the hours after Donald Trump's inauguration on Monday.
Mr Trump's picks for Pentagon chief and director of national intelligence also cleared key hurdles, as Republicans rally to assist him on his “day one” agenda.
The Senate intelligence committee approved Mr Trump's nomination for director of the CIA, John Ratcliffe.
And the armed services committee paved the way for Mr Trump's controversial defence secretary choice, Pete Hegseth, to move to a final party-line vote.
Mr Rubio, a Republican senator from Florida, received a unanimous endorsement from his colleagues on the foreign relations committee, including every committee Democrat.
Trump withdraws US from Paris climate treaty
President Donald Trump signed an executive order withdrawing the US from the Paris climate treaty, something he did in his first term in office.
“We’re going to save over $1 trillion by withdrawing from that treaty,” Mr Trump said as he signed the order at a Washington arena, as supporters yelled with delight.
Trump says he will sign orders to release January 6 rioters from prison
President Donald Trump said on Monday that he would shortly sign orders that would see the release of prisoners convicted for their actions during the January 6, 2021 attack on the US Capitol.
“I’m not only signing the release of the J6 hostages, I’m signing other things that you [will] love,” he said during an event at a Washington arena before signing a string of executive orders in front of the crowd.
Families of hostages held in Gaza meet with Trump at inaugural ceremony
Mr Trump said: "We won, but now the work begins, we have to bring them home."
There are seven American hostages still believed to be alive and held in Gaza.
His envoy introduced the hostage families on to the stage to briefly meet Mr Trump and presidential family members.
"Several of the families have lost children and loved ones ... Several have children who are still in captivity," Mr Witkoff said to the crowd.
"There is an American family here whose whose loved one is scheduled to come out in 14 days, and they're going to be meeting the President tonight."
Trump Middle East envoy touts Abraham Accords at inaugural event
Steve Witkoff, President Donald Trump's new Middle East envoy, promoted the Abraham Accords during a speech at the inaugural parade on Monday.
"The Abraham Accords, a testament to [Mr Trump's] vision and determination, have also brought historic progress to the region, transforming old rivalries into new alliances," he told crowds at the Capital One Arena in Washington.
"These agreements are not merely symbolic."
Mr Witkoff said his role is focused on turning Mr Trump's vision into "actionable outcomes". "He sets the agenda, he lays the framework and he inspires people like me into bold action," he said.
The new envoy also heralded the new ceasefire in Gaza, for which he credited Mr Trump.
Mr Witkoff welcomed family members of hostages held in Gaza on stage with him, to thunderous applause. The family members shook hands with Mr Trump as they passed him on stage.
Mr Trump in his speech called Mr Witkoff a "great negotiator".
Trump's inauguration speech in full
President Donald Trump delivered a 30-minute speech from the US Capitol Rotunda on Monday, his second inaugural address to the American people. Here it is in full:
Vice President Vance, Speaker Johnson, Senator Thune, Chief Justice Roberts, justices of the United States Supreme Court, President Clinton, President Bush, President Obama, President Biden, Vice President Harris and my fellow citizens:
The golden age of America begins right now. From this day forward, our country will flourish and be respected again all over the world. We will be the envy of every nation. And we will not allow ourselves to be taken advantage of any longer.
During every single day of the Trump administration I will, very simply, put America first. Our sovereignty will be reclaimed. Our safety will be restored. The scales of justice will be rebalanced. The vicious, violent and unfair weaponisation of the Justice Department and our government will end. And our top priority will be to create a nation that is proud and prosperous and free.
Vladimir Putin congratulates Donald Trump on becoming US President
Inauguration 2025: Key moments from Donald Trump's first day back in office
That hat
While red baseball caps have become synonymous with Mr Trump, first lady Melania Trump made her own millinery-related fashion statement, sporting a navy wide-brimmed hat by American designer Eric Javits.
The headwear drew attention not just for its strikingly low brow but for the fact Mr Trump was unable to reach his wife's cheek when he tried to give her a kiss, forcing him to do a rather Parisian air kiss.
Read about the other big moments here
Trump administration 'cancels flights for almost 1,660 Afghan refugees'
Almost 1,660 Afghans cleared to resettle in the US, including family members of active duty US military personnel, are having their flights cancelled under President Donald Trump's order suspending US refugee programmes, a US official and a leading refugee resettlement advocate said on Monday.
The group includes unaccompanied minors awaiting reunification with their families in the US and Afghans at risk of Taliban retribution because they fought for the former US-backed Afghan government, said Shawn VanDiver, head of the #AfghanEvac, coalition of US veterans and advocacy groups.
The US decision also leaves in limbo thousands of other Afghans who have been approved for resettlement as refugees in the US but have not yet been assigned flights from Afghanistan or neighbouring Pakistan, Mr VanDiver and the official said.
Mr Trump made an immigration crackdown a major promise of his 2024 election campaign, leaving the fate of US refugee programmes up in the air.
-Reuters
