Donald Trump became the 45th president of the United States Friday after taking the oath of office at the U.S. Capitol in front of thousands of supporters, protesters, and much of the government he is about to lead.
Wearing a bright-red tie and his now-recognizable scowl, Trump walked onto the inaugural podium to the sounds of ceremonial music, polite clapping, and scattered cheers from a half-empty National Mall. It started to drizzle as the ceremony got under way.
Following tradition, Chief Justice John Roberts administered the oath of office to Trump, who gave a brief inaugural address.
“Today, we are not merely transferring power from one administration to another or from one party to another,” Trump said. “But we are transferring power from Washington, D.C., and giving it back to you.”
Trump’s speech touched on many of the same themes he campaigned on: populism, trade, border security, and improving the lives of American workers.
“Jan. 20, 2017, will be remembered as the day the people became the rulers of this nation again,” he said. “America will start winning again, winning like never before.
From this date forward, a new vision will govern our land. From this day forward, it’s going to be only America first — America first.”
The highly orchestrated ceremony, which kicked off at about 11 a.m., was attended by members of government, past and present. Seated on the podium were former presidents Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton, and Barack Obama. Hillary Clinton, who lost the presidential election to Trump, was near the first row and to the right of the pedestal. It was the first time the two had been face to face since the election.
Wearing a bright-red tie and his now-recognizable scowl, Trump walked onto the inaugural podium to the sounds of ceremonial music, polite clapping, and scattered cheers from a half-empty National Mall. It started to drizzle as the ceremony got under way.
Following tradition, Chief Justice John Roberts administered the oath of office to Trump, who gave a brief inaugural address.
“Today, we are not merely transferring power from one administration to another or from one party to another,” Trump said. “But we are transferring power from Washington, D.C., and giving it back to you.”
Trump’s speech touched on many of the same themes he campaigned on: populism, trade, border security, and improving the lives of American workers.
“Jan. 20, 2017, will be remembered as the day the people became the rulers of this nation again,” he said. “America will start winning again, winning like never before.
From this date forward, a new vision will govern our land. From this day forward, it’s going to be only America first — America first.”
The highly orchestrated ceremony, which kicked off at about 11 a.m., was attended by members of government, past and present. Seated on the podium were former presidents Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton, and Barack Obama. Hillary Clinton, who lost the presidential election to Trump, was near the first row and to the right of the pedestal. It was the first time the two had been face to face since the election.
Trump was joined by his wife Melania and his entire family, including his daughter Ivanka and her husband, Jared Kushner, who will play the role of senior adviser to Trump in the White House, stood nearby.
Obama, grinning and shaking hands, walked out with outgoing Vice President Joe Biden. But not every government official was in attendance Friday. More than 60 Democratic congressmen, including Rep. John Lewis, who recently feuded with Trump, decided to boycott the inauguration.
And the crowd in attendance at the National Mall was somewhat sparse, visibly smaller than past inaugurations.
Obama, grinning and shaking hands, walked out with outgoing Vice President Joe Biden. But not every government official was in attendance Friday. More than 60 Democratic congressmen, including Rep. John Lewis, who recently feuded with Trump, decided to boycott the inauguration.
And the crowd in attendance at the National Mall was somewhat sparse, visibly smaller than past inaugurations.
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