Donald Trump inauguration recap: Presidential pardons and executive orders on a big first day in office
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.
Scroll down for a recap of all the day’s events.
Key Events
That’s a wrap on Day One of Trump 2.0
We’ll wrap our live coverage of Donald Trump’s second, historic inauguration day there. What a day.
The 47th President of the United States, the nation’s first convicted felon to hold the office, spent his evening dazzling his loyal followers after a marathon day.
Seeming determine to make quick work of fulfilling his campaign promises - and undoing the legacy of the Biden-Harris administration - Trump took market to paper to sign through a mountain of executive orders.
The most shocking included seeking the US to exit the World Health Organisation, another to remove the US from the Paris Accords, pardoning an army of January 6 defendants, ordering federal agencies to revoke the use of “gender”, renaming the Gulf of Mexico and Mount Denali , and declaring a “national emergency” on the southern border.
The latter was one in a slateof policies to kick-start his hardline immigration crackdown, inclulding another order to exclude children born in the US of undocumented immigrants from birthright citizenship.
He also signed through an order to prolong the operations of TikTok - at least for 75 days so his government can negotiate a deal. He threatened to impose massive tarifs , up to 100 per cent on China if it does not agree to sell half of the social media company to the US.
Thanks for following along. Stay tuned for tonight’s edition of The Nightly for all your inauguration deep-dives.
J.D. Vance enters to take of oath
Republican J.D. Vance has entered the Capitol Rotunda to be sworn in as the youngest Vice President of the United States of America.
Mr Vance walked into the Rotunda to a live rendition of Oh America.
Mike Pence arrives for inauguration
Donald Trump’s former Vice President Mike Pence has arrived for the swearing in of the 47th President of the United States.
The pair’s relationship became deeply troubled after the storming of the US Capitol in 2021, the same building where the inauguration is taking place.
Mr Pence criticised Mr Trump’s delay in calling off Republican rioters, allegedly putting the lives of politicians in danger.
Speaking on X, Mr Pence said: “Today, I will attend the inauguration of President Donald Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance at the US Capitol.”
“This is a day when every American does well to celebrate our democracy and the peaceful transfer of power under the Constitution of the United States.
“We encourage all our fellow Americans to join us praying for President Trump and Vice President Vance as they assume the awesome responsibility of leading this great Nation. And May God Continue to Bless the United States of America.”
Rupert Murdoch attends Donald Trump’s inauguration
Former chair of Fox Corp Rupert Murdoch is seated in the Capitol Rotunda, preparing to watch Donald Trump be sworn in as the 47th President of the United States.
Seated alongside his wife Elena Zhukova, Mr Murdoch wore a black trench coat for the occasion.
What’s happening in the Oval Office during the inauguration
During Mr Trump’s swearing in at the Capitol, workers are racing to prepare the Oval Office for Mr Trump.
The Resolution Desk has been dismantled so the rug in the room can be changed, before the desk is reassembled, ready for Mr Trump’s second term in office.
The rug that will be used by Mr Trump is one selected by former First Lady Nancy Reagan.
What will happen during Trump’s swearing in?
Formalities for the swearing in are running a little behind.
Guests including former presidents and first ladies, the Trump family and some of the biggest names in US business are seated and ready to watch Mr Trump sworn in a second time.
Mr Trump should be sworn in by 11:45am local time (3:45am AEDT), and able to act in power from 12pm (4am AEDT).
Who is in the Capitol for Trump’s swearing in
The who’s who of the US political system has descended on the Capitol to watch President-elect Donald Trump sworn in as the 47th President of the United States.
Former presidents Bill Clinton, George W Bush and Barack Obama have entered the rotunda for the ceremony, joined by former first ladies Hillary Clinton and Laura Bush.
Former First Lady Michelle Obama has snubbed the event, not returning from Hawaii to join her husband for the ceremony.
SpaceX owner Elon Musk, Meta owner Mark Zuckerberg, Amazon owner Jeff Bezos and Apple boss Tim Cook have arrived ahead of the historic occasion.
Commentators expect ‘theatrical’ day by Trump
President-elect Donald Trump is minutes away from being sworn in as the 47th President of the United States.
After he takes the oath at the Capitol Building, Mr Trump is expected to sign a string of executive orders across multiple locations in Washington DC.
Mr Trump will host the inauguration day parade from Capital One Arena, moved inside due to freezing temperatures in the city.
A seat at a large desk has been set up where Mr Trump is expected to a large amount of of orders live in front of adoring Republican supporters.
Commentators are saying the day will be “theatrical” with the president-elect expected to draw from his TV and entertainment past and put on a show as he returns to power.
President Joe Biden has left the White House
After hosting President-elect Donald Trump and former First Lady Melania Trump for tea, President Joe Biden has departed the White House for the final time as President.
Mr Biden entered a motorcade with Mr Trump, getting into the same vehicle, before the two departed for the Capitol building where Mr Trump will be sworn in as president.
Mr Trump will take the oath in the Capitol Rotunda, a room under the main dome of the Capitol building.
Trump and Biden meet for tea at the White House
In 2021 when President Joe Biden took office, then-President Donald Trump broke from tradition, not meeting with Mr Biden for tea at the White House.
As Mr Trump prepares to take the oath and return to power, Mr Biden met with Mr Trump and wife Melania, hosting the couple for a traditional pre-inauguration tea, an activity completed by most presidents for around 100 years.
Mr Biden and First Lady Jill Biden greeted the Trumps at the entrance of the White House, before entering the building for around an hour.
President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration day underway
Washington is buzzing as Republican President-elect Donald Trump prepares to return to office.
The day began at St. John’s Episcopal Church where Mr Trump and his wife Melania Trump attended a service with friends and political allies.
The service lasted for around 30 minutes before the Trumps were whisked away by motorcade.
