Watch inauguration day and all the festivities from Washington D.C.
Jan 20, 2017, 8:22 AM | Updated: 7:36 pm
Donald Trump, the real estate mogul and reality television star who upended American politics and energized voters angry with Washington, was sworn in Friday as the 45th president of the United States, putting Republicans in control of the White House for the first time in eight years.
The soon-to-be president started the day with a Tweet:
It all begins today! I will see you at 11:00 A.M. for the swearing-in. THE MOVEMENT CONTINUES – THE WORK BEGINS!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 20, 2017
Trump and his wife, Melania, spent inauguration morning at church before having a private meeting with outgoing President Barack Obama and his wife, Michelle, as is tradition during the exchange of power.
The Trumps and the Obamas traveled together in the presidential limousine for the short trip later to the Capitol for the swearing-in ceremony.
Trump walked onto the stage about 9:30 a.m. Arizona time, where Mike Pence was sworn in shortly after as vice president before the spotlight turned to the new president.
Trump was sworn in at precisely 10 a.m. Arizona time.
It’s official. Our 45th president has taken the oath of office & we couldn't be more excited! Congratulations to @POTUS Trump #Inauguration
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) January 20, 2017
Trump’s inauguration speech was brief, running just about 20 minutes.
He said Friday’s ceremony had a very special meaning, because it meant a shift in power in Washington, D.C.
“We are not merely transferring power from one administration to another, one party to another, but we are transitioning power from Washington, D.C. back to you, the people,” he said to applause.
Trump touched on the issues facing the country — such as education, jobs and drug and gang violence — and promised to work to fix them. He also said he would eradicate terrorism acts carried about by Islamic extremists.
He then echoed several campaign topics, primarily his promise to rebuild the American infrastructure system, before calling for unity moving forward.
He threw in his campaign slogan, “Make America great again,” before the traditional closing of “God bless America.”
Protests erupted across the city as Trump was sworn in.
While those near security checkpoints remained relatively peaceful, about a mile from the National Mall, police gave chase to a group of about 100 protesters who smashed the windows of downtown businesses including a Starbucks, a Bank of America and a McDonald’s as they denounced capitalism and Trump.
Police in riot gear used pepper spray from large canisters and eventually cordoned off protesters at 12th and L streets in northwest Washington.
This guy just got pepper sprayed directly in front of The Washington Post. pic.twitter.com/j3k2o0VluB
— Yamiche Alcindor (@Yamiche) January 20, 2017
When some crossed police lines, taunting, “Put the pigs in the ground,” police charged with batons and pepper spray, as well as stun grenades, which are used to shock and disperse crowds. Loud booms echoed through the streets about six blocks from where Trump would soon hold his inaugural parade.
Some protesters picked up bricks and concrete from the sidewalk and hurled them at police lines. Some rolled large, metal trash cans at police.
Police said in a statement that the group damaged vehicles, destroyed property and set small fires while armed with crowbars and hammers.
Current view from Post HQ. pic.twitter.com/HttOvO96Hp
— Ryan Carey-Mahoney (@thegoodcarmah) January 20, 2017
Someone set the limo on fire. pic.twitter.com/y4AFr5HNjk
— Matt Pearce (@mattdpearce) January 20, 2017
The District of Columbia police chief says 217 people have been arrested and charged with rioting and six officers suffered minor injuries during demonstrations against Trump.
Trump later signed his first executive order as president, ordering federal agencies to ease the burden of President Barack Obama’s sweeping health care law. Presidential spokesman Sean Spicer refused to offer details on the order.
Trump was joined in the Oval Office by Pence, White House chief of staff Reince Priebus and other top advisers as he signed the executive order on the so-called “Obamacare” law that he opposed throughout his campaign.
Trump also formally signed the commissions of incoming Defense Secretary James Mattis and Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly, who were later sworn in by Pence.
The @vp has sworn in James Mattis as the Secretary of Defense #Inauguration pic.twitter.com/ob5ApYf2Vd
— Sean Spicer (@PressSec) January 21, 2017
The White House is putting a freeze on any new regulations and halting ones that former President Barack Obama’s administration had started.
A memo from White House chief of staff Reince Priebus says federal agencies shouldn’t submit any completed regulations to be published in the Federal Register until President Donald Trump’s administration can review them.
The memo also freezes any regulations that were in the pipeline to be published. Regulations that have already been published but haven’t kicked in are to be postponed for 60 days to allow for a review.
Priebus says the White House budget director can grant exceptions to allow critical regulations to move forward.
The memo is similar to one that Obama’s chief of staff issued the same day Obama was inaugurated in 2009.
Asked about his first day as president, Trump says, “It was busy but good — a beautiful day.”
The three days of inaugural festivities kicked off Thursday. Trump left his Trump-branded jet in New York and flew to Washington in a government plane, saluting an Air Force officer as he descended the steps with his wife, Melania.
He and the incoming vice president, Mike Pence, solemnly laid a wreath at Arlington National Cemetery before joining supporters for an evening concert at the Lincoln Memorial.
Trump supporters started lining up at security checkpoints before dawn to take their places in the quadrennial rite of democracy.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
