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Donald Trump is now the 47th president of the United States, as well as the 45th president, a businessman – and a man who knows how to put on a show.

A litany of former presidents, Trump family members, tech royalty and world politicians attended the historic event.

As the 78-year-old entered the Rotunda, where the inauguration ceremony was moved to due to freezing temperatures outside, he was met with cheers and applause.

Donald Trump at his inauguration ceremony. Pic: AP
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Donald Trump at his inauguration ceremony. Pic: AP

He reached for his wife Melania, who he awkwardly tried to kiss, and greeted his predecessor, Joe Biden, who was standing opposite the Trump family with now-former vice president Kamala Harris beside him.

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Mr Trump and Melania share awkward kiss

Former US presidents in attendance included Bill Clinton with his wife, former presidential candidate and Trump rival Hilary Clinton.

Barack Obama was also there but without his wife Michelle, while George Bush attended with his wife Laura.

Former President George W. Bush, former first lady Laura Bush and former President Barack Obama. Pic: AP
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Former President George W Bush, former first lady Laura Bush and former President Barack Obama. Pic: AP

Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and former President Bill Clinton arrive. Pic: AP
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Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and former President Bill Clinton arrive. Pic: AP

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Mr Trump announced a string of drastic new measures for his second presidential term

The newly-elected president gave his oath with his hands on two bibles, one given to him by his mother and the other being the Lincoln Bible, first used in 1861 to swear in the 16th US president.

The Republican, whose first term in power lasted between 2016 and 2020, then gave a speech in which he announced some sweeping measures on migration, climate change and gender rights.

On the eve of his inauguration, Mr Trump held a final rally in Washington DC, where he hinted at a blizzard of executive orders he would sign once he was back in the Oval Office.

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He was joined on stage by Elon Musk, his new government efficiency tsar, and then had a boogie with none other than the Village People, as they sang their hit YMCA.

Donald Trump dances with The Village People at the final rally before his inauguration. Pic: AP
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Donald Trump dances with The Village People at the final rally before his inauguration. Pic: AP

Elon Musk reacts as President Donald Trump speaks the night before his inauguration. Pic: AP
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Elon Musk reacts as President Donald Trump speaks the night before his inauguration. Pic: AP

After a candlelit dinner at the National Building Museum, he headed back to Blair House, known as The President’s Guest House, to prepare for one of the biggest days in the US political calendar.

Donald Trump speaks the night before his inauguration at the Building Museum. Pic: AP
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Donald Trump speaks the night before his inauguration at the Building Museum. Pic: AP

On Monday morning, the inauguration began. It started at St John’s Church, known as the “Church of the Presidents”.

Donald Trump's vice president JD Vance and his wife Usha Vance arrive at St John's Church. Pic: Reuters
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Donald Trump’s vice president JD Vance and his wife Usha Vance arrive at St John’s Church. Pic: Reuters

It is one of the most private events of an inauguration, with no TV cameras allowed inside the small, yellow church.

Donald Trump greets his vice president JD Vance at St John's Church. Pic: Reuters
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Donald Trump greets his vice president JD Vance at St John’s Church. Pic: Reuters

U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's daughter Ivanka Trump and her sons Jospeh and Theodore attend a service at St. John's Church on the inauguration day of his second Presidential term in Washington, U.S. January 20, 2025. REUTERS/Carlos Barria
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Ivanka Trump looks after her sons Joseph and Theodore at St John’s Church. Pic: Reuters

After the intimate prayer service, incoming vice president JD Vance went to meet outgoing VP Kamala Harris with their respective partners at the White House.

Vice president Kamala Harris, center right, and her husband Doug Emhoff pose with vice president-elect JD Vance, right, and his wife Usha Vance. Pic: AP
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VPs past and future – Kamala Harris (centre-right) and JD Vance (far right) – and their partners, Doug Emhoff and Usha Vance. Pic: AP

The Trumps headed to tea with the Bidens before the four of them were driven together to the swearing-in ceremony.

President Donald Trump and Melania Trump were greeted by former president Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden upon their arrival at the White House. Pic: AP
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Donald and Melania Trump are greeted by former president Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden at the White House. Pic: AP

When Joe Biden was sworn in four years ago, then president Trump did not afford him the same tradition and instead skipped the whole inauguration.

Members of the US Marine Band, The President's Own, arrive before the inauguration in the Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol. Pic: AP
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Members of the US Marine Band, The President’s Own, arrive before the inauguration. Pic: AP


While the 46th and 47th presidents took tea, the Rotunda filled with guests and musicians.

On the streets of Washington, thousands gathered to watch it live on screens.

Read more: Everyone wants a piece of Trump outside inauguration

Meta chief executive Mark Zuckerberg ahead of the inauguration. Pic: AP
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Meta chief executive Mark Zuckerberg ahead of the inauguration. Pic: AP

Guests arrive ahead of the Presidential Inauguration in the Rotunda. Pic: AP
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Guests arrive ahead of the presidential inauguration in the Rotunda. Pic: AP

Crowds of supporters brave the cold to watch a live broadcast of the ceremony. Pic: AP
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Crowds of supporters brave the cold to watch a live broadcast of the ceremony. Pic: AP

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Judge pauses Donald Trump’s plan to put thousands of USAID workers on leave

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Judge pauses Donald Trump's plan to put thousands of USAID workers on leave

A federal court has paused aspects of a plan by Donald Trump to dismantle the US Agency for International Development (USAID) and put roughly 2,700 of its staff on leave.

District judge Carl Nichols, who was nominated by the US president during his first term, agreed with legal arguments from the largest government workers’ union and an association of foreign service workers.

They sued to stop Mr Trump’s administration attempting to close USAID, which distributes billions of dollars of humanitarian aid around the world.

Justice department official Brett Shumate told Judge Nichols that about 2,200 USAID employees would be put on paid leave under the administration’s plans.

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“The president has decided there is corruption and fraud at USAID,” said Mr Shumate.

It echoes comments President Trump made on Friday in a post on Truth Social accusing USAID – without evidence – of corruption and spending money fraudulently.

But Karla Gilbride, a lawyer for the unions, argued the plans were unlawful: “The major reduction in force, as well as the closure of offices, the forced relocation of these individuals were all done in excess of the executive’s authority in violation of the separation of powers.”

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Judge Nichols’s order, which is in effect until 14 February, blocks Mr Trump’s administration from implementing plans to place the 2,200 USAID workers on paid leave from Saturday.

It also reinstates some 500 employees who had already been furloughed.

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And there will be a ban on relocating USAID humanitarian workers stationed outside the US, after overseas staff were ordered to return home within 30 days.

Judge Nichols will consider a request for a longer-term pause at a hearing scheduled for next week.

But he rejected other requests from the unions to reopen USAID buildings and restore funding for agency grants and contracts.

Soon after being inaugurated, Mr Trump ordered all US foreign aid be paused to ensure it is aligned with his “America First” policy.

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The dismantling of USAID has largely been overseen by Elon Musk, who is spearheading the president’s effort to cut costs and bureaucracy.

US secretary of state Marco Rubio insists the government will continue providing foreign aid, “but it is going to be foreign aid that makes sense and is aligned with our national interest”.

Friday’s ruling is the latest setback in the courts for the Trump administration.

Judges have temporarily paused other controversial policies, including one offering financial incentives for federal workers to resign and another ending American citizenship for anyone born in the US if their parents are in the country illegally.

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Day 20: Inside Trump’s White House

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Day 20: Inside Trump's White House

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Twenty days into Donald Trump’s second term, US correspondents James Matthews and Mark Stone are joined by Washington DC cameramen Ed Young and Michael Herd to take a step back and discuss what it’s like covering the White House under President Trump compared to President Biden.

They also share some of the moments they got close (perhaps too close) to the most powerful man in the world.

You can email James, Martha and Mark on trump100@sky.uk

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Wreckage found in Alaska for missing Bering Air plane carrying 10 people

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Wreckage found in Alaska for missing Bering Air plane carrying 10 people

A small plane which crashed in western Alaska with 10 people on board has been found and the US Coast Guard (USCG) says there were no survivors.

The Bering Air flight left Unalakleet at 2.38pm on Thursday but contact was lost less than an hour later, the firm’s operations director David Olson said.

On Saturday, in a post on X, the coastguard said: “USCG has ended its search for the missing plane after the aircraft was located approx 34 miles southeast of Nome. 3 individuals were found inside and reported to be deceased.

“The remaining 7 people are believed to be inside the aircraft but are currently inaccessible due to the condition of the plane. Our heartfelt condolences are with those affected by this tragic incident.”

The Cessna 208B Grand Caravan – carrying a pilot and nine adult passengers – was flying across Norton Sound when tracking site Flightradar24 reported it at 5,300ft before contact was lost.

It was travelling from Unalakleet, a community of about 690 people in western Alaska, to Nome, a gold rush town just south of the Arctic Circle.

The flight time is normally just under an hour.

Mike Salerno, a spokesperson for the US Coast Guard, said rescuers were searching the aircraft’s last known location by helicopter when they spotted the wreckage. They lowered two rescue swimmers to investigate.

Nome in Alaska.
Pic: AP
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The plane was heading to Nome, just south of the Arctic Circle. Pic: AP

In a post on Facebook, Nome’s fire department issued an update: “The Nome Search and Rescue Team is spooling up with assistance from the Alaska Air National Guard with recovery efforts.

“From reports we have received, the crash was not survivable. Our thoughts are with the families at this time.”

On Friday, Lieutenant Benjamin McIntyre-Coble, from the Alaskan coastguard, explained that the plane suffered a rapid loss of altitude and speed, according to radar data, but did not expand on the potential cause.

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Weather in Unalakleet at take-off time was -8.3C (17F) with fog and light snow, according to the US National Weather Service.

Bering Air serves 32 villages in western Alaska and air travel is often the only option of travelling long distances in rural parts of the US state, especially in winter.

It comes soon after two major air accidents in the US in recent weeks.

Sixty-seven people were killed when a jet and helicopter collided in Washington DC and seven died when a medical plane crashed in Philadelphia.

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