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Something has changed. When Donald Trump won in 2016, America shocked itself.

Even those who chose him back then weren’t wholly convinced he’d do it.

The Washington establishment – Democrat and Republican – had not expected a President Trump.

And beyond that, in 2016, there was a reluctance to admit you were for Trump.

Not anymore. Beyond his base – the country-wide grassroots faithful once dismissed by Hillary Clinton as the “deplorables”, there has been a truly fascinating cultural shift in America. And it’s been quick.

The hostility to Trump’s MAGA movement has gone. Part of it is a resignation; the resistance has gone, but it’s much more than that.

From the Silicon Valley tech billionaires, to significant corners of Hollywood, and in the business community, it is no longer toxic to be associated with Donald Trump.

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And across Washington over the past 48 hours that shift has been so starkly clear.

Sections of society that wouldn’t or couldn’t put their name to Trump are now proudly hopeful of his chances to “Make America Great Again”. The MAGA cap is a red carpet fashion accessory, not a hillbilly hat.

All over town there have been glitzy inauguration parties in the city’s finest restaurants and clubs. And it’s not just West Palm Beach and Silicon Valley that’s descended on DC.

It would have been inconceivable in 2016 that I could have attended a lunch full of wealthy Arab-Americans for Trump. Yet this weekend the city’s swanky Ilili restaurant was buzzing with optimism drawn from across the country.

And that optimism was all around in spades last night for Donald Trump’s final victory rally.

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What can we expect from Trump’s first term?

In the city’s Capital One Arena on the eve of completing such a remarkable comeback, 20,000 gathered for the victory lap.

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His opening words, to roars: “We won, we won.”

Written off, prosecuted, convicted, nearly assassinated, twice. I wanted a penny for his inner thoughts at that moment.

Instead we got the familiar rhetorical bullet points.

“I will end the war in Ukraine. I will stop the chaos in the Middle East. And I will prevent World War three from happening… we will end the wokeness. We will get critical race theory and transgender insanity the hell out of our schools.”

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What has Trump done since winning?

Of course this time it may not be rhetoric. He has the presidential power now to deliver his way, and he says he will, with an unprecedented number of executive orders on day one.

“We have to set our country on the proper course by the time the sun sets tomorrow evening. The invasion of our borders will have come to a halt.”

Speaking to Sky News, senior advisor to Mr Trump Jason Miller said things would change with prescient breaking speed.

“I think he will see some immediate action there inside the Rotunda before the president heads over [to the White House]…”

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What do Texans want from Trump?

It was striking that the person invited on stage, during the victory speech, was not his vice president, but the man they are calling his “co-president”, Elon Musk.

The world’s richest man, with his son in tow, carried an awkward authenticity with him.

Mr Musk now leads a band of America’s top tech execs – from Meta, to Amazon, to TikTok – all locked in behind Trump.

Outgoing president Joe Biden says they are the billionaires who represent an oligarchy close to the heart of government. Or are they, instead, reflective of American success?

It’s always been possible to make assumptions about America: its direction, its priorities, its focus. A linear thread has run through the presidency.

It feels now that that’s been severed. It feels like we are set for profound change.

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Trump shows off his YMCA moves

The show ended with the Village People on stage with YMCA, a song that became the accidental anthem of his movement.

And yet the Village People had wanted Kamala Harris to win. That Mr Trump had them here, and that they wanted to be here, is a reflection of an upbeat unity that America will need in the days and four years ahead.

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Donald Trump inauguration: Trump to declare national emergency at US-Mexico border in blitz of executive orders

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Donald Trump inauguration: Trump to declare national emergency at US-Mexico border in blitz of executive orders

Donald Trump has said he will declare an emergency at the US-Mexico border as one of a host of executive orders the incoming president will sign on Monday and in the coming days.

Incoming White House officials have said the first wave of executive orders will cover a mix of campaign trail promises, reversals of outgoing President Joe Biden’s policies and restructuring of the federal government workforce.

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One of the most high-profile orders will be Mr Trump declaring a national emergency on the US-Mexico border as part of a wider crackdown on immigration and other cross-border crimes.

Sky News’ US partner NBC News has reported Mr Trump is expected to sign more than 50 executive orders on Monday, and possibly more than 100, citing a person in his transition operation.

Border and immigration

On the border, Mr Trump said he would declare a national emergency in his inaugural speech.

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During the inauguration ceremony, Mr Trump said: “All illegal entry will immediately be halted and we will begin the process of returning millions and millions of criminal aliens back to the places they came.

“I will end the practice of catch and release and I will send troops to the southern border to repel the disastrous invasion of our country.

“Under the orders I sign today we will also be designating the cartels as foreign terrorist organisations.”

U.S. President-elect Donald Trump speaks during a rally the day before he is scheduled to be inaugurated for a second term, in Washington, U.S., January 19, 2025. REUTERS/Carlos Barria
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President-elect Donald Trump speaks during a rally the day before he is scheduled to be inaugurated for a second term.
Pic: Reuters/Carlos Barria

In his first term, Mr Trump did the same after Congress refused to give him the money to build a border wall.

Energy and climate

However, the border emergency is not the only one Mr Trump intends to declare.

During his speech, the president said he would also declare “a national energy emergency”, adding: “We will drill baby drill.”

He continued: “We will be a rich nation again, and it is that liquid gold under our feet that will help to do it.”

NBC News reported this is aimed at expanding the administration’s ability to improve domestic energy production.

Alongside that, he reportedly will: allow more drilling both offshore and on federal lands, end a freeze on liquid natural gas exports and cut off climate-related funding that was approved under the Inflation Reduction Act signed by President Biden.

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Government workforce

In another executive order, Mr Trump reportedly will implement Schedule F.

This eliminates job protections for potentially thousands of federal workforce positions, which could make it easier to fire them.

Gender and diversity

Matching talking points from the campaign trail, Mr Trump said it would be government policy, through an executive order, that there would only be two genders recognised by the US government – male and female.

Speaking on Martin Luther King Jr Day he also promised to slash diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) efforts, saying: “This week, I will also end the government policy of trying to socially engineer race and gender into every aspect of public and private life.

“We will forge a society that is colour-blind and merit-based.

“As of today, it will henceforth be the official policy of the US government that there are only two genders, male and female.”

Mr Trump also intends to reverse an order by President Biden that allows transgender people to serve openly in the military in their self-identified gender.

The order also provided greater access to medical care and even support for gender transition.

The Pentagon and military

Alongside that, NBC News said that Mr Trump would reverse two other decisions by the Democrat who beat him in the 2020 election.

One would change the location of the US Space Command headquarters, moving it from Colorado to Alabama.

The other would reverse a 2022 decision that provided paid leave and reimbursed transportation costs for troops and dependents who travelled out of state for abortion and other reproductive care.

TikTok and Hunter Biden

Mr Trump has said he would sign an extension for TikTok to find a buyer, to comply with the law that went into effect on Sunday.

Mr Trump would also reportedly suspend security clearance for 51 national security officials who signed a letter saying that Hunter Biden’s emails and laptop had the hallmarks of a Russian operation.

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Everyone wants a piece of Trump in bitterly cold inauguration queue

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Everyone wants a piece of Trump in bitterly cold inauguration queue

“Hats off! No bags! No drinks, no food, no water, no nothing. Everything out of your pockets. Come on – let’s go, let’s go let’s go!”

Security’s tough at the front of the line. There is a real sense of urgency.

It is bitterly cold outside Washington’s Capital One Arena and people have been queuing since 3.30am. Everyone’s keen to get in.

The queue snakes all the way around the back of the Martin Luther King Jr Memorial Library and down the block.

Inauguration Day happens to coincide with MLK Day (Martin Luther King Jr Day) this year. There was meant to be an outside match to commemorate that too, but it’s been cancelled because of the cold.

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It’s now 7am and the queue starts moving. There’s a huge cheer at the front.

Despite the freezing temperatures and wind chill, people are excited. They came here for Trump, and it would have been colder on the National Mall in any case. They’re psyched.

“I spent so much money on my bills – they’re gonna go down, everything’s gonna go down and my pay rate is gonna go up,” says Dan French, who’s dressed as Uncle Sam.

Tabitha in the queue outside Washington's Capital One Arena
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Tabitha, from New York, believes Mr Trump will sort out the economy

Tabitha agrees. “New York, where I’m from, is a hot mess,” she says. “Everything is expensive, housing, food. Trump is going to come in and clean this up.”

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It’s a sea of red MAGA caps, USA flags, Trump and MAGA memorabilia. The street vendors are having a field day.

An extra layer helps, especially if it has Trump on it.

Brady, from Texas, in the queue outside Washington's Capital One Arena
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Grady, from Texas, in the queue outside Washington’s Capital One Arena

Grady from Texas has a ‘Daddy’s Home’ sweatshirt with a big picture of Trump on it. Immigration is why he voted Trump.

“Our borders are broken. It affects all of our communities. The fentanyl crisis is out of control,” he says.

I ask how this term will be different from the last. “We’re gonna get a lot more done,” Grady says.

“He knows a little bit about how to govern, he’ll be able to hit the ground running. He has new ideas and a whole cabinet of outsiders.”

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Trump is expected to promise a revolution of common sense in his inaugural speech. I ask Grady what he thinks that means.

“Cancel culture and woke culture, there’s a lot of things that don’t make sense in this county especially on social issues,” he replies.

“We don’t have to overcomplicate things, cancel culture is dead now so I think to get away from that is what he means.”

And did Biden have no common sense?

“Oh no,” says Dan (aka Uncle Sam). “Biden had no sense at all”.

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Donald Trump’s inauguration in pictures

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Donald Trump's inauguration in pictures

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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