Donald Trump became the 47th president of the United States on Monday, taking the oath of office at his second inauguration and vowing that a “golden age” for the country begins now.
He told former presidents and other top officials gathered in the Capitol rotunda that “In America, the impossible is what we do best.” He also said he wants to be a unifying figure amid conflicts around the world.
Still, Trump called Monday “liberation day” in a speech that largely focused on his conservative priorities.
“I stand before you now as proof that you should never believe that something is impossible to do in America,” Trump said.
Trump is expected to return to the White House soon, and he’ll issue a flurry of executive orders, including acting on TikTok’s ban in the U.S.
Follow along with the USA TODAY Network for live updates.
Donald Trump planned to sign dozens of executive orders Monday in a sweeping move to reimagine the country’s relationship with immigration, its economy, the environment and even gender roles.
Incoming White House officials – speaking on condition of anonymity shortly before Trump took the oath of office – previewed the directives, which included the declaration of at least two national emergencies targeting the border and the energy sector.
The orders are expected to include mandates for how the U.S. government recognizes gender on federal documents and change official names of Mt. Denali in Alaska and the Gulf of Mexico.
The orders could undo with the flourish of a pen many of former President Joe Biden’s key efforts to curb greenhouse gas emissions, protect federal lands from oil drilling and enshrine the civil rights of transgender people. And they could grant the second Trump administration expansive authority to enforce border security and immigration laws.
– Lauren Villagran, Elizabeth Weise, Erin Mansfield
Trump opted out of an inauguration tradition on Monday: He didn’t place his hand on a Bible as he was sworn in.
But that doesn’t change Trump’s inauguration. Presidents and other elected officials who typically place their hand on a Bible or other religious texts as they take office aren’t required to by the Constitution or other laws.
− Marina Pitofsky
The White House announced Monday that Donald Trump, as promised, will once again withdraw the United States from the Paris climate agreement. The historic 2015 deal includes almost 200 nations in a single agreement to combat global warming by lowering emissions of greenhouse gasses from fossil fuels.
In 2017 during his first administration, Trump said he would remove the U.S. from the agreement. Due to the agreement’s terms, the withdrawal did not go into effect until November 20 of 2020.
This time the withdrawal could take less time as the new administration is no longer bound by the original three-year commitment, according to Reuters.
former President Joe Biden signed an Executive Order to rejoin the agreement on January 20, 2021 and the U.S. formally rejoined on February 19, 2021.
Under Biden, in November 2021, the U.S. helped lead negotiations that set new emission reduction standards as part of the agreement.
– Elizabeth Weise
Donald Trump issued a proclamation Monday requiring that the American flag be flown at full-staff today “on this and all future Inauguration Days.”
The order applies to public buildings all over the country, domestic military posts and vessels, and at locations abroad such as U.S. embassies and military facilities.
Flags have been flying at half-staff since the Dec. 29 death of former President Jimmy Carter, under an order from former President Joe Biden that prompted criticism from Trump.
– Erin Mansfield
Former President Joe Biden and former first lady Jill Biden left the Capitol after Trump’s inauguration, but they’re not sticking about Washington, D.C.
Instead, Biden is expected to give brief remarks before traveling to Santa Ynez, California, for a vacation.
− Michael Collins and Francesca Chambers
Trump again called the 2020 election, which he lost to former President Joe Biden, “rigged” on Monday afternoon It’s a falsehood that he’s repeated many times, and there is no evidence that fraud impacted the results of the race.
Trump made the comments in remarks he gave before an inaugural luncheon. He also blasted former President Joe Biden and other Democrats’ handling of the southern border, prices for consumers and more.
− Marina Pitofsky
Trump, speaking to a post-inauguration luncheon, criticized the House lawmakers who served on the committee that investigated the Jan. 6 Capitol attack, as well as Nancy Pelosi and other leaders.
Biden on Monday morning issued blanket pardons for the lawmakers on the panel, as well as staffers. He also issued pardons to Anthony Fauci, the former director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and retired Gen. Mark Milley, former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, among others.
“Why are we helping Liz Cheney?” Trump said, calling her a “disaster” and mocking another former GOP lawmaker, Adam Kinzinger.
Trump also said Vance and Melania Trump asked him not to include controversial moments in his inaugural address.
− Marina Pitofsky
At a luncheon immediately following his inauguration ceremony, Trump joked about the decision to move the proceedings indoor due to below-freezing temperatures in Washington. Inaugurations are traditionally performed outside of the Capitol.
He said he woke up Monday morning to see the sun was shining in the nation’s capitol, adding “We blew it! We blew it.” But he said officials made the right call to protect attendees: “We went outside, and we were freezing.”
− Marina Pitofsky
The White House website has officially transferred from the Biden presidency to the Trump presidency, a change that took place shortly after President Donald Trump was sworn in Monday.
The website features scenes showing Trump saluting and giving a thumbs up, a pen to sign executive orders and other legislation and helicopters and a bald eagle flying in the sky.
After the video clips, users are directed to the home screen of the website, which includes an image of Trump pointing with large white letters underneath that read “AMERICA IS BACK.”
“Every single day I will be fighting for you with every breath in my body. I will not rest until we have delivered the strong, safe and prosperous America that our children deserve and that you deserve. This will truly be the golden age of America,” a statement on the website reads.
− Sudiksha Kochi
Country music star Carrie Underwood took the stage to sing “America the Beautiful,” but she paused as there appeared to be a technical glitch. She proceeded to sing the song without instrumentation before shaking Trump’s hand.
− Marina Pitofsky
Donald Trump came out swinging in a combative inaugural speech in which he affirmed plans to rename the Gulf of Mexico and regain control of the Panama Canal.
Trump declared that under his watch, the country would not be “taken advantage” of anymore and promised an immediate “overhaul of our trade system” that he said would include tariffs and taxes on foreign countries.
“The spirit of the frontier is written into our hearts. The call of the next great adventure resounds from within our souls,” Trump said from the Capitol Rotunda after his inauguration was moved indoors due to cold weather.
− Francesca Chambers
Keep reading:Trump invokes ‘spirit of the frontier’ in Gulf and Panama actions
Trump told the crowd at the Capitol on Monday that he wants to be “a peacemaker and a unifier” as he gave his inaugural address, but he also laid out a list of conservative priorities and campaign promises.
Trump touted a new “external revenue service,” an initiative he rolled out in recent weeks to address the tariffs at the core of his foreign policy and economic proposals on the campaign trail.
He also called for ending what he called an “electric vehicle mandate” for the country, though Americans are not federally required to purchase electric vehicles.
He also repeated familiar criticisms of the Panama Canal, calling out Panama’s management of the major infrastructure. He falsely said China is operating the Panama Canal.
Trump repeated his vow to change the name of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America.
− Marina Pitofsky
Trump during his speech railed against the nation’s immigration system, vowing to declare a national emergency and send troops to the southern border. Mass deportations were a centerpiece of Trump’s reelection bid.
The president told the crowd at his inauguration that “all illegal entry will immediately be halted,” though he did not immediately explain how officials could reach that goal.
− Marina Pitofsky
Trump during his inauguration address reflected on the assassination attempt that rocked the nation over the summer. A gunman shot at a Trump rally in Pennsylvania, killing one man and injuring the president and two other attendees.
“I was saved by God to make America great again,” he told the crowd in the Capitol rotunda.
− Marina Pitofsky
Trump during his inaugural address quickly criticized the government’s handling of natural disasters and other top issues, saying it “cannot manage even a simple crisis at home.” He cited the devastation in North Carolina after Hurricane Helene, but he also called out the nation’s efforts to address health care costs and other challenges.
“From this moment on, America’s decline is over,” Trump said.
− Marina Pitofsky
Tump recited the oath of office shortly after noon ET at an intimate inauguration ceremony inside the Rotunda of the Capitol, the same building a mob of his supporters stormed four years ago to try to stop the certification of Trump’s 2020 election loss. It was moved indoors because of below-freezing in the nation’s capital.
“I return to the presidency confident and optimistic that we are at the start of a thrilling new era of national success,” Trump is expected to say, according to excerpts provided by Trump officials. “A tide of change is sweeping the country.”
− Joey Garrison
Supreme Court justice Bret Kavanaugh swore JD Vance in as vice president on Monday. Vance was surrounded by his family, Trump and other officials as he placed his hand on a Bible and vowed to support and defend the Constitution of the United States.
− Marina Pitofsky
The president-elect and incoming first lady Melania Trump were seen entering the inauguration ceremony. The crowd of lawmakers and other honored guests applauded, with just minutes before Donald Trump will be sworn in as the 47th U.S. president.
− Marina Pitofsky
Joe Biden and Kamala Harris, the outgoing president and vice president, have arrived at the inaugural ceremony. Trump defeated Harris in the 2024 race for the White House, but she presided over Congress’ certification of his win in her role as vice president.
− Marina Pitofsky
Donald Trump’s children − Donald Trump Jr., Eric Trump, Ivanka Trump, Tiffany Trump and Barron Trump, have taken their seats at their father’s second inauguration.
− Marina Pitofsky
The justices of the United States Supreme Court entered the Capitol rotunda. Chief Justice John Roberts will preside over the inauguration ceremony.
− Marina Pitofsky
As Joe Biden and Jill Biden welcomed Donald Trump and Melania Trump back to the White House on Monday, Jill Biden told him “welcome home.”
− Joey Garrison, Marina Pitofsky
Former President Bill Clinton and former first lady Hillary Clinton entered the Capitol rotunda on Monday ahead of the inauguration ceremony. Former President George W. Bush and former first lady Laura Bush followed the Clintons, before former President Barack Obama.
The crowd at the ceremony applauded as the former presidents and first ladies took their seats.
Former first lady Michelle Obama said earlier this month that she would not be in attendance at the event.
− Marina Pitofsky
Donald Trump’s top Cabinet picks, including Pete Hegseth, Doug Burgum, Kristi Noem, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and others, have entered the Capitol rotunda for the inauguration ceremony.
Some of Trump’s top allies, including Elon Musk, Vivek Ramaswamy, Joe Rogan and Jeff Bezos, also filed in ahead of the proceedings. Musk and Ramaswamy are set to lead the Department of Government Efficiency, a new initiative aimed at cutting government spending.
− Marina Pitofsky
The Trump Vance Inaugural Committee, National Park Service, Washington D.C. tourism department, Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies and Reuters have laid out a general schedule of the day, though not every event has a specific start time or location. All times provided are in ET.
– Mary Walrath-Holdridge
Donald Trump will declare shortly after taking office on Monday that the federal government only recognizes two sexes — male and female — a move that reverses protections for transgender people put in place under Joe Biden.
Trump will make the declaration as part of a flurry of executive orders he is planning to sign after his noon inauguration. An incoming White House official who described the measure said it is about “restoring sanity.”
The State Department, Department of Homeland Security and other agencies will be tasked with enforcing the directive, which applies to passports, visas and other government documents, according to the incoming White House official.
– Erin Mansfield and Francesca Chambers
Donald Trump on Monday is expected to declare a national border emergency and order the U.S. armed forces to “repel forms of invasion” at the U.S.-Mexico border, including illegal migration and drug trafficking, according to incoming administration officials.
The 10 executive orders – previewed by incoming White House officials who spoke anonymously before he was set to be sworn in at noon – appear to lay the groundwork for the sprawling crackdown on immigration Trump promised during his campaign.
Under the emergency declaration, the administration will suspend refugee resettlement, finish building the border wall, suspend entry of nationals from “countries of concern” and attempt to end the constitutionally guaranteed right to citizenship for children born in the U.S. to some foreign nationals.
The incoming administration also plans to use the military to target drug cartels as “global terrorists” and use the military to combat them, though officials declined to provide details on the rules of engagement.
– Lauren Villagran and Bart Jansen
Guests are beginning to enter the Capitol ahead of Trump’s inauguration. Spotted together: former Republican House Speakers Newt Gingrich, John Boehner and Kevin McCarthy.
– Marina Pitofsky
Former Vice President Mike Pence said he will attend Trump’s inauguration on Monday, sharing in a post on X “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.”
Pence and Trump publicly split in the wake of the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot. Trump called on Pence to intervene in Congress’ certification of the 2020 election, power the then-vice president insisted he never had as a violent mob of Trump’s supporters breached the Capitol building.
– Marina Pitofsky
The first couples meet: Joe and Jill Biden invited Donald and Melania Trump to the White House ahead of inauguration proceedings, a traditional moment in America’s historic peaceful transition of power.
JD Vance and Kamala Harris are also meeting, along with their spouses, Usha Vance and Doug Emhoff.
– Marina Pitofsky
Les Green, 56, of Hernando, Mississippi, stood at a normally busy intersection in downtown Washington D.C. in freezing temperatures on Monday. But the street was quiet ahead of the inauguration, and it marked the closest spot to the Capitol he was allowed by security.
Green, who was accompanied by his wife and two sisters, said he was excited to be in the nation’s capital on the historic day.
They stood at the corner and prayed for soon-to-be President Trump.
“We are here to pray for President Trump and for the restoration of America,” he said. “We’re here because we believe that God is bringing a resurrection of the values of the moral state that made our country great.”
“We’re just so excited for America,” he said.
– Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy
Former First Lady Michelle Obama won’t be attending Trump’s inauguration on Jan. 20., her office said. Her office did not provide a reason for why she will skip the inauguration.
“Former President Barack Obama is confirmed to attend the 60th Inaugural Ceremonies. Former First Lady Michelle Obama will not attend the upcoming inauguration,” the Office of Barack and Michelle Obama said in a statement.
George W. Bush’s office confirmed that the former president and former First Lady Laura Bush will attend Trump’s inauguration. Former President Bill Clinton’s office also confirmed he will be attending.
– Sudiksha Kochi and Phillip M. Bailey
Trump, former first lady Melania Trump and their son Barron Trump were seen arriving at St. John’s Episcopal Church in downtown Washington, D.C. for a Monday morning service. A church service has for decades been a traditional part of Inauguration Day morning.
Vice President-elect JD Vance and his wife, Usha Vance, were also in attendance, as were other members of the Trump family, such as Eric Trump, Ivanka Trump and their spouses and children.
Other inauguration guests were also seen entering the church, including Meta founder Mark Zuckerberg, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and former United Kingdom Prime Minister Boris Johnson.
– Marina Pitofsky
Join the USA TODAY Fact Check Team as we fact check Trump and reaction from around the country as he is sworn in as president.
The USA TODAY Fact Check Team will be monitoring the inauguration ceremonies and how leaders and social media users respond. Follow along as we sort fact from fiction and add context where it’s needed.
Live updates: Fact-checking Trump’s presidential inauguration
– Eric Litke
Trump will call for a “revolution of common sense” during his second inaugural address, according to multiple reports.
“I return to the presidency confident and optimistic that we are at the start of a thrilling new era of national success. A tide of change is sweeping the country,” the president-elect is expected to say. “My message to Americans today is that it is time for us to once again act with courage, vigor and the vitality of history’s greatest civilization.”
– Marina Pitofsky
More:Donald Trump wins the White House. Mark the historic win with a new commemorative book
While Trump is being sworn in as president for the second time on Monday, civil rights activists plan to take a different oath just a few blocks from the White House.
They will remember the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., whose federal holiday named in his honor also falls on that day, by pledging to challenge any efforts by the Trump administration to dismantle hard-fought gains in civil rights.
For these activists, Trump represents everything King worked against, and for them, it would dishonor King’s legacy to remain silent ‒ on this of all days.
“Everything that Dr. King stood for, Donald Trump has stated clearly he wants to dislodge,” said the Rev. Al Sharpton, president of the National Action Network, which is hosting a rally at a historic Black church near the White House.
– Deborah Barfield Berry
All major broadcast networks, including CNN, NBC and MSNBC, ABC, CBS, Fox News, News Nation and BBC, have plans to show Trump’s inauguration, many beginning coverage as early at 7 a.m. ET. See a rundown of TV networks’ broadcast plans.
USA TODAY will be streaming event live beginning at 10 a.m. ET.
– Amy Haneline
Jeff Barbour, 58, has been selling merchandise for special events in Washington, D.C. for more than 20 years. This inauguration weekend, he’s selling custom-ordered T-shirts, sweatshirts, stickers and hats – all with Trump’s face on them.
For Barbour, it’s just another day on the job. He’s counting on two rushes of shoppers: the early morning crowd that buys hats and hoodies to keep warm, and the evening crowd that will buy a souvenir to take home. There were dozens of Trump merchandise vendors surrounding the Capitol One Arena on Sunday, a niche market that has come to be expected at Trump events. Barbour said competition between vendors is tense.
“They (vendors) come from all over the world because they know it’s big,” he said. “Anything with over 100,000 people, they come from all over.”
Barbour sells event merchandise no matter who the headliner is, but he said he also likes Trump.
“I don’t have nothing against him. He never did anything to me,” he said. “Only thing he did was made my pockets a little fatter, so you can’t be mad at that.”
– Victoria Moorwood
The Trump Vance Inaugural Committee, National Park Service, Washington D.C. tourism department, Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies and Reuters have laid out a general schedule of the day, though not every event has a specific start time or location.
According to those reports, security screening opened at the Capitol at 5 a.m. ET. Live music and opening remarks begin around 9:30 a.m. ET. Carrie Underwood’s performance of “America the Beautiful” will occur before Trump’s swearing-in, which happens at exactly noon.
– USA TODAY Staff
History buff?Test your inauguration knowledge with our quiz
Anthony Fauci, Liz Cheney and Gen. Mark Milley all received preemptive pardons from Biden on Monday for potential targets of President-elect Donald Trump in an unprecedented move to shield some of the incoming president’s top foes from criminal prosecution.
Biden also granted pardons to the lawmakers and staffers from the House committee that investigated the Capitol attack on Jan. 6, 2021, a panel the president-elect has railed against for years.
“These public servants have served our nation with honor and distinction and do not deserve to be the targets of unjustified and politically motivated prosecutions,” Biden said in a statement.
– Holly Rosenkrantz
John Wilkes Booth can be seen in a photograph of former President Abraham Lincoln’s second inauguration.
Six weeks later, the actor and Confederate sympathizer shot and killed Lincoln inside Ford’s Theatre.
More:Documents reveal that Abraham Lincoln pardoned Biden’s ancestor during Civil War: Report
Trump’s second inauguration was moved inside the Capitol rotunda, due to bitter cold conditions in Washington Monday.
Then President Ronald Reagan’s second swearing-in in January 1985 marks the last time the ceremony took place inside.
In 1909, William Taft’s presidential inauguration was held in the Senate chamber due to 10 inches of snow outside.
More:Trump’s inaugural ceremony moved indoors due to forecast of intense cold
Former President William Henry Harrison holds the record for the longest inaugural address, at 8,445 words and one hour and 40 minutes, on March 4, 1841.
Harrison also went down in history for having the shortest presidential term. At 68 years old, the ninth president died a month after taking office from pneumonia thought to be the result of bitter cold conditions during his inauguration.
Meanwhile, the briefest inauguration award goes to first President George Washington, who offered just 135 words before his second oath of office.
– Savannah Kuchar
Former President George Washington was sworn in during the country’s first inauguration on April 30, 1789.
Starting with the second president, John Adams, inaugurations were typically held on March 4. The ceremony moved to its current traditional date, Jan. 20, starting with former President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1937.
– Savannah Kuchar
