BREAKING: Donald Trump Takes Oath as 47th President of The US

Washington: Donald J. Trump was sworn in as the 47th President of the United States, marking his return to the Oval Office after a remarkable and controversial political journey. The oath was administered by Chief Justice John Roberts during a ceremony at the United States Capitol, attended by political leaders, dignitaries, and thousands of supporters. This event boosted Trump’s place in American history as a two-time president.

Trump had secured a decisive victory in the November election, defeating his Democratic opponent Kamala Harris in what had been expected to be a tight race. His return to the presidency is a historic milestone, making him only the second U.S. president to reclaim the office after a non-consecutive term.

The speech Trump delivered sounds a lot like his rally speeches, with plenty of grievance, including references to those who tried to “take my freedom” and the “weaponization of our Justice Department.”

Trump wants to make Martin Luther King Jr.‘s dream ‘a reality’

Trump marked the fact that his inauguration is occurring on Martin Luther King Jr. Day., saying in his speech that his administration will “strive together to make his dream a reality.”

“We will make his dream come true,” Trump vowed of the Rev. King.

‘America’s decline is over’

Trump referred to the assassination attempt against him, saying he was “saved by God to make America great again,” drawing a standing ovation from Republicans in the room while Democrats, including Biden and Harris, remained seated and still.

Trump says the election has given him “a mandate to completely and totally reverse a horrible betrayal” he says has taken place, “and to give the people back their faith, their wealth, their democracy and indeed their freedom. From this moment on, America’s decline is over.”

Trump lays into the federal government

Speaking just feet from former Biden, Trump is delivering a forceful critique of the federal government, which he says “cannot manage even a simple crisis at home.”

He cites the wildfires in California and flooding in North Carolina, crises about which he has repeatedly spread incorrect claims. He also points to “a continuing catalogue of catastrophic events abroad” and illegal immigration.

Trump: The ‘golden age of America begins right now’

Trump in his first remarks as the 47th president declared that the “golden age of America begins right now.” “From this day forward, our country will flourish and be respected again all over the world,” he said.
 

Audience welcomes former presidents

The former presidents in attendance — Obama, Bush and Clinton — drew applause from the audience.

Two former first ladies were there, too, but Michelle Obama skipped the inauguration.

She wasn’t with the former U.S. leaders and their spouses at former President Jimmy Carter’s state funeral earlier this month either.

No explanation has been given for her absences.

The former first and second ladies that didn't attend

While former Vice President Mike Pence is in attendance at Trump’s inauguration, his wife, former second lady Karen, is not.

Karen Pence snubbed the Trumps earlier this month at former President Jimmy Carter’s funeral, where she ignored Melania Trump’s efforts to shake her hand.

Michelle Obama also chose not to attend.

CEOs had better seats than Trump’s Cabinet members

The CEOs of Meta, X, and Amazon sat in front of the president-elect’s entire Cabinet — a nod to the importance Trump has given the heads of some of the most powerful companies and social media platforms over his agency heads.

Some of the nation’s most powerful tech titans at the Capitol

Vocal Trump ally Elon Musk, the owner of Telsa and the social platform X, was seen along with Google’s Sundar Pichai and Amazon owner Jeff Bezos.

Facebook owner Mark Zuckerberg and Apple CEO Tim Cook were also in the audience.

The capacity shrunk significantly when the ceremony was moved indoors due to cold temperatures.

Musk has also been tapped by Trump to help lead an outside government group called the Department of Government Efficiency to slash bureaucracy.

All 9 Supreme Court justices are at the Capitol

The entire court entered, led by Roberts. Retired Justice Stephen Breyer also is there.

Italian, Argentine leaders are in the Rotunda

Argentine President Javier Milei and Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni are in the Rotunda. Trump broke with precedent by inviting foreign leaders to attend his inauguration.

Pence and the Clintons get booed in arena

The crowd in the arena is not discriminate with their cheers — anything from a man holding a “ Joe Biden You’re Fired” sign to a shot of Rudy Giuliani has inspired enthusiastic applause — but a rare boo erupted from the crowd at the sigh of Mike Pence walking into the rotunda.

Soon after a much larger boo came for the Clintons.