Donald Trump inauguration live updates: President pardons roughly 1500 January 6 rioters for ‘reconciliation’
President Donald Trump has been sworn in as the 47th President of the United States of America.
On Monday local time, the Republican took the oath of office at the Capitol Rotunda, returning for his second term as president.
Mr Trump has spent the remainder of his first hours back in office signing a stack of executive orders, including repealing many made by predecessor Joe Biden.
Scroll down for the latest updates as Donald Trump returns to the White House.
Key Events
Trump pardons about 1500 people who stormed Capitol
Donald Trump has officially pardoned roughly 1500 of his supporters who stormed the US Capitol on January 6, 2021.
The executive order grants a “full complete and unconditional pardon” to all individuals, bar 14, convicted for “offences related to events that occurred at or near” the Capitol.
“This proclamation ends a grave national injustice that has been perpetrated upon the American people over the last four years and begins a process of national reconciliation,” the order says.
Fourteen people have had their sentences over the deadly riot commuted to time served, meaning they’ll be eligible for immediate release if they are in prison.
Trump to rename Gulf of Mexico
“A short time from now, we are going to be changing the name of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America,” President Donald Trump announced in his inauguration speech.
“We will restore the name of a great president, William McKinley, to Mount McKinley.”
Trump will be ‘peacemaker and unifier’
“Like in 2017, we will again build the strongest military the world has ever seen,” President Donald Trump said.
“We will measure our success not only by the battles we win, but also by the wars that we end. And perhaps most importantly, the wars we never get into.”
“My proudest legacy will be that of a peacemaker and unifier.
Services members to be given backpay after COVID dismissal
President Donald Trump has committed to giving backpay to armed forces who were dismissed for not having a COVID vaccine.
“This week I will reinstate any service members who were unjustly expelled from our military for objecting to the COVID vaccine mandate with full backpay,” Mr Trump said.
“And I will sign an order to stop our warriors from being subjected to radical political theories and social experiments while on duty.
“It’s going to end immediately.”
Only two genders in the United States
President Donald Trump has said the US Government will now only recognise two genders.
“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,” he said.
“We will forge a society that is colour-blind and merit based.
“As of today, it will henceforth be the official policy of the United States government that there are only two genders, male and female.”
Trump to ‘bring back free speech’
“I will also sign an executive order to immediately stop all government censorship and bring back free speech.
“Never again will the immense power of the state be weaponised to persecute political opponents.
“We will not allow that to happen. It will not happen again.”
Trump details string of executive orders
President Donald Trump has detailed the first orders he will make on Monday as he enters office for a second time.
“I will direct all members of my Cabinet to marshal the vast powers at their disposal to defeat what was record inflation and rapidly bring down costs and prices,” Mr Trump said.
“Today I will also declare a national energy emergency. We will drill, baby
“America will be a manufacturing nation once again, and we have something that no other manufacturing nation will ever have.
“The largest amount of oil and gas of any country on earth, and we are going to use it.”
“We will end the green deal and we will revoke the electric vehicle mandate.”
Trump reveals first executive order
“Today I will sign a series of historic executive orders,” President Donald Trump said.
“With these actions, we will begin the complete restoration of America and the revolution of common sense.
“It’s all about common sense. First, I will declare a national emergency at our southern border,” Mr Trump said as crowds cheered.
“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 from which they came.
“We will reinstate my Remain in Mexico policy.
“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.”
Trump says January 20, 2025, is liberation day
“Under our administration of American patriots, we will be working to meet every crisis with dignity and power and strength,” Mr Trump said.
“We will move with purpose and speed to bring back hope, prosperity, safety and peace for citizens of every race, religion, colour and creed for American citizens.
“January 20th, 2025, is liberation day.”
‘Saved by God to make America great again’
“Over the past eight years, I have been tested and challenged more than any president in our 250 year history, and I’ve learned a lot along the way,” President Donald Trump said.
“The journey to reclaim our republic has not been an easy one, that I can tell you.
“Those who wish to stop our cause have tried to take my freedom, and indeed to take my life.
“Just a few months ago, in a beautiful Pennsylvania field, an assassin’s bullet ripped through my ear.
“But I felt then and believe even more so now, that my life was saved for a reason.
“I was saved by God to make America great again.”
Trump welcomes ‘golden age of America’
President Donald Trump has celebrated returning to the presidency, saying every day he will “simply put America first”.
“The golden age of America begins right now. From this day forward, our country will flourish and be respected again all over the world,” Mr Trump said.
“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.”
