Amid threats of legal challenges to Trump's plan to carry out mass deportations across America, a letter sent by one of his closest aides may offer a blueprint as to how his administration plans to carry out the move.

In a letter sent to hundreds of state and local officials at Christmas, America First Legal, a group led by current and former advisors to Trump, threatened criminal prosecutions and lawsuits to officials in 'sanctuary' jurisdictions.

The letters invoked RICO, a federal statute most often used to fight organized crime, and threatened that 'you and your subordinates could potentially face up to 20 years in prison' if they did not comply.

The letter was targeted at sanctuary jurisdictions, where officials are limited in their cooperation with federal immigration authorities such as ICE and Homeland Security.

The group's president is Stephen Miller, the architect of Trump's immigration policies and the incoming White House deputy chief of policy.

Donald Trump joked about opening a handwritten letter from Joe Biden in front of the press in his return to the Oval Office on Monday.

But while the new president had to be reminded by reporters about the letter's existence, Biden's decision to leave a letter to his successor follows a tradition that dates back decades.

The first president known to have done so was Ronald Reagan in 1988 as George H. W. Bush took over the White House.

Bush did the same for Bill Clinton, who in turn left one for Bush's son George W. Bush in 2000.

And the tradition continued even up to Donald Trump's loss to Joe Biden in 2020, as he left a note in the resolute desk despite skipping other norms such as attending Biden's inauguration.

Trump finding the letter from Biden today marked a new era in the tradition, however, as Marl Updegrove, president and CEO of the LBJ Foundation, told the Associated Press.

'This will mark the first time that a president who has received a letter from an outgoing president may well be writing a letter to the same person who’s the incoming president,' he said.

'So this is a highly unusual situation, as so many things are in modern day Washington with Donald John Trump.'

Melania Trump put on a stunning display on Monday night as she celebrated her husband's inauguration in a black and white ballgown.

The ballgown was designed by one of the First Lady's favorites, Hervé Pierre, turning heads with a strapless silk dress with black bands.

Melania previously wore a Pierre dress to the 2017 inauguration balls, with the designer saying Monday it was an 'honor' to dress the First Lady.

Pierre said Monday's ballgown was 'true to her own style and vision.'

He has previously designed outfits for First Ladies Michelle Obama, Laura Bush and Hillary Clinton.

A prisoner exchange the Biden administration worked for years to seal was reluctantly accepted by the incoming Trump administration in one of its first foreign policy moves.

Americans Ryan Corbett and William McKenty were handed over to US authorities in exchange for Afghan Taliban member Khan Mohammed, who was convicted in 2008 on narco-terrorism charges.

The two American men had been held in Kabul since 2022, but were freed as part of a negotiation with the Taliban facilitated by Qatari officials, CNN reported.

Biden adviser Jake Sullivan said Monday that he briefed Trump's national security adviser Mike Waltz on the move, and said at the time the new administration 'was on board with this deal.'

'They have acknowledged it, and they have not objected,' Sullivan said.

However, a senior Trump administration official was more tentative to CNN, indicating it had not received a welcome approval.

'While we would not do the deal that the Biden administration did at the end, we are always happy to have two Americans home,' the official said.

Donald Trump danced the night away with First Lady Melania Trump at the Liberty Ball, shortly after celebrating his inauguration at the nearby Commander-in-Chief ball.

Speaking to the crowd after the slow dance, Trump said his speech was 'well-received', but admitted he was forced to leave out some aspects of his remarks.

'I wanted to put in some really rough stuff,' he said, adding that some in his orbit convinced him to ax certain parts of his speech.

One of the controversial portions, he said, would have seen him slam President Biden for pardoning his family members, but he decided to leave that unsaid.

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) announced late Monday that it sued the Trump administration over an executive order targeting birthright citizenship.

Trump signed an executive order ending the longstanding statute in one of his first moves back in the White House.

The order argued the 14th Amendment 'has always excluded from birthright citizenship persons who were born in the United States but not 'subject to the jurisdiction thereof.''

In response, the ACLU said in a statement: 'Denying citizenship to U.S.-born children is not only unconstitutional — it’s also a reckless and ruthless repudiation of American values.

'Birthright citizenship is part of what makes the United States the strong and dynamic nation that it is.'

After sharing a sweet slow dance with First Lady Melania at the Commander-in-Chief Ball, the new president surprised some with a broadcast conversation with a US base in South Korea.

'How are we doing over there. How's Kim Jong Un doing?' he said with a laugh.

It came after Trump pledged to rebuild the US military including the production of an Israel-esque Iron Dome.

Trump then cut into an Air Force One cake onstage - that was made to look like his design for the presidential aircraft that President Joe Biden scrapped.

'I'm going to take a piece home with me,' he said.

Trump made hailed a 'golden age of America' in his second term as he spoke to a raucous crowd at the Commander-in-Chief Ball on Monday night.

'We will again build the most powerful military the world has ever seen,' he said.

'We’re going to have it. You know, we did that four years ago, and then it was a little bit dissipated, but we’re going to do it again, but much bigger, much stronger than ever before.'

The new president vowed to rebuild the military, and received a huge cheer as he said he would build an Israel-esque Iron Dome over the US.

'I’ve had no higher privilege in life than to serve as your commander in chief, not once, but twice,' he added.

While Trump insiders partied inside the Inaugural Liberty Ball awaiting the new president's arrival, thousands of MAGA fans have been left in the cold.

Long lines have reportedly 'broken down' as a bottleneck creates frustration on the streets of Washington D.C, where temperatures plummeted to 19 degrees fahrenheit.

'Totally crazy,' one attendee said. 'We're now at the end of the tent... we must've been walking for a mile, maybe two.'

'It just took a long time. People have approached the ball from multiple directions and there was a big bottleneck.'

The passage of the Laken Riley Act on Monday marked the first major legislative win in Congress for Trump's second term in the White House.

The bill would more easily allow illegal migrant criminals to be deported, and was named to honor the late Georgia nursing student Laken Riley, 22, who was murdered by repeat criminal and illegal immigrant Jose Ibarra.

After passing the Senate, the bill will quickly head to the House where lawmakers are expected to ratify the Senate's amendments before sending the bill to Trump's desk for him to sign, marking a quick start to his second term.

The Laken Riley Act requires ICE to detain migrants who have been charged with theft and other crimes. It also enables individual states to sue the federal government if it or its citizens are harmed by immigration related actions.

Trump vowed in March to go after those like Ibarra, and repeatedly invoked Riley's name on the campaign trail, vowing revenge.

One of the executive orders signed by President Trump tonight included the US government only recognizing two sexes, male and female.

The order came as part of Trump's ending of 'radical and wasteful' diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs in federal agencies.

In a policy call ahead of Trump's inauguration ceremony, a White House official said the orders were part of a wider 'restoring sanity' agenda, NBC news reported.

The policies were intended to 'defend women from gender ideology extremism and restore biological truth to the federal government', officials said.

Alaska Senator Lisa Murkowski quickly voiced her opposition to a declaration from President Trump on Monday to rename the Alaskan mountain Denali back to Mount McKinley.

Murkowski told reporters as she left the Senate floor on Monday: 'I don't like it.

'I’ve already talked to him about it. I’m gonna keep talking to him about it.'

In a post to X hours later, Murkowski elaborated: 'I strongly disagree with the President’s decision on Denali. Our nation’s tallest mountain, which has been called Denali for thousands of years, must continue to be known by the rightful name bestowed by Alaska’s Koyukon Athabascans, who have stewarded the land since time immemorial.'

Elon Musk announced 'it begins' as his Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) made its first move hours after Trump's swearing-in.

The agency announced on Musk's X platform that the 'Chief Diversity Officers Executive Council' page on the US Office of Personnel Management website had been deleted.

The page had been replaced by a 404 Page Not Found mark, captioned: 'DELETED January 20, 2025'

Among the raft of executive orders Trump signed in his first hours as president included a vague order 'protecting women from radical gender ideology.'

A White House official read out the policy description as Trump signed the order, which came after a number of other orders including withdrawing the United States from the World Health Organization.

It was not clear what the gender ideology order entailed, but it comes after Trump has repeatedly vowed to ban transgender women from competing in women's sports.

President Trump offered surprise praise for one of his predecessors when asked which former commander-in-chief he may call for advice.

He said that Bill Clinton would be his choice, saying he had 'great political sense' and was a 'very interesting politician.'

Trump added that Clinton was 'disrespected' and had not been 'used properly.'

When asked about his recent viral conversation with Barack Obama at Jimmy Carter's funeral, Trump declined to say what the two spoke about, but quipped that the two 'were having some crazy conversations.'

Trump said billionaire Elon Musk will not get a West Wing office as he leads the new Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).

'He's getting an office for about 20 people that we're hiring to make sure that these get implemented,' the president said.

He gestured to the orders in front of him on his desk as he signed one creating DOGE.

Trump said there's a problem in the U.S. where 'you sign an executive order, it doesn't get done for six months.'

President Trump said in his first Oval Office press conference that he plans to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin.

He previously promised to bring the Ukraine War to an end within 24 hours of taking office, and quipped on Monday that he still had time to fulfill that pledge.

'We’re going to try and get it done as quickly as possible. You know, the war with Ukraine and Russia should have never started,' he told reporters.

Earlier in the presser, Trump said Ukrainian President Zelenskyy 'told me he wants to make a deal' to end the war.

When asked if Putin had made a similar call, Trump responded that he 'didn't know', but added that the Russian dictator was 'destroying Russia.'

Earlier on Monday, Putin congratulated Trump on his inauguration and indicated he was open to renewed communication with the US.

'We hear (Trump's) statements on the need to pervent World War III,' Putin said said during a televised session of Russia’s Security Council.

'We undoubtedly welcome such a disposition.

'We see [Trump’s] and his team’s statements on their wish to restore direct contacts with Russia, which the outgoing [Biden] administration had cut off through no fault of our own.'

Sarah Ewall-Wice, Senior U.S. Political Reporter:

Trump was asked if he is confident he can keep the ceasefire deal in Gaza.

'I'm not confident,' Trump said. 'That's not our war, that's their war.'

He said they are very 'weakened on the other side.'

Trump also said he looked at a picture of Gaza and it's 'like a massive demolition site.'

He suggests he might try to help Gaza rebuild.

‘Gaza’s interesting. It’s a phenomenal location: on the sea, the best weather,’ Trump said.

President Trump got asked about his comment to Sean Hannity during the campaign about not being a dictator ‘except for one day’ as he signed a string of executive orders pardoning rioters and ending birthright citizenship.

Asked if he was a dictator, Trump responded that ‘I can’t imagine even imagine being called that.’

‘Now I believe in the sanctity of the vote,’ Trump said. He accused Democrats of cheating ‘like dogs’ and said his win was ‘too big to rig.’ He stated falsely Monday that he won the 2020 election.

Trump’s January 6 indictment charged him with pressuring a state official in Georgia to ‘find’ 11,780 votes.

Trump pledged to reveal the truth about the drones that appeared across the East Coast in recent months, but said he couldn't do so in the Oval Office because he 'just got here.'

'I'd like to find out and tell the people what it was,' he remarked.

Trump turned to his Chief of Staff Susie Wiles and added: 'Can we do that Susie?'

Amid rumors the unorthodox indoors swearing-in ceremony earlier in the day was due to security concerns related to the drones, Trump said there was no other reasoning to the changes besides cold weather.

Former Speaker Nancy Pelosi blasted President Donald Trump for pardoning the 1,500 participants in the January 6th insurrection at the Capitol.

She said in a statement:

“Tonight, the President announced pardons and commutations of sentences for those who violently attacked the Capitol and law enforcement officers on January 6th. The President's actions are an outrageous insult to our justice system and the heroes who suffered physical scars and emotional trauma as they protected the Capitol, the Congress and the Constitution.

“It is shameful that the President has decided to make one of his top priorities the abandonment and betrayal of police officers who put their lives on the line to stop an attempt to subvert the peaceful transfer of power. Despite the President’s decision, we must always remember the extraordinary courage and valor of the law enforcement heroes who stood in the breach and ensured that democracy survived on that dark day.”'

Pelosi was speaker at the time of the incident and led the House in a second impeachment against Trump. The Senate acquitted him.

Sarah Ewall-Wice, Senior U.S. Political Reporter:

Trump says he's still thinking of imposing 25 percent tariffs on Mexico and Canada.

'I think February 1st,' Trump said. 'I think we'll do it February 1st.'

Mexico and Canada are both top trade partners and have warned that they will retaliate with their own tariffs if the U.S. imposes tariffs.

Economists have warned slapping tariffs on the two neighboring countries would drive up costs for American consumers.

By Emily Goodin, senior White House correspondent

President Donald Trump found the letter left for him by former President Joe Biden after a reporter asked if he received one.

‘He may have. Don't they leave it in the desk? I don't know,’ Trump said in the Oval Office on Monday evening. He took reporters’ questions after signing several executive orders and pardons for January 6thparticipants.

When Fox News’ Peter Doocy asked about if Biden left him a note, Trump started digging through the Resolute Desk and then found it in a drawer.

He held it up for the cameras. The envelope read ’47.' Trump is the 47th president.

‘Thank you, Peter. It could have been years before we found this. Wow. Thank you,’ Trump said.

‘Maybe we should all read it together,’ Doocy suggested.

‘Maybe I'll read it first and then make that determination,’ Trump replied. He put the letter down to read later.

Geoff Earle, Deputy U.S. Political Editor

President Donald Trump pardoned about 1,500 January 6 defendants in one of his first acts back in the White House, saying he hopes many of them get out of jail tonight.

In addition, he said he was issuing six commutations.

‘The commutations would be the ones where we’ll take a look, or it would get a full pardon,’ he said.

‘We hope they come out tonight, frankly,’ Trump said of those getting pardons. It came minutes after he again referred to them as ‘hostages.’ He brushed off comments about pardoning those convicted of assaulting police officers.

‘We’ve got to give them a break,’ he said. ‘I will say this. They’ve been in jail for a long time already.’

NBC reported that a lawyer for Proud Boys leader Enrique Tarrio, convicted and serving a 22-year sentence for seditious conspiracy, was being process for release.

Sarah Ewall-Wice, Senior U.S. Political Reporter:

President Trump said there will be ICE raids in major cities.

'I don't want to say when but it's going to happen,' he said in the Oval Office.

He said it has to happen.

Donald Trump rifled through questions from reporters as he sat at the Oval Office for the first time in his second term, remarking 'did Biden ever do this?'

In his wide-ranging remarks, Trump called for TikTok to survive as he praised the platform for helping him make inroads with young voters.

He called for the company to undergo 50% US ownership to avoid being banned, and said it should continue to operate under new conditions.

'Every rich person has called me about TikTok,' he said.

On concerns about the platform being an avenue for CCP espionage, he brushed off the claims and said 'I think we have bigger problems.'

Trump suggested that he would like the U.S. to make a deal to have 50 percent of it and will 'police it.'

Trump joked about opening a letter from outgoing President Joe Biden in the resolute desk after he was reminded to look for it by a reporter.

A journalist in the Oval Office asked Trump if he had received the letter, a tradition that most presidents offer to their successor.

Trump then checked the drawers and pulled out the letter with ;47' on the front.

'Maybe we should all read it together,' he added.

In his first act in the Oval Office to begin his second term, Donald Trump signed sweeping pardons for people charged with participating in the January 6 riots.

Trump announced that he was pardoning roughly 1,500 people and six commutations, including some who were charged with assaulting law enforcement.

'These are the hostages,' he said as he signed the order.

By Geoff Earle, Deputy U.S. Political Editor for DailyMail.com

Boxing great Evander Holyfield was among the VIPs who scored tickets to an overflow area in the Capitol’s Emancipation Hall for Trump’s inauguration.

Holyfield is a Trump fan from the days when both were involved with pro boxing. ‘I think he’s going to do real well for the country,’ he said.

But he was also proud to attend the inauguration of the nation’s first black president. ‘When it comes down the thing, you have to step in and be a representative,’ he told DailyMail.com.

‘I think he did well,’ Holyfield said of Obama. ‘They wouldn’t have put him in that position if they didn’t think he could handle that position,’ he said.

The Senate unanimously approved the nomination of Florida Sen. Marco Rubio as Secretary of State on Monday.

Rubio became the first confirmed member of Donald Trump's second administration, with all 99 Senators voting in his favor.

The one outstanding senate vote came as the office vacated by Vice President JD Vance's seat remains open, with Rubio also expected to resign his seat shortly.

Donald Trump played to the crowd at DC's Capital One arena after inking executive orders.

He tossed his signature black pens to members of the crowd after signing orders to freeze new regulations, order federal workers back to the office, and exit the Paris climate agreement, among others.

President Trump taunted former special counsel Jack Smith during extended remarks at his inaugural event at Capital One arena.

He called Smith, who left his post days before he took office after submitting final reports on the decisions to charge Trump in his January 6 case in his classified documents case, ‘deranged’.

‘He’s now been reduced to getting on an airplane going back to the Hague,’ Trump said of the former war crimes prosecutor in his third speech of the day.

‘We’ve got to get rid of that guy,’ Trump said. ‘Did they pardon Jack Smith?’ he asked supporters. Then he tore into Biden’s 11th hour pardons of family members James Biden, Francis Biden, and Valerie Biden Owens. Biden said they faced ‘unrelenting attacks and threats.’

‘The whole deal was pardoned. Can you imagine that?’ Trump said.

Then he touted his own pardons of January 6 defendants, calling them ‘hostages.’

‘We’re going to release our great hostages who he said didn’t go anything wrong ‘for the most part.’

Outgoing President Joe Biden and Trump's election opponent Kamala Harris were mocked by the new president in his Presidential Parade remarks.

Trump joked that Biden's disastrous debate performance in June 'wasn't the best', moments after the crowd loudly booed the mention of Harris' name.

'We had to beat two people,' he added, likening the election to an MMA fighter being switched out halfway through a fight if they struggled.

Newly inaugurated President Trump signed a number of new executive orders from the stage in front of a huge crowd at his Presidential Parade on Monday.

'I will reverse Biden's destructive and radical executive orders in about 5 minutes,' he declared.

Trump's first signature directly reversed 78 executive orders previously signed by Biden.

The second signature marked a regulatory freeze within the government until his administration 'regains control' of the government, with the third a freeze on all federal hiring until 'control' was also regained.

Trump also signed an order mandating all federal workers return to in-person work, and the immediate removal of the US from the Paris Climate Treaty.

'Can you imagine Biden doing this? I don't think so,' Trump said as he signed the orders.

Trump also said he would pardon January 6th 'hostages' in his first remarks to the crowd, pledging: 'I'll be going to the Oval Office and will be signing pardons for a lot of people.'

Trump heaped praise on his entourage including JD Vance and son Don Jr. in his first rally speech hours after his inauguration.

The president touted a wave of executive orders he intends to sign in his first hours as president, including a pledge to 'drill baby drill.'

He also promised to pardon 'January 6 hostages', a pledge that received a huge cheer from the arena crowd.

Trump pledged to remove the United States from the climate Paris Accords, remove taxes on tips, and reduce inflation 'rapidly.'

Trump pledged to pardon 'a lot of people' in his first return to the Oval Office as he began his Presidential Parade speech.

The president opened: 'We won, we won, but now the work begins.'

He cited January 6th 'hostages' in his first remarks to the crowd, pledging: 'I'll be going to the Oval Office and will be signing pardons for a lot of people.'

Real estate developer and the new Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff opened the remarks to the Presidential Parade.

Witkoff praised President Trump as an 'innovative and pragmatic' leader, and said his 'policies have already delivered remarkble successes.'

The dipomat cited the newly signed ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas to bring the conflict to a close and return hostages.

As he spoke, a group of rally attendees held images of hostages as they chanted 'bring them home.'

Families of hostages were invited to the stage at the conclusion of Witkoff's remarks, filing past the crowd as they shook hands with Trump.

Donald Trump held a solemn moment of silence for firefighter Corey Comperatore, the victim of his Butler, Pennsylvania rally shooting in July, at his Presidential Parade rally on Monday.

The newly inaugurated president's team quieted the raucous rally crowd inside the Capital One Arena on Monday to remember Comperatore.

Emergency first responders from Butler County marched in the inaugural parade to mark the moment, and carried Comperatore's fire jacket in tribute.

Jon Michael Raasch, U.S. Political Reporter on Capitol Hill

The Senate Foreign Relations Committee voted to forward Sen. Marco Rubio's nomination to be Secretary of State to the Senate floor for a full vote.

The procedural hurdle pushes Rubio closer to replacing Antony Blinken at the State Department.

He is being considered for a full vote tonight by the Senate and may become the first of Donald Trump's Cabinet picks to get confirmed.

Donald Trump walked out to a hero's welcome at the Capital One Arena late Monday afternoon following his swearing in.

The newly inaugrated president stopped to greet supporters and waved to the crowd as he entered the Presidential Parade.

He walked out moments after Vice President JD Vance and the Trump children took their places inside, with youngest son, Barron, receiving a particularly spirited welcome as the crowd chanted his name.

The new First Family were welcomed by raucous applause as they entered the Capital One Arena for the official Presidential Parade late Monday afternoon.

Barron Trump received the loudest reception as the family, also including Don Jr., Eric, Tiffany and Ivanka Trump, walked out on stage.

Chants of 'Barron, Barron, Barron' filled the arena, with the crowd's anticipation for the president-elect to walk out palpable after they were left waiting for hours.

The 44th President of the United States donned a black suit and striped tie, and he smiled and waved at reporters when he walked into the Capitol.

He entered the Rotunda on his own - where Trump's inauguration was moved due to bitterly cold weather and snow flurries - and sat next to former President George W. Bush and wife Laura.

Obama did not attend pre-inauguration prayer services at St. John’s Episcopal Church and is not set to attend Trump's Inaugural Luncheon.

Meanwhile, Michelle Obama shared an Instagram post honoring the MLK Jr. on the national holiday marking his birthday - without acknowledging Inauguration Day.

Vivek Ramaswamy will no longer serve in a lead role in the newly formed Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a spokesperson for the agency has said.

In a statement released Monday, DOGE spokesperson Anna Kelly said the move comes amid Ramaswamy's intended run for Governor of Ohio.

'Vivek Ramaswamy played a critical role in helping us create DOGE,' the statement read.

'He intends to run for elected office soon, which requires him to remain outside of DOGE, based on the structure that we announced today.

'We thank him immensely for his contributions over the last 2 months and expect him to play a vital role in making America great again.'

Ramaswamy's departure leaves Elon Musk to run the nongovernmental agency himself.

The Ultimate Fighting president took a prominent place among the flock of tech titans and media moguls who descended on Washington, DC to witness the second swearing in of Trump as the 47th President of the United States.

The 55-year-old was seated in the row behind former presidents Barack Obama, George W. Bush and Bill Clinton, former Secretary of State and Trump's past political nemesis Hillary Clinton, and former first lady Laura Bush during the indoor ceremony at the Capitol Building.

And some on social media claimed that White, an outspoken supporter of the new Commander-in-Chief, cast a dirty look in Obama's direction.

Vice President JD Vance made an embarrassing gaffe as he was en route to the inauguration with former Vice President Kamala Harris - and it's sparked a social media frenzy.

On Monday, the two shared a limo as they rode together to the United States Capitol Rotunda, where the ceremony for Donald Trump was taking place.

However, cameras caught the awkward moment when Vance failed to get in on the correct side of the car.

Following the performance, an insider exclusively revealed to DailyMail.com that the singer, 41, was furious over the fact she wasn't given a 'stage or platform even' like previous performers.

The insider explained that this had a large impact on the singer's performance, revealing: 'Carrie was dissatisfied with her performance at the event, primarily due to the limited space she was given, which left her feeling cramped and uncomfortable.'

The source added: 'Her anxiety was high throughout the performance, and she felt that she was not afforded the same level of respect or admiration that previous performers, such as Beyoncé and Lady Gaga, had received.

With so many colorful characters at his inauguration, Donald Trump was always going to have to share the spotlight.

This time it is the president's youngest son, Barron Trump, and Tesla billionaire Elon Musk who have captured the internet's attention.

Spectators have been left tickled by the difference in energy levels on display by 18-year-old Barron versus Musk, 53.

Despite having several decades on the NYU student, Musk was the one seen enthusiastically clapping and cheering in the audience.

This contrasted with a more sedate and refined Barron, whose measured response was only underscored by Musk's excitement.

Many noted what appeared to be a look of almost disdain on the youngster's face as X-owner Musk began whooping and hollering.

A newly unveiled potrait of former Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Mark Milley has reportedly been removed from the Pentagon.

Fox News reported Monday that a blank space marked only with framing hooks remained where his potrait had hung.

It remains unclear why his likeness has been removed, with Trump having previously labelled him as 'treasonous' over calls with a top Chinese military official.

President Biden issued a preemptive pardon for Milley just hours before he vacated the White House.

That came along with pardons for all members of the House Select Committee on the January 6 Capitol Attack as well as Dr. Anthony Fauci – all foes of the new president.

In referencing these pardons, Trump criticized his predecessor saying he pardoned people that were 'very guilty of very bad crimes'.

Eric, 41, placed his hands in an upside-down triangle-like formation which eagle-eyed viewers claim looks similar to the symbol for the Freemasons or the mysterious 'Illuminati'.

They also highlighted how Eric's wife, Lara Trump,appeared to mutter something to him and nudge him before he abruptly changed his stance.

The incident in question occurred as the couple were lining up alongside President Donald Trump's other children inside the Capitol Rotunda where the ceremony was held on Monday.

'Convicted felon sworn in as president,' the title insisted a little before 1pm - after Trump was sworn in for the second time in the crowded Capitol Rotunda.

The characterization paved the way for some heated discourse on Instagram, where the magazine had reposted the headline with a link to the story.

'Here we go again,' part of the caption read - echoing a flag seen in the original piece placed before the title.

Donald Trump Jr. ran through the widest possible range of emotions on Monday as his father was sworn in as the 47th president of the United States.

He first grinned as Donald Trump completed the oath of office.

Then as 'Hail to the Chief' rang around the Capitol 's Rotunda and Joe Biden stepped forward to shake his father's hand, his eyes misted over and shone bright with tears.

His smile appeared to stiffen as if he was fighting back a wave of emotion as the proud son of a new president.

But there was likely more to it. His face reflected what many in Trump's inner circle felt Monday: Vindication in victory after four tough years in the wilderness, surviving election defeat and then battling a raft of criminal prosecutions.

President Donald Trump delivered a powerful inaugural address - previewing his first sweeping actions - after his swearing-in to office in the Capitol Rotunda on Monday.

'We are at a thrilling new era of national success,' said Trump as he took the podium just after noon.

'Our national decline is over,' he declared to cheers among the hundreds of lawmakers and top MAGA allies gathered.

The five tech giants Jeff Bezos, Amazon founder, Elon Musk, the world's richest man, Mark Zuckerberg, Meta founder, AI wizard Sam Altman and TikTok CEO Shou Chew all had places of honor near the president.

Trump's children, Donald Jr., 47, Ivanka, 43, Eric, 41, Tiffany, 31, - who is pregnant - and Barron, 18, gathered behind him for the historic moment.

Political speechwriters and experts revealed to DailyMail.com their takeaways on Trump's first speech of his second term.

The White House wasted no time revamping its online presence after Donald Trump was sworn in to succeed Joe Biden.

The site now starts with a very patriotic video that shows Trump stepping off Marine One and then saluting before the video cuts to a group of fighter jets flying over the White House.

In another quick cut, a bald eagle is seen soring before Trump is then pictured signing legislation.

Other short clips show Trump speaking with American soldiers and feature the presidential crest.

It ends with an outline of the White House on a black background, which reads: 'The White House: President Donald J. Trump'.

The White House Instagram page has also changed their bio to: 'The Golden Age of America Begins Right Now.'

A quote on the newly revamped site says: '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.'

Donald Trump has already switched off one of Joe Biden's keystone immigration policies that facilitated nearly a million migrant crossings.

The Customs and Border Protection's CBP One app, which provided a range of services including setting up asylum appointments for migrants, no longer online.

'Effective January 20, 2025, the functionalities of CBP One that previously allowed undocumented aliens to submit advance information and schedule appointments at eight southwest border ports of entry is no longer available, and existing appointments have been canceled,' the CBP website states.

After Trump was sworn in at noon local time, the app ceased functioning.

Every outstanding appointment on the app was effectively canceled when Trump took office, causing panic among those wanting to get into the U.S.

Immediately videos from the U.S.-Mexico border emerged showing people with appointments, some for as soon as 1 pm local time, began crying as their hopes for a way into America were dashed.

Margelis Tinoco, a migrant from Colombia awaiting entry to the U.S. just south of the border in Mexico, collapsed to her knees after learning of the new Trump policies.

A preacher who helped deliver the benediction at President Trump's inauguration has gone viral after giving an explosive performance.

In his three-minute prayer, Sewell was incredibly patriotic and pro-Trump, as he thanked God for saving the 78-year-old from an assassination attempt last year.

He also appeared to make multiple references to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr's famous 'I have a dream' speech, who's national holiday coincided with the inauguration.

Katelyn Caralle, Senior U.S. Political Reporter in Washington, D.C. and Sarah Ewall-Wice at Capital One Arena

Kash Patel, Trump's controversial nominee to lead the FBI, followed Elon Musk’s remarks on Monday in his first public speech since being nominated for the role.

Patel, the son of lawful immigrants, said he shares with Musk a ‘love for the American dream.’

If he is confirned as FBI director, Patel said, law enforcement officials will be reprioritized ‘to the top of the heap.’ He also vowed to 'end the two-tier' system of justice and 'weaponization' of the federal government.

Speaking of his parents, Patel said: ‘They moved here, they waited in line. They stood in line because the American Dream is worth standing in line for.’

‘Our immigration policy is the greatest policy in the world,’ he insisted during remarks at Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C. on Monday. ‘But dreams and hopes aren’t enough, my friends. We’ve got to get to work and we’ve got to accept the realities that too many of you know from your communities.’

He concluded:

In the last calendar year alone, we had 100,000 drug overdoses, in the last calendar year alone we had over 100,000 rapes, in the last calendar year alone we had 17,000 homicides. That is unacceptable in 2025 in the United States of America. That is why we need constitutional law and order.

Barron Trump, 18, was seen comfortably mingling with guests at the inaugural luncheon on Monday.

The NYU student previously won over fans by extending a handshake to outgoing Vice President Kamala Harris and President Joe Biden after his father was sworn in.

Monday's inaugural events have offered an opportunity for the nattion's tech giants like Facebook/Meta founder Mark Zuckerberg and Amazon boss Jeff Bezos to rub shoulders with lawmakers on Capitol Hill.

There are reports that some congressmembers have been introducing themselves to the billionaires.

Katelyn Caralle, Senior U.S. Political Reporter in Washington, D.C.

Liberals in San Francisco, California gathered at the top of a hill on Monday to scream into the abyss as Donald Trump was inaugurated for a second term.

Residents of the northern California city somberly counted down to 9 a.m. Pacific Time – which was the scheduled time for Trump’s swearing-in ceremony in Washington, DC.

At the top of Bernal Hill, the group let out a ‘cathartic primal scream,’ according to video shared on X.

President Trump has signed a series of documents related to his cabinet's nominees.

One act was related to Cabinet duties while another directed that U.S. flags be flown at full staff on Inauguration Day.

Trump had bristled at the idea of flags flying at half-staff, as directed by Biden, for 30 days to honor the death of former President Jimmy Carter.

Carter died late last month.

He did not sign any executive orders at the signing ceremony at the Capitol.

Trump will now head to the congressional luncheon.

Trump's inaugural parade is scheduled for 2:30 pm ET, following the scheduled lunch events.

The parade was also moved inside the Capital One Arena due to the cold temperatures.

Trump has said he will join the crowds at the venue before returing to the White House.

Inauguration Day has finally arrived - and not only does it mark a new chapter for The United States, but it's also a busy day for the world of politics, as attendees juggle tons of festivities in Washington, like the inaugural ball, luncheon and star-studded performances.

And, of course, with multiple events in one day comes multiple outfit changes - and FEMAIL has rounded up some of the best and worst looks of the day.

Trump is giving one of his more typical off-the-cuff speeches at the Capitol, to a 'young and beautiful' crowd, composed of mostly the spouses of lawmakers who could not be inside the Rotunda during the swearing-in ceremony.

The 47th president gave the speech, his second of the day, after he saw off the Bidens, who have now left Washington, DC.

He joked that his remarks were 'off the record' and that he'd be castigated if they leaked.

As the two former presidents prepared to walk into the Capitol Rotunda for the swearing-in ceremony an aide can be heard asking W.: 'Are you going to behave?'

Obama, walking up behind George and Laura Bush, volunteered an answer.

From Rob Crilly, Chief U.S. Political Correspondent in Washington, D.C.

When Donald Trump was sworn in eight years ago he delivered one of the shortest inaugural speeched in decades.

At 1,433 words it was the shortest since Jimmy Carter in 1977, according to data from the American Presidency Project at UC Santa Barbara.

This time, according to my rough count, he more than doubled it - making it the longest since Herbert Hoover in 1929.

It was more like a 'state of the union' address as times. But the overriding impression was that of a president in a hurry, brimming with policy proposals, executive orders, and scores to settle.

America's war on gas cars is over, Donald Trump announced today.

Using his inaugural address, the President said rules that would force Americans to buy electric vehicles would be stopped.

'With my actions today, we will end the Green New Deal and we will revoke the electric vehicle mandate, saving our auto industry and keeping my sacred pledge to my great American auto workers,' Trump said to rounds of applause.

Sarah Ewall-Wice, Senior U.S. Political Reporter at Capital One Arena:

As President Trump and First Lady Melania escorted former President Biden out to the awaiting helicopter, the crowds watching on video monitors at the arena sang ‘na na na na, hey hey hey, goodbye.’

Even after the swearing-in ceremony had concluded, viewers here were also still booing when Biden and Harris appeared on the screen.

When the helicopter carrying the Bidens took off from outside the U.S. Capitol, the crowd applauded.

Since Biden is now a former president, he and his wife Jill boarded a chopper technically known as Nighthawk 46 despite still having the presidential seal.

The Bidens were flying to a farewell ceremony at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland, then flying to California.

The California flight will be Special Air Mission 46.

Katelyn Caralle, Senior U.S. Political Reporter in Washington, D.C.

Undocumented migrants will no longer be able to submit advance notice of their intent to claim asylum at the border.

The CBP One app was immediately shut down on Monday as Donald Trump took his oath of office.

The president is on his way to sign ten executive orders related to illegal immigration and the southern border.

The Customs and Border Protection website posted this notice:

From Rob Crilly, Chief U.S. Political Correspondent in Washington, D.C.

Donald Trump promised a 'new golden age of America' after being sworn in as the 47th president of the United States on Monday.

'The decline is over,' he told about 600 allies, dignitaries and family members inside the U.S. Capitol building.

He used his inaugural address to balance the idea of an optimistic new dawn with his long-standing accusations that he was the target of a weaponized justice system and to promise a sweeping crackdown on illegal immigration.

'As we gather today, our government confronts a crisis of trust,' he said.

'For many years, a radical and corrupt establishment has extracted power and wealth from our citizens, while the pillars of our society lay broken and seemingly in complete disrepair.'

President Trump, VP Vance, and the first and Second Lady have departed.

Trump is next expected to appear at a signing room ceremony.

Former President Joe Biden and former Vice President Kamala Harris have also left.

The Trump family is waiting for the remaining former presidents to leave the platform before they are escorted out

However, the fiancé of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, shocked the public after taking off her coat to show a white pantsuit - with her white lace bra on display.

There's furious debate online about whether Trump placed his hand on the two Bibles held aloft by first lady Melania during his swearing-in.

It’s traditional to take the oath of office with one's left hand on a Bible during the presidential swearing in, but it is not required. Only the oath itself is mandated by the Constitution.

Theodore Roosevelt didn’t use a Bible when he was sworn in following the assassination of William McKinley in 1901. John Quincy Adams used a law text for his 1825 inauguration.

And, sworn in aboard Air Force One after John Kennedy’s assassination in 1963, Lyndon B. Johnson used a Catholic missal.

The incoming president released a document revealing the White House's first policies starting today.

His actions will focus on making 'America safe, affordable and energy dominant again.'

Top priorities include:

• Withdrawing the United States from the Paris Climate Accord
• Deploying the military to assist the southern border
• Require federal workers to return to the office

Country music star Carrie Underwood performed America the Beautiful at today’s inauguration.

The American Idol winner performed the song a cappella after an apparent glitch with her backing track.

'You know the words — help me out here,' she exhorted the attendees inside the Capitol Rotunda.

'I love our country and am honored to have been asked to sing at the Inauguration and to be a small part of this historic event,' Underwood had said in a statement shortly after the news broke that she would participate in the event.

'I am humbled to answer the call at a time when we must all come together in the spirit of unity and looking to the future.'

Sarah Ewall-Wice, Senior U.S. Political Reporter at Capital One Arena

‘The golden age of America begins right now’ got a huge cheer from the crowd watching from Capital One Arena.

‘I will put America first’ also was a big applause line.

‘America’s decline is over’ was another well-received line

‘I was saved by God to Make America Great again,’ received thunderous applause from those watching as did the line about January 20, 2025 being ‘Liberation Day.’

The crowd here is also excited to hear he will declare an emergency at the border.

That line was perhaps the most well-received of any given.

When it comes to policy shoutouts ‘drill baby drill’ was a big line as was his vow to impose tariffs.

His pledge to end the Green New Deal (which was never passed) was also well received.

Trump declaring there will only be two genders, male and female, received one of the largest standing ovations in the arena.

His supporters also loved his claim that the U.S. will take the Panama Canal back from China, though the waterway is under the control of Panama.

There was also a huge cheer when Elon Musk was shown on camera giving a thumbs up as Trump discussed space exploration to Mars.

Jon Michael Raasch, U.S. Political Reporter on Capitol Hill

During an address after being sworn in President Donald Trump said he plans on 'taking back' the Panama Canal.

He said giving away the famous canal that connects the Pacific Ocean to the Caribbean was 'foolish.'

We have been treated very badly from this foolish gift that should have never been made, and Panama's promise to us has been broken, the purpose of our deal and the spirit of our treaty has been totally violated.'

American ships are being severely overcharged and not treated fairly in any way, shape or form, and that includes the United States Navy, and above all, China is operating the Panama Canal, and we didn't give it to China. We gave it to Panama, and we're taking it back.'

Trump said he will stop the government's attempt to 'socially engineer race and danger into every aspect' of society.

'We will form a society that is color-blind and merit-based,' the Republican added.

He also said 'As of today it will be the official policy' of the country to only recognize two biological genders: male and female.

Trump also said he wants to be a 'peace maker and unifier.'

Jon Michael Raasch, U.S. Political Reporter on Capitol Hill

Trump declared a national energy emergency in his opening remarks after getting sworn in.

He announced a 'national energy emergency' but said that it would soon be solved because 'we will drill, baby, drill.'

'We will bring prices down, fill our strategic reserves up again, right to the top, and export American energy all over the world,' the president said.

Trump is delivering a forceful critique of the federal government, which he says 'cannot manage even a simple crisis at home.'

He cited 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.

'My election is a mandate to completely and totally reverse a horrible betrayal,' he said.

'Just a few months ago, in a beautiful Pennsylvania field, an assassin's bullet ripped through my ear, but I felt then, and believe even more so now, that my life was saved for a reason,' the president said.

'I was saved by God to make America great again,' he said, invoking his signature phrase.

In his first remarks as the 47th president, Trump 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.

'My administration will be inspired by a strong pursuit of excellence and unrelenting success.'

'We will not forget our country. We will not forget our Constitution, and we will not forget our God.'

Katelyn Caralle, Senior U.S. Political Reporter in Washington, D.C.

The official White House website immediately changed on Monday as Donald Trump took his oath of office.

The homepage now plays a video with clips of Trump meshed together into a patriotic montage.

WhiteHouse.gov now directs users to the video before the landing page appears with a large ‘America is Back’ welcome to users.

Jon Michael Raasch, U.S. Political Reporter on Capitol Hill

Donald Trump was sworn in on a historic and sentimental pair of Bibles.

One of the Bibles is the Lincoln Bible, the same one the Civil War-era president put his hand on when taking the oath in 1861.

The other Bible was a family heirloom passed to President Trump by his mother.

Vance’s wife, Usha, and their three young children were at his side.

Supporters of President Donald Trump on Monday got up early to get in line for the unusual inaugural parade scheduled to go through Capitol One stadium in Washington, DC.

Inauguration organizers moved the celebrations indoors as temperatures in Washington, DC were in the mid-20s combined with a stiff cold breeze blowing through the streets of Washington, DC.

Even the inauguration parade was moved to Capitol One arena nearby the White House, abandoning the traditional march down Pennsylvania Ave.

Donald Trump is sworn in as the 47th president of the United States by Chief Justice John Roberts as Melania Trump holds the Bible.

US President-elect Donald Trump kisses Melania Trump as he arrives for the inauguration ceremony before he is sworn in as the 47th US President in the US Capitol Rotunda.

(L-R) US Vice President-elect J.D. Vance speaks with President-elect Donald Trump during the inauguration ceremony.

U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's daughter Ivanka Trump, Donald Trump Jr., and Elon Musk attend the inauguration.

President Joe Biden pardoned several members of his family, including his brother, in his final minutes in office.

The announcement came about 15 minutes before Donald Trump was sworn in as the 47th president of the United States.

I am issuing pardons to Gerald G. Lundergan and Ernest William Cromartie. I am also commuting the life sentence imposed on Leonard Peltier so that he serves the remainder of his sentence in home confinement.

My family has been subjected to unrelenting attacks and threats, motivated solely by a desire to hurt me—the worst kind of partisan politics.  Unfortunately, I have no reason to believe these attacks will end. 

I believe in the rule of law, and I am optimistic that the strength of our legal institutions will ultimately prevail over politics.  But baseless and politically motivated investigations wreak havoc on the lives, safety, and financial security of targeted individuals and their families.  Even when individuals have done nothing wrong and will ultimately be exonerated, the mere fact of being investigated or prosecuted can irreparably damage their reputations and finances.

That is why I am exercising my power under the Constitution to pardon James B. Biden, Sara Jones Biden, Valerie Biden Owens, John T. Owens, and Francis W. Biden. The issuance of these pardons should not be mistaken as an acknowledgment that they engaged in any wrongdoing, nor should acceptance be misconstrued as an admission of guilt for any offense.

By Katelyn Caralle, Senior U.S. Political Reporter in Washington, D.C.

Donald Trump is signing a few hundred executive orders and actions on his first day back in the White House on Monday.

Ten of the orders are focused on the southern border and illegal immigration.

Others seek to crack down on 'woke' policies and initiatives including the 'diverstiy, equity and inclusion' agenda.

And Trump is declaring there are 'only two genders.'

Sarah Ewall-Wice, Senior U.S. Political Reporter at Capital One Arena:

Every time Melania Trump appears on the screen, the crowds let out a wild cheer for the incoming first lady.

But when First Lady Jill Biden appeared on screen, there was loud booing here.

Trump received the loudest cheers as he was shown on the livestream with the crowd erupting.

Whenever Trump appears on screen, the crowds at Capital One Arena celebrate with cheering and shouts of ‘USA, USA.’

The energy here is a rollercoaster as the screen goes back and forth between Republicans and Democrats.

Vice President-elect Vance gets a solid cheer but does not compare to Trump who is still the biggest showstopper here as the arena has largely filled in.

Trump's five children have arrived to the swearing-in ceremony at the rotunda.

Jon Michael Raasch, U.S. Political Reporter on Capitol Hill

After the ceremony was rearranged to be inside, lawmakers are getting upset with their tight-packed seating far from the stage.

'Charlie Kirk has better seats than every member of Congress. Tells you how little Trump team thinks of Congress,' a GOP lawmaker told The Daily Beast.

The spouses of the lawmakers have also vented their outrage after being placed in an area in the Capitol Visitor's Center.

Especially since the spouses of billionaires Jeff Bezos and Mark Zuckerburg were given prime placement behind the stage.

By Emily Goodin, senior White House correspondent

Willow, the Bidens' tabby rescue cat, has already gone to their home in Wilmington, Delaware.

Joe and Jill Biden will head to California for some downtime in the sun after they leave Washington D.C. on Monday.

Willow was the least controversial of the first family's pets. The Bidens' two German Shepherds, Major and Commander, had to be rehomed to family friends after they kept biting Secret Service agents.

President Biden would often be awoken in the morning by Willow climbing on his head.

China’s Vice President Han Zheng is inside the Capitol Rotunda for the Trump inauguration.

Known as a trusted advisor to Chinese President Xi Jinping, his visit comes amid tense relations between the U.S. and China. He met Sunday with J.D. Vance and tech leaders including Elon Musk.

The CEOs of Meta, X, and Amazon sat in front of the president-elect’s entire Cabinet.

It's 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.

Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, Google CEO Sundar Pichai and Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk were pictured in the Capitol with prime spots behind the stage where Trump will deliver his inaugural address.

Donald Trump's cabinet picks got standing room areas inside the Capitol Rotunda for the inauguration.

Among those spotted were Treasury nominee Scott Bessent, Defense nominee Pete Hegseth, DOJ nominee Pam Bondi, and Interior pick Doug Burgum.

Secretary of State choice Marco Rubio stood near Mark Zuckerberg of Meta.

Trump's choices to run the outside government Department of Governmental Efficiency Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy were also there.

Jon Michael Raasch, U.S. Political Reporter on Capitol Hill

World leaders from around the globe have found their seats at Donald Trump's swearing-in ceremony.

• Han Zheng, Vice President of the People's Republic of China
• Italy's Prime Minster Giorgia Meloni
• Argentina's President Javier Milei

Sarah Ewall-Wice, Senior U.S. Political Reporter at Capital One Arena:

The arena is starting to fill in as Trump fans watch the scenes at the U.S. Capitol on the Megatron in the center of the room.

Trump will travel from the Hill to the arena for his inaugural parade, which was moved inside due to chilly weather.

When MAGA favorites show up on the screen, cheers go up. President-elect Trump, Vice President-elect JD Vance and Elon Musk got big cheers.

Cabinet nominees Pete Hegseth, Tulsi Gabbard, Robert Kennedy Jr. and former candidate Vivek Ramaswamy all are crowd favorites.

A huge boo echoed through the arena as former Vice President Mike Pence entered. A few people could be heard yelling ‘traitor.’

Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and President Bill Clinton were also booed. One person was chanting ‘lock her up.’

The 44th President of the United States donned a black suit and striped tie, and he smiled and waved at reporters when he walked into the Capitol.

Obama did not attend pre-inauguration prayer services at St. John’s Episcopal Church and is not set to attend Trump's Inaugural Luncheon.

President Joe Biden confirmed Monday that he left a letter for Donald Trump in the Resolute desk in the Oval Office before leaving the White House.

When asked what he wrote, Biden told reporters, 'That's between Trump and me.'

He said his message today to the American people was one of 'joy' and 'hope.'

She's the woman Melania Trump has credited as her 'guiding light and inspiration,' who has been at her side for decades, yet she hasn't been pictured in public for twenty years.

Introducing Ines Knauss, Melania's older sister, about whom very little is known, except for the key place she holds in the incoming first family's hearts.

Knauss, 56, has only ever graced the pages of newspapers in passing. She wasn't pictured at her mother Amalija's funeral in January of last year or at her brother-in-law Donald's first inauguration in 2016.

Barron Trump showed-off a slicked back new hairstyle as he attended his father's historic second inauguration.

Barron, 18, looked smart in a long black overcoat, white shirt and purple tie as he attended a church ceremony in St John's Episcopal Church opposite the White House on Monday morning.

The NYU-Stern student, who towers over his dad and mother Melania at 6-foot-9, kept his expression neutral as he walked into church and sat in a pew alongside his parents.

Barron's hairstyle was similar to the the one usually sported by his older half-brother Donald Trump Jr, 47.

His look was a marked contrast to his appearance at his father's first inauguration in January 2017, when he was just ten years old.

Back then, Barron had blonde hair and wore it without gel.

The first son was seen smiling and joking with his father at the White House after President Trump was sworn in as 45th president.

Guilfoyle will also be there, and - sources say - is expected to be seated near the family in her new role as the US ambassador to Greece.

(L-R) Former President George W. Bush, Former First Lady Laura Bush and Former President Barack Obama arrive for the inauguration ceremony

The outgoing and incoming presidents have left the White House to ride together to the Capitol for the swear-in ceremony in the Rotunda.

They left the White House after spending about 35 minutes in a private meeting.

They got into a limo for the Capitol for the swearing-in ceremony. It’s now less than two hours away.

Both men shared the same vehicle, along with Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar, chair of the bipartisan Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies, who will call to order the proceeding.

Biden and Trump have been bitter rivals for years. But the outgoing and incoming presidents are taking the same vehicle to the inauguration ceremony in keeping with political traditions and America's ongoing peaceful transfer of power.

Jon Michael Raasch, U.S. Political Reporter on Capitol Hill

Lawmakers are being pictured smiling and greeting one another before Donald Trump's ceremony as they find their seats.

• Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., and his wife former Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao
• Former Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy
• Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga.

Katelyn Caralle, Senior U.S. Political Reporter in Washington, D.C.

Vivek Ramaswamy posted an image on Monday with Elon Musk, even though it appears the two will no longer be working together heading the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).

The biotech millionaire, who ran in the 2024 presidential primary, plans to announce a bid for Ohio governor after he was not selected by Gov. Mark DeWine to replace J.D. Vance in the Senate as he elevates to Vice President.

Reports indicate that Ramaswamy had ‘friction’ with staff and will depart DOGE, leaving Trump’s buddy Musk to head the effort solo.

Despite the report, Musk and Ramaswamy seemed friendly in their fist-embracing image posted to X on Inauguration Day.

Jon Michael Raasch, U.S. Political Reporter on Capitol Hill

Congressional spouses are not pleased with their seating arrangements for the swearing-in ceremony, sources have revealed to DailyMail.com.

Sitting in a room away from the Capitol Rotunda, congressional spouses are grumbling after being seated in Emancipation Hall, a room from which they will have to watch the ceremony on TV like the public.

The room is located in the Capitol Visitor's Center, well away from the actual Rotunda where Donald Trump will be sworn in.

Normally the swearing-in ceremony occurs outside on the Capitol's western front overlooking the National Mall for onlookers to see.

This year, due to the cold and security concerns, the event is inside.

The former president arrived alone, as former first lady Michelle Obama announced she would not be attending Trump's inauguration.

Katelyn Caralle, Senior U.S. Political Reporter in Washington, D.C.

Prospective members of Donald Trump’s incoming Cabinet arrived on a shared bus for Donald Trump’s inauguration on Monday.

Those stepping off the vehicle at the Capitol included Attorney General pick Pam Bondi; Secretary of State pick Marco Rubio; Homeland Security pick Kristi Noem; Health and Human Services pick Robert F. Kennedy Jr.; Treasury pick Scott Bessent; and Veteran Affairs pick Doug Collins.

Most have already engaged in some form of Capitol Hill grilling during confirmation hearings over the last week.

It’s expected that Trump’s picks will sail to confirmation with a Republican majority in the Senate.

Trump is expected to order the renaming of the Gulf of Mexico to the 'Gulf of America' as one of his very first executive orders on Monday.

'We'll be changing the name of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America, which has a beautiful ring,' Trump previously told reporters in Florida.

'That covers a lot of territory. The Gulf of America. What a beautiful name. It is appropriate,' he insisted.

Mexican president Claudia Sheinbaum had launched a scathing dig at Donald Trump in response to his plan.

Trump also plans to rename Alaska famous Mount Denali, the tallest peak in America, to its former name of Mount McKinley, which honored former President William McKinley.

Barack Obama had renamed the peak to its original indigenous name in 2015.

Jon Michael Raasch, U.S. Political Reporter on Capitol Hill

A glamorous luncheon will occur with the president, lawmakers and distinguished guests in the Capitol after the swearing-in ceremony.

Staffers are quickly working to set up the tables with silverware, name cards and seats ahead of the lunch which is set to kick off afternoon.

Amazon founder Jeff Bezos' name card was spotted among the seats.

J.D. Vance, 40, will be America's youngest vice president since Richard Nixon took office in 1953 as the vice president for President Dwight Eisenhower.

Vance and his wife, Usha, have two sons — Ewan, 7 and Vivek, 4, and a daughter Mirabel who just turned 3.

A look at America's first millennial vice president as he and his family prepare to enter the vice president's residence.

Jon Michael Raasch, U.S. Political Reporter on Capitol Hill

After some speculation about the height of the Capitol flags, images show the banners flying at full mast before the swearing-in ceremony.

They are up despite the mandatory 30-day mourning period that ensues after a president dies.

After Jimmy Carter's death earlier this year, Speaker Mike Johnson indicated the flags would fly at full height on Inauguration Day.

Jon Michael Raasch, U.S. Political Reporter on Capitol Hill

A table set up on stage at Capital One Arena may indicate Trump will sign executive orders with a crowd.

The Republican is expected to attend a rally at the arena in downtown Washington, D.C., after visiting the Capitol.

He is also planning on signing up to 200 executive orders today.

The table, which looks like a signing table, may indicate he plans on penning his name on the orders before a large crowd of MAGA supporters who have waited overnight to get a glimpse of the incoming president.

They met the Bidens on a gold-trimmed red carpet, exchanging greetings and posing for photos ahead of a private meeting over tea and coffee.

'Welcome home,' Biden said to Trump after the president-elect stepped out of the car.

Biden wrapped his hand around Trump’s upper arm to escort him inside the mansion.

Trump ally Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., posted a video walking to the Capitol before the day's ceremonies.

The sweeping Capitol security can be seen behind him.

The lineup will include Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders, who served as Trump’s press secretary, along with former aide Kellyanne Conway and Texas Rep. Ronny Jackson, who was Trump’s White House physician.

Former White House adviser Peter Navarro, who served prison time related to the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol and is returning to Trump’s administration as a senior counselor for trade and manufacturing, is also expected to give remarks.

Kash Patel, Trump’s pick to lead the FBI, and Trump’s 'border czar' Tom Homan will also attend.

Jon Michael Raasch, U.S. Political Reporter on Capitol Hill

Speaker Mike Johnson argued in favor of a new American Gilded Age under Donald Trump in an op-ed for Fox News.

WithDonald Trump, a new Golden Age can be realized.

President Trump will deregulate industries, reinvigorate our pioneering spirit of innovation, and jumpstart our stagnant economy. He will restore America’s energy dominance by ending Biden’s war on American energy. And working with Congress, he’ll prevent the largest tax hike in American history. Our economy will grow, businesses will thrive, and workers will have more money in their pockets.

Because Donald Trump’s policies are good for all Americans, he has built the most expansive and diverse coalition of the modern era. Podcasters like Joe Rogan and Megyn Kelly, musicians like 50 Cent and Trace Adkins, innovators like Elon Musk and Peter Thiel, and celebrities like Danica Patrick and Russell Brand, and people from Dearborn to Miami are all coming together under one belief: the America First Agenda will help everyone – of every color, creed, and corner of our beautiful country.

By Geoff Earle, Deputy U.S. Political Editor

Trump’s gush of executive orders will target a host of conservation regulations – including one that limits the flow of showerheads.

Trump plans to sign an executive order on ‘Unleashing American Energy’ – and it will seek to roll back regulations that conservatives have blasted that limit water usage in dishwashers and showers, according to White House officials.

It’s not a small issue for Trump, who has complained about water pressure issues for years – including at a January press conference at Mar-a-Lago.

‘When you buy a faucet, no water comes out. Even in areas with so much water you don’t know what to do. It's called rain. It comes down from heaven. And they want to do no water comes out of the shower. It goes drip, drip, drip ... So what happens? You’re in the shower ten times as long.’

As Trump’s White House put it, the orders will end efforts to ‘curtail consumer choice’ relating to dishwashers, gas stoves, and shower heads. Federal regulations set a maximum flow rate of 2.5 gallons per minute for showerheads.

Another order will declare a ‘national energy emergency’ in Alaska. ‘We need an abundance of American energy here at home with that greater production,’ a White House official told reporters. The U.S. leads the world in crude oil production, but the official said the high costs were ‘unacceptable.’ High energy costs drive up the costs of an array of consumer goods.

Vice President Kamala Harris and her husband, second gentleman Doug Emhoff, welcomed the incoming vice president J.D. Vance and second lady Usha Vance to the White House following a pre-inaugural church service.

Trump has left St. John’s Episcopal Church after a prayer service ahead of the inauguration.

He and his wife, Melania, are next expected to be welcomed by President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden, where they will share tea and coffee at the White House.

The private meeting is another presidential transition tradition.

It’s a stark departure from four years ago, when Trump refused to acknowledge Biden’s victory or attend his inauguration.

Biden and first lady Jill Biden greeted the vice president and her husband Doug Emhoff at the Pennsylvania Avenue side of the White House.

Jon Michael Raasch, U.S. Political Reporter on Capitol Hill

Though Speaker Mike Johnson indicated that the flags will fly high on Inauguration Day, that may not be the case.

After the death of former President Jimmy Carter, Johnson announced he would raise the flags for the swearing-in ceremony despite the mandatory 30 days of morning.

However, on Monday there has been some chatter about the Capitol flagpole's ropes being frozen, meaning staff may not be able to raise the flag higher in time for the highly-anticipated event.

Katelyn Caralle, Senior U.S. Political Reporter in Washington, D.C.

Donald Trump will issue 10 executive orders on Monday related to the southern border and illegal immigration crisis, an incoming White House official told DailyMail.com.

The immediate actions underscore the importance of immigration policy to Trump’s second term.

One order will end birthright citizenship for those born in the U.S. to illegal aliens and undocumented immigrants.

Another, the official detailed on a press call on Monday morning, will direct the Department of Defense to send U.S. troops to the southern border to help maintain security.

The Department of Homeland Security will also create task forces to work with state and local law enforcement to protect against illegal immigration in local communities within the U.S. borders.

Jon Michael Raasch, U.S. Political Reporter on Capitol Hill

A verified group of influencers posted a video of them riding a bus together to Capitol Hill ahead of the inauguration.

UFC Champion Conor McGregor, Full Send Podcast host Kyle Foregeard and Jake and Logan Paul all posed for the clip ahead of Trump's swearing-in.

In the clip, the eldest Paul brother, Logan, can be seen taunting McGregor.

'I'm gonna kill him,' he jokes about the UFC champion fighter.

Amazon boss Jeff Bezos and his fiancee Lauren Sanchez (second and third circle from the left) are present at the nonpartisan church service at St. John's church in DC.

Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg and Apple's Tim Cook are also among the guests at the service on Monday before the inaugurationof Donald Trump.

Fox News' media mogul Rupert Murdoch was also photographed at the historic church. (far right circle).

Podcast megastar Joe Rogan was also seen sitting at the church.

Tech giants Mark Zuckerberg, Apple's Tim Cook and Amazon's Jeff Bezos are sitting together at church. Google's Sundar Pichai and Mukesh Ambani, India's richest man, are sitting behind them.

Podcaster Joe Rogan is seen on Trump's right.

From Rob Crilly, Chief U.S. Political Correspondent in Washington, D.C.

The aim is to prevent American taxpayers' cash from falling into the hands of groups working against the U.S. or promoting 'diversity, equity, inclusion' agendas, for example.

And it will likely immediately halt U.S. money going to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA).

'The United States and American citizens have been some of the most generous people in the entire world,' said an incoming White House policy adviser.

'But at this point, we have to understand that foreign policy is domestic policy, and if this is not aligned with our interests, then Uncle Sam should not be opening up his pocketbook any longer.'

Jon Michael Raasch, U.S. Political Reporter on Capitol Hill

Florida Republican Rep. Mike Waltz is expected to resign his congressional seat after Donald Trump takes office.

A source familiar with the proceedings confirmed to DailyMail.com that the former Army Green Beret will resign just after Trump is sworn in.

The quick resignation will enable Waltz to assume the many roles of national security advisor almost immediately, ensuring a continuity of security.

His resignation will reduce the Republican majority in the House of Representatives from 219 - 215 to 218 - 215, making it harder for Speaker Mike Johnson to pass bills with only GOP support.

Barron Trump, 18, was spotted with his parents entering the motorcade on Monday morning.

Donald and Melania Trump’s towering, 6-foot-9-inch son stepped out of the president’s guest residence Blair House hours before inauguration for a short service at St. John’s Church.

Barron will not live full-time at the White House like during his father’s first term in office as he attends New York University in Manhattan.

President-elect Donald Trump, Melania Trump and Barron Trump, Melania's father Victor Knavs are seen with JD and Usha Vance at St. John's Church.

Biden, before departing the White House for the final time today, will follow a long-standing presidential tradition and leave Trump a letter on the the Resolute Desk in the Oval Office, sources told CNN.

Trump, who refused to attend Biden's inauguration in 2021, still followed the presidential rite of passage by writing a letter to Biden.

The contents of Trump's letter were never publicly revealed, but Biden who deemed the note private, did say it was a 'very generous letter'.

Trump had reportedly been fascinated with the letter that Barack Obama left him when he first took office in 2017.

Donald Trump pulled off the biggest political comeback in history, becoming President once again with a thumping victory that sent shockwaves around the world.

He secured the Republicans their biggest win since 1988, despite a catalogue of polls ahead of the 2024 election predicting the race between Trump and Kamala Harris would be neck-and-neck.

In what was dubbed a ‘red tsunami’, twice-impeached Trump – who survived two assassination attempts during a tumultuous campaign – thrashed Harris by over 2million votes.

He swept all seven swing states, fuelled by him gaining territory among Hispanic and Black voters in heavily-contested battlegrounds.

The trend stunned opponents and triggered immediate soul-searching among Democrats, who critics said took the votes of ethnic groups for granted.

From Rob Crilly, chief U.S. political correspondent

Trump will use his second inaugural address today to paint a bold portrait of better times ahead for the country and outline his plans to use executive orders to get a running start, according to excerpts obtained by DailyMail.com

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.

Today, I will sign a series of historic executive orders. With these actions, we will begin the complete restoration of America and the revolution of common sense.

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.

The 'transfer of families' is a frenetic Inauguration Day ritual of approximately five hours where the White House is turned over from the outgoing presidential family to the incoming one.

In that time, while the outgoing and incoming presidents are together for the inaugural ceremony — White House residence staff hustle to inventory belongings, pack and move out one family and prepare the residence for its new occupants.

The former New York mayor was at St. John’s church just steps from the White House Monday, where his former client Donald Trump holds his first event of his inauguration day.

Giuliani was pictured smiling as he made his way there, days after settling long-running lawsuit by two Georgia election workers, in a deal that lets him keep his homes, his Mercedes, and his World Series rings. They had been seeking assets following a $148 million defamation judgment against him.

Hours before he settled the case last week, Giuliani posted a video of his pooch at Mar-a-Lago.

‘Vinny loves hanging out at Mar-a-Lago, but he's ready to spend a lot more time in Washington, D.C. over the course of the next four years in support of his favorite President—Donald J. Trump !’ he wrote.

The Trump family continues arriving at St John's Church for the pre-inaugural, nonpartisan service.

Ivanka Trump was seen arriving with her three children and husband Kared Kushner.

Trump's extended family - including all his five children - have traveled to Washington DC for the celebrations.

President-elect Donald Trump's son Eric Trump and his wife Lara Trump have arrived at a service at St. John's Church.

Trump and Melania are expected to leave Blair House, the presidential guest house, for the historic church anytime now.

Trump may be breaking a tradition on Inauguration Day. No heads of state have previously made an official visit to the US for the inauguration.

It’s not clear whether foreign leaders will attend the swearing-in ceremony or other events related such as inaugural balls.

Argentina’s President Javier Milei and Italy’s Premier Giorgia Meloni have spoken about being invited. The offices of Ecuadorean President Daniel Noboa and Paraguayan President Santiago Peña have also said they were invited and were planning to attend. The Salvadoran ambassador to the US said there had been an invitation to the country’s President Nayib Bukele, but he is not likely to attend.

Last month, Trump transition spokesperson Karoline Leavitt said world leaders, including Chinese President Xi Jinping, had been invited.

Jinping is not attending and instead sent his second-in-command who met with JD Vance on Sunday.

Donald Trump's will have a very hectic Monday – if he gets around to just a handful of his 'Day One' pledges.

The 78-year-old will be sworn-in as president, host a rally, end the war in Ukraine, start mass deportation raids across the country, and nix electric car mandates and pardon thousands who were convicted for their parts in the January 6 Capitol Riot.

Promises for his first 24 hours back in the Oval Office range from tariffs to transgender athletes playing on girls sports teams, with a series of executive orders being readied for the president's signature.

Fans of President-elect Donald Trump lined up early at Capitol One arena, on Monday where supporters were redirected for a watch party of the inauguration after the outdoor ceremony was canceled and moved inside.

Thousands of MAGA supporters were left uncertain about how to best spend the Inauguration, but a large number showed up to make sure they got a seat in the arena.

Some even arrived Sunday evening to make sure they got a seat.

The crowd huddled in blankets and coats to stay warm, some even drinking whiskey as they waited in line.

Here is a look at the line from photographers this morning.

Speaking on the eve of his inauguration, the president-elect called out Muir after he contradicted Trump's claim that violent crime has risen.

'I said, "No, no, it's gone through the roof." Crime has gone through the roof. David [said] "no, no crime has gone down". I said, "it's gone through the roof". And then he goes, "Uh, I disagree with that."

'The next day they announced that crime was up like 40 percent. This guy is, the whole thing is so bad.'

On a day that includes a theme of ‘Our Enduring Democracy’, Donald Trump will be required to go through one ceremony after another as he signs formal documents, meets the Bidens, lunches with lawmakers, and more.

Trump starts out with a service at St. John’s, near the White House, where he famously brandished a Bible during George Floyd protests during the summer of 2020. He has tea with President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden, a tradition he didn’t take part in four years ago.

Then it’s off to the Capitol, where he’ll be sworn in after J.D. Vance, taking his own oath at noon inside the Capitol Rotunda. He'll be surrounded by lawmakers and those lucky enough to make it inside the building. Some will be in an overflow room in the Capitol Visitor's Center. After he speaks, Trump still has to sign formal documents. Then he lunches with lawmakers inside the Capitol and reviews troops.

He won’t be at the White House until mid-afternoon, after indicating he’ll sign dozens of executive orders. He’s expected to attend three inaugural balls. But he still won’t be done with the formalities of his historic day: Trump is set to attend the traditional prayer service at the National Cathedral on Tuesday.

But she also went on to explain what she believes the ban - and the Republican party - really means for the nation.

Trump was found liable for the sexual assault of advice columnist E. Jean Carroll in 1996 following an incident in a dressing room of NYC department store Bergdorf Goodman.

The president-elect won a $15 million defamation settlement against ABC News last month after anchor George Stephanopoulos wrongly said he'd been found liable for rape.

Donald Trump is set to make an historic statement at his swearing-in ceremony on Monday as he lays his hands upon not one but two Bibles while taking the oath of office, including one used by former PresidentAbraham Lincoln.

This striking gesture echoes a precedent set by Obama, who also used two Bibles - including Lincoln's - for his second inauguration in 2013.

Trump's decision also brings in an added layer of personal meaning as he will also be using a Bible steeped in family sentiment.

DC police will work with the secret service to keep the inauguration safe, which officials have called a 'particularly dangerous moment.'

The heightenend security comes after there were two attempts on Trump's life while he was campaigning over the summer.

It also comes after the deadly New Year's deadly attack in New Orleans' Bourbon Street.

Officials have set up 36 miles of steel fencing as the city is made into a fortress.

Over 8,000 National Guards arrived to assist with security, joining 25,000 law enforcement agents stationed throughout the capital.

President Joe Biden issued his anticipated preemptive pardons just hours before leaving office.

The pardons include those Biden thinks that incoming President Donald Trump will target in his second term.

It encompasses all members of the House Select Committee on the January 6 Capitol Attack as well as General Mark Milley and Dr. Anthony Fauci – all foes of the president-elect.

Many were vying for a pardon from Biden in anticipation of being politically persecuted by leadership at Trump’s incoming Department of Justice.

Trump will take his oath of office in the early afternoon on Monday.

He is expected to sign at least 200 executive orders on his first day back behind the Resolute Desk.

Kid Rock said more celebrities now 'feel it's safe' to support Donald Trump after he won the White House for a second time.

Shivon Zilis, who is mother to three of Elon Musk's 12 children, joined the billionaire in Washington for a pre-inauguration donor party where she was seen in conversation with Jeff Bezos and his fiancée Lauren Sanchez, as well as Ivanka's husband Jared Kushner.

Until now, the 38-year-old, who was born in Ontario, Canada, has always supported Musk from the sidelines - and despite sharing three children with him, the exact status of their relationship has never been made clear.

Trump - the first American president since the 19th century to win a second term after losing the White House - and Vice President-elect JD Vance will both take the oath of office today inside the Rotunda of the US Capitol.

The inauguration will proceed amid heavy security after a campaign highlighted by an increase in political violence that included two assassination attempts against Trump.

The ceremony will feature live music, including a performance from country music star Carrie Underwood, and remarks from several key note speakers.

Bitcoin rose to over $109,000 early Monday - a new all-time high in early European trading - hours before self-proclaimed 'crypto President' Donald Trump was set to take office for a second term.

Bitcoin has surged in price since Trump's victory, topping $100,000 for the first time last month before briefly sliding down to about $90,000.

On Friday, it rose about 5 per cent, before jumping more than $9,000 early Monday, according to CoinDesk. Two years ago, bitcoin was trading at about $20,000.

The crypto market overall was up by more than half a trillion dollars over the last week, reaching a new record high of $3.74 trillion on Monday.

The incoming President and his wife Melania have both launched their own cryptocurrencies amid the market-wide surge.

Read more here:

Carrie Underwood 'doesn't care' about any backlash she may face for performing at Donald Trump's presidential inauguration, according to sources who say the singer 'is very proud' of the chance to have this experience during her career.

The country singing superstar, 41, is scheduled to sing America The Beautiful after Trump is sworn in along with his vice presidential pick JD Vance.

Fans were immediately divided when the news broke, with some praising the artist while others condemned her move.

Now insiders have exclusively revealed to DailyMail.com that the star is 'looking broader than any controversies' because she is doing the performance 'for America, not specifically for Trump'.

'This is something that she is very proud of, and the spin she is putting on it is that she is doing it for America, not specifically for Trump,' the source explained.

Read more here:

Organisers have boasted that some of America's 'most iconic musicians' are participating in the Trump inauguration ahead of his return to the White House.

Among those performing at events across the weekend and today include Carrie Underwood, The Village People, and Rascal Flatts.

Let's take a closer look at the artists taking to the stage:

• Carrie Underwood

The country singing superstar, 41, is scheduled to sing America The Beautiful after Trump is sworn in - as well as his vice president pick JD Vance. Carrie is set to perform the song on January 20th with The Armed Forces Chorus and The United States Naval Academy Glee Club after the presidential oath of office is administered to Trump by the Chief of Justice of the United States.

• Village People

The 70s pop group formed in New York have become synonymous with Trump with their hit 'Y.M.C.A' regularly played at his rallies with the President even performing his own 'Trump dance' to it. The group announced it would would perform at multiple inaugural events including the Liberty Ball tonight.

• Christopher Macchio

The opera singer is expected to belt out the National Anthem at the inauguration after previous performances at several Republican events including Trump's rally last year at Madison Square Garden

• Lee Greenwood

Perhaps best known for his song 'God Bless the U.S.A.,' Greenwood is also set to take the stage at the swearing-in and released a statement to say he was 'humbled and honored' to be asked to perform for Trump during his inauguration.

• Gavin DeGraw

The country singer will reportedly perform at the Starlight Ball, one of three official inauguration balls, on Monday, which Trump is expected to attend.

• Jason Aldean

Another country singer, Aldean, who has been nominated for five Grammy Awards, is also expected to perform at the Liberty Ball, another official inauguration event, on Monday evening

• Rascal Flatts

The country music band are the first performers scheduled to take to the stage at the Commander in Chief Ball, the first inauguration ball of the evening.

• Kid Rock and Billy Ray Cyrus

The artists are both vocal supporters of Trump and were scheduled to perform at the Make America Great Again Victory Rall at Capital One Arena in Washington on Sunday. Kid Rock (pictured) also performed at the Madison Square Garden rally in November.

Pope Francis has branded Donald Trump's plans to impose mass deportation of immigrants as 'a disgrace' as he weighs into US politics.

The Pope, who nearly a decade ago called Trump 'not Christian' for wanting to build a wall along the US-Mexico border, was asked about the deportation pledges during a Sunday night appearance on the popular Italian talk show, Che Tempo Che Fa.

'If true, this will be a disgrace, because it makes the poor wretches who have nothing pay the bill' for the problem, Francis said. 'This won't do! This is not the way to solve things. That;s not how things are resolved.'

Trump, who is being sworn in as president today, made mass deportations a signature issue of his campaign and has promised a raft of first-day orders to remake immigration policy.

Read more here:

Donald Trump last night promised to work at 'historic speed' by signing dozens of executive orders to mark his return to the Oval Office.

In his inaugural address later today, he is expected to call for a 'revolution of common sense' in what could provide some insight to his priorities during his second term.

Let's take a look at what orders Trump could sign as he steps back into the White House after prevoiously promising to undo the work of his predecessor Joe Biden.

• Mass deportations

'On day one, I will launch the largest deportation program in American history to get the criminals out,' Trump declared at his Madison Square Garden rally. There are signs that the wheels are in motion for such a move even before Trump takes office.

Ending illegal immigration was one of Trump's top campaing pledges, in a race where he said migrants 'infest our country.' That line drew howls from critics, and his policy to get law enforcement to eject millions of people who came here illegally is certain to draw lawsuits and scrutiny.

• Ending Russia's war in Ukraine

Finally putting an end to Russia's three-year old war against Ukraine is likely to be among the first plans to fall by the wayside, if facts on the ground are an indication. 'That is a war that’s dying to be settled. I will get it settled before I even become president,' Trump said in his debate with VP Kamala Harris. Trump has touted his relations with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin, but Ukraine has been refusing Moscow's demands to concede territory seized in the war.

• Pardon of January 6 defendants

Trump has said he would pardon January 6 defendants on his first day – and 'maybe the first nine minutes.' That came after a campaign where he played a rendition of the National Anthem sung by incarcerated January 6 defendants. Trump's pick for AG Pam Bondi got quizzed during her confirmation hearing how she would respond to Trump pardons of those convicted of violent attacks on police officers.

Many experts credit Trump's win to Americans' economic worries, and Trump has vowed to make tariffs a key Day One priority. He has kept up his drum beat during the transition, talking up tariffs on China as well as allies like Canada or Denmark who reject his ideas. Trump said he would slap 25 percent tariffs on Mexico and Canada on 'ALL products coming into the United States', blasting the neighbors with contributing to open borders days after his election. That brought immediate attention from Canada's outgoing PM Justin Trudeau and new Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum. He has also vowed big tariffs on China, although the country's vice president, Han Zheng, as his representative at the inauguration.

• Oil drilling and cars

Trump's 'drill, baby, drill' mantra was a Trump refrain in nearly all of his campaign rallies. If featured in one of his most curious comments of the campaign, when Trump told Sean Hannity he wouldn't be a dictator 'except for Day One.' He later explained that he was referring to closing the border and 'drill, drill, drill.' Trump has vowed to wipe away environmental regulations and unleash American energy. He has repeatedly stressed his support for fracking, and blasted Harris for her statements on it.

• Women's sports and gender affirming care

Trump repeatedly raised hot-button cultural issues in his campaign, where he railed against D.E.I. and repeatedly vowed to 'keep men out of women's sports.' It's another issue he listed on his 'first day' to-do list. The decisions of whether to let transgender athletes participate in sports is made at the local school and league level. But Trump's administration does have leverage, through federal education funds, which are a major part of university support. Trump also vowed on 'day one' to 'revoke Joe Biden’s cruel policies on so-called "gender affirming care.' 'Look, I can undo almost everything Biden did, he through executive order. And on Day One, much of that will be undone,' Trump told Time.

Donald Trump will apparently use his inaugural address as the 47th US President to call for a 'revolution of common sense'.

Extracts of his first address to the nation have been reported by the Wall Street Journal this morning.

Trump is expected to say:

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. 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.

Sources close to Trump have previously indicated his speech will be more uplifting and unifying than his first address in 2017 in which he described 'American carnage'.

Michelle Obama is skipping Donald Trump's inauguration because she refuses to 'be fake' about her loyalties - in stark contrast to her husband's recent efforts to 'unify,' it has been reported.

The former First Lady was noticeably absent from Jimmy Carter's funeral, where Barack was seen laughing and cozying up to the incoming President.

Trump and Obama shared a warm interaction ahead of the service, having a whispered conversation with one another in a moment which set the internet alight.

'It did look very friendly, I must say,' Trump later said.

But according to a source who spoke to Page Six, Michelle has no such plans to smooth over her relationship with Trump - putting her at odds with her husband's friendly efforts.

• Read the full story by Brittany Chain here

Let's also take a look at some of those who won't be in Washington later to see Trump sworn into office:

• Michelle Obama

Her spokesperson declined to provide a reason for the snub.

'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 told the Associated Press.

• Nancy Pelosi

The 84-year-old, who is recovering from a hip replacement operation, attended Trump's first swearing in eight years ago and was expected to be in the audience.

• Keir Starmer

The UK Prime Minister was among the extensive list of European premiers who didn’t receive an invite which made headlines after Trump broke with tradition to invite foreign leaders. However, it should be noted no UK Prime Minister has attended a US presidential inauguration.

Politicians from across the world will descend on Washington today with invites handed out to leaders described as far-right populists.

Here's a list of just some of those who will be in attendance:

• Georgia Meloni

The Italian Prime Minister is reportedly the only European head of state to have received an invite to the inauguration but is yet to confirm whether she will attend.

Earlier this month Meloni visited Trump's Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida, where it is reported they watched a documentary about a lawyer charged for trying to overturn the 2020 presidential election results in favour of Trump.

• Javier Milei

Argentina's President has previously said he is planning to attend the inauguration and has welcomed Trump's election victory.

• Éric Zemmour

French firebrand Eric Zemmour, the president of the Reconquête party, and his partner, MEP Sarah Knafo, have accepted invites to appear, according to reports. Their presence is said to cause potential embarrassment for the National Rally, France’s biggest far-right party.

• Tino Chrupalla

AfD (Alternative for Germany) co-leader Tino Chrupalla will attend the inauguration, while his political partner Alice Weidel remains in Germany for the election campaign.

• Santiago Abascal

Vox leader Santiago Abascal is another populist planning to attend the inauguration. The Spanish politician has emerged as one of the most influential leaders in Spain through his nationalist and anti-immigration agenda.

• Nigel Farage

The Reform leader has backed Trump throughout his political career and appeared on the Republican campaign trail to drum up support for him. Was also present at Mar-a-Lago on the night Trump secured the presidency and has offered to mediate between the US and UK governments.

Invited but not attending...

• Xi Jinping

The Chinese President will not attend President-elect Donald Trump's inauguration, but he is sending Vice President Han Zheng as his special representative. The decision came more than a month after Trump extended the unusual invitation to Xi, a break from tradition since no heads of state have previously made an official visit to the U.S. for the inauguration.

• Viktor Orbán

Hungary’s Prime Minister is a long-standing ally of Trump and was invited to the ceremony in Washington but will not travel to the US. He will instead deliver a presentation in Budapest that day.

• Jair Bolsonaro

The former Brazilian president had hoped to attend the inauguration but a request for the return of his passport was rejected by the country's highest court on Thursday. It was decided Bolsonaro remained a flight risk following an investigation into his alleged orchestration of a coup to remain in power after elections in 2022.

From left to right: Elon Musk, Shou Chew, Jeff Bezos and Mark Zuckerberg

When Donald Trump is sworn in as the 47th president of the United States later today, he will be surrounded by multiple tech titans whom he believes will deliver the jobs and free speech that will ultimately define his second and last term.

Jeff Bezos, Amazon founder and Washington Post proprietor, Elon Musk, the world's richest man, Mark Zuckerberg, Facebook founder, Sam Altman, the biggest name in AI, and Shou Chew, chief executive of TikTok, will all have positions of honor at the ceremony, according to a senior transition official.

It means they have pride of place among the highest rank of VIPs, beside Trump's family and former presidents.

'I think the message it sends is, first, the importance of free speech,' said the official.

'And then that these are all huge job creators in this country and they will be a big part of where the president goes in the second term.

'It's wrong to think of these as just tech guys. An app like TikTok helps thousands of content creators make a living, for example.'

It had not been previously reported that all five will take pride of place outside the Capitol on Monday.

Here's a look at some of the most unfortunate Joe Biden moments as he leaves the White House:

*This article is available only to Mail+ subscribers*

by Richard Littlejohn

At midday, Joe Biden will be put out of his misery. Not a moment too soon, for America or the rest of the free world.

The unvarnished truth is that Sleepy Uncle Joe was unfit for the highest office from day one, as all but his most cynical enablers have been forced to admit.

His valedictory address to the American people on Wednesday night was the usual incoherent jumble of self-aggrandisement and bitterness.

Yet as recently as last June, Biden, his wife Jill, the Democratic Party elite and their cheerleaders in what the late Right-wing radio host Rush Limbaugh called the 'drive-by' mainstream media, were insisting he was the only man capable of leading the US for the next four years.

That was the night he imploded in plain sight during a televised candidates' debate with Donald Trump. As I wrote at the time, from the moment Biden wandered onstage and waved to a non-existent studio audience it was frighteningly apparent that he was away with the fairies. The only surprise was that anyone was in the slightest bit surprised.

• Read Richard's full comment piece here

President Joe Biden revealed his biggest regret, what he fears most and boasted about his most accurate prediction in what is expected to be his final Oval Office interview.

Biden spoke with MSNBC's Lawrence O'Donnell for an interview airing Thursday night.

The 82-year-old will leave office on Monday with low approval numbers and after abandoning his reelection bid - only for his successor, Vice President Kamala Harris, to lose to his former political rival, President-elect Donald Trump.

'Ironically, I almost spent too much time on the policy and not enough time on the politics,' the Democrat admitted during the sit-down.

He rehashed his regret about not putting his name on the stimulus checks that were sent out to Americans during the early months of his tenure as the country still suffered economically from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Read more here:

The men have locked horns for five years from the start of Biden's presidency in 2020 to the resumption of Trump's.

Let's take a look back at some of their most explosive moments:

Eight years ago when Trump was sworn-in,he and first lady Melania Trump started their day at church - at the historic yellow St. John's Episcopal just outside the White House.

They were then greeted on the White House's North Portico by President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama.

The Bidens plan to continue this tradition this year.

It's tradition for the departing president to leave a letter for the incoming president on the Resolute Desk. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre wouldn't reveal Wednesday if Biden planned to write one for Trump.

Typically the former president and first lady fly off in a Marine One-type helicopter from the east side of the U.S. Capitol after the swearing-in occurs.

The Trumps plan to see the Bidens off this way this year.

If you're planning to keep up with all the latest happenings at the inauguration in Washington today, here's the full timing of events throughout the day as Donald Trump returns to the White House as 47th President of the United States:

All times EST (Eastern Standard Time)

Donald and Melania Trump will attend a non-partisan church service at the historic yellow St. John's Episcopal Church in downtown DC. Afterwards, they will head to the White House for a tea and coffee reception with the outgoing president and first lady, Joe and Jill Biden.

On Trump's first Inauguration Day in 2017, he and Melania posed for a portrait with outgoing President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama. The tea reception was also attended by then-outgoing Vice President Joe Biden, Jill, and then Vice President-elect Mike Pence, as well as his wife, Karen. Following tea, the sitting president typically escorts the incoming president to the Capitol for the official inauguration ceremony.

Around 10am today, official guests will begin to arrive at the Capitol Rotunda for the swearing-in ceremony.

Those with tickets to the inauguration will arrive by 11.30am.

Trump will take the oath of office, likely administered by Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts. His official swearing-in will occur after that of JD Vance, who is being sworn in by Chief Justice Brett Kavanaugh. Trump will take the oath of office, likely administered by Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts, at 12pm today.

He is pictured speaking at a dinner last night that was held as part of his inauguration festivities. American Idol winner Carried Underwood will sing America the Beautiful and opera star Christopher Macchio will perform the national anthem during the ceremony.

Shortly after being sworn in, Trump will deliver his inaugural address, which he has said in interviews that he intends to be uplifting and unifying - a departure from his first speech in 2017, which detailed a broken country he described as 'American Carnage'.

The official farewell and ceremonial departure of Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris will take place after the inaugural address.

Trump will then go to the President's Room near the Senate chamber in the Capitol, where he will sign nominations. Following the signing ceremony, the president, vice president and their guests will attend a luncheon hosted by the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies.

Trump will then head to the front steps of the Capitol for the review of the military troops.

The presidential parade will kick off around 3pm.

Instead of the traditional route down Pennsylvania Avenue, as previously scheduled, it will now take place indoors at the Capital One Arena. Trump will then return to the White House for the Oval Office signing ceremony.

Trump will attend three inaugural balls - the 'Commander in Chief Ball,' the 'Liberty Inaugural Ball' and the 'Starlight Ball'. He is expected to speak at all three events.

One comment Donald Trump made at his victory rally has sparked wild conspiracy theories that Elon Musk rigged the election to secure a Republican victory in Pennsylvania.

Trump told raucous crowds that the billionaire tech wiz 'knows computers better than anybody' as he was welcoming Musk to his stage on Sunday afternoon.

'He knows those computers better than anybody. All those computers. Those vote-counting computers. And we ended up winning Pennsylvania like in a landslide,' Trump said.

'He journeyed to Pennsylvania where he spent a month-and-a-half campaigning for me in Pennsylvania and he's a popular guy. He was very effective... Thank you to Elon.'

Polling had suggested the swing state could go Kamala Harris' way on election night, but ultimately Trump won convincingly, and secured every other swing state.

• Watch a video of Trump and Musk below and read the full story here

Take a look back to eight years ago when Donald Trump was sworn into the White House for his first presidency.

Ahead of his inauguration, Trump's official portrait was released which immediately led social media users to compare it to a previous infamous snap.

Many likened the picture to Trump's mugshot, which was taken in August 2023 at the Fulton County Jail in Atlanta, Georgia, following election fraud charges.

'OK, call me crazy but doesn't Trump's official inauguration photo look a lot like his official mugshot?' one user posted to X, formerly known as Twitter.

'Trump's inauguration picture looks just like his mugshot! FOTUS… Felon of The United States!' agreed another.

• Read Emily Lefroy's story here

Our colleagues at Dailymail.com have put together a guide for all inaugural events taking place as America celebrates a second Trump presidency.

Here's a list of today's festivities:

• Continental Resources party: Billionaire oil executive Harold Hamm rented out the Hay-Adams Hotel rooftop, which overlooks the White House, for a daytime party celebrating Trump as he's pledged to roll back Biden-era climate change protections
• The Bipartisan Inaugural Ball: Celebrating American Agriculture: Also known as the 'Farm Prom' this event at the Grand Hyatt benefits D.C. Central Kitchen and the National 4-H Council
• Commander in Chief Ball*: President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump will attend. Rascal Flatts and Parker McCollum will perform
• Liberty Inaugural Ball*: President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump will attend. Jason Aldean and The Village People will perform - as well as a 'surprise musical guest'
• The MAHA Inaugural Ball: Being billed as a 'celebration of health, unity, and the movement led by Robert F. Kennedy Jr.' it will take place at the Waldorf Astoria, which was formerly the D.C. Trump hotel
• The Mayflower Cigar Lounge: The folks at the Daily Wire have created an invite-only inauguration after-party at Shelly's Back Room, a popular downtown D.C. cigar lounge
• The Multicultural Coalition U.S. Presidential Inaugural Ball: MPAC, a group that helps elect minority Republicans, is throwing a party at the Washington Times' Arbor Ballroom promising a 'very special guest'
• Musicians On Call and the Recording Industry Association of America's Presidential Inaugural Charity Benefit: The recording industry is hosting a private late night party with a performance by Chris Janson
• Oregon Republican Party and Gateway Pundit's Presidential Inaugural Ball: Oregon Republicans and members of the Hoft family are taking over the Hamilton Live performance space for a party where Lara Logan, Kari Lake, Gen. Mike Flynn and Roger Stone are promised
• RALLY4VETS: A number of veterans groups are coming together to throw a black-tie gala at D.C.'s tony Fairmount Hotel
• Starlight Ball*: President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump will attend. Gavin DeGraw will perform
• State Society of Arizona's Inaugural Ball: The group representing the Grand Canyon State will hold their bash at the British Ambassador's Residence

*Denotes an official Presidential Inaugural Committee event that President Donald Trump will attend.

Trump (pictured above in 2017) will officially be sworn in as US president at 12pm EST (5pm UK time) in an indoor ceremoy after it was moved indoors to avoid freezing temperatures in Washington.

He will then deliver his inaugural address, which he said in previous interviews he intends to be uplifting and unifying unlike his first speech in 2017, which detailed a broken country he described as 'American Carnage'.

Beyond that, inaugural festivities are guided by tradition - with a luncheon, a parade and balls generally all part of that special day.

His Inauguration Day will begin with a service at St. John's Church Service, followed by tea at the White House.

The swearing-in ceremony will be followed by an official farewell for President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris.

Trump will then go to the President's Room near the Senate chamber in the Capitol, where he will sign nominations before he later attends three inaugural balls - the 'Commander in Chief Ball,' the 'Liberty Inaugural Ball' and the 'Starlight Ball'.

• Here's a graphic showing some of the events taking place today

Donald Trump pulled off the biggest political comeback in history, becoming President once again with a thumping victory that sent shockwaves around the world.

He secured the Republicans their biggest win since 1988, despite a catalogue of polls ahead of the 2024 election predicting the race between Trump and Kamala Harris would be neck-and-neck.

In what was dubbed a ‘red tsunami’, twice-impeached Trump – who survived two assassination attempts during a tumultuous campaign – thrashed Harris by over 2million votes.

He swept all seven swing states, fuelled by him gaining territory among Hispanic and Black voters in heavily-contested battlegrounds.

The trend stunned opponents and triggered immediate soul-searching among Democrats, who critics said took the votes of ethnic groups for granted.

• Read below our Deep Dive investigation into how Trump reclaimed the White House with interactive graphics

*this article is available only to Mail+ subscribers*

by Andrew Neil for The Daily Mail

Today's inauguration of Donald Trump as the 47th President of the United States could not be more different from when he was sworn in as the 45th President eight long years ago.

Back then Trump was regarded by the American Establishment as a vulgar intruder, propelled to power with Kremlin connivance (the media was obsessed with 'Russian collusion', which somehow it never managed to prove) and the backing, in Hillary Clinton's memorable phrase, of a 'basket of deplorables', her snobbish (and self-defeating) reference to a white, working-class voter base with unfashionable opinions.

The near-unanimous view among Washington's power brokers was that the unworthy Trump had no right to be there.

His alien invasion was a fluke, a scam, a nasty aberration. They consoled themselves that it was also likely to be temporary. But, just to make sure, the resistance was fired up from the start.

Read more here:

Donald Trump will be sworn-in as president for the second time in just six days after his sentencing in the hush money case.

Kamala Harris certified the 78-year-old's win in Congress four years after the Capitol Riot and clearing the way for him to take the keys to the White House again.

At noon today, he will cement a spectacular political comeback after his historic election win that was two years, two months and five days in the making.

It followed a unprecedented campaign where he survived two assassination attempts and saw his first opponent drop out over concerns of his age and mental acuity.

DailyMail.com answers some of the key questions about the day here

At his pre-inauguration rally, Trump warned migrants against continuing to come over the southern border.

He also vowed to make good on his promise to lead the biggest deportation effort in U.S. history.

'These are rough people [coming over the border] and they're getting the hell out of our country – they're out,' Trump insisted.

He continued: 'The border security measures I will outline in my inaugural address tomorrow will be the most aggressive, sweeping effort to restore our borders that the world has ever seen.'

• Watch his speech below

Here are some photographs from last night's pre-inauguration 'Make America Great' victory rally at the Capital One Arena in Washington.

There were plenty of Trump-supporting celebrities and thousands of supporters filled nearly all of the 20,000-plus-seats at the stadium in downtown Washington.

It marked Trump's first major speech in D.C. since he urged his supporters to march on the Capitol on January 6, 2021.

President-elect Donald Trump dances with The Village People

The Village People celebrated with Trump on stage in front of crowds

Elon Musk and his son, X, were among those who attended the rally

Trump supporter Kid Rock played to crowds in the capital

Nearly all of the 20,000-plus-seats were filled by supporters in the arena

Donald Trump performed his signature fist-pumping dance move while flanked by the Village People at a campaign-style rally in Washington, D.C. last night, as he took a victory lap one day before he is sworn in for a second term.

The popular 70s disco group, whose 1978 song YMCA has been a staple at Trump rallies for years appeared with him at Trump's 'Make America Great Again Victory Rally' at the Capital One Arena.

The anthem closed out nearly all of Trump's campaign rallies. Trump appeared thrilled with the performance as he swayed on stage, bopped his head and sang along as they performed in front of cheering crowds.

He shook the hands of several band members before and after the show - something of a turnaround in relations after the band send him a cease and desist in 2023 for him stop using their music after 'Macho Man' was played at a Mar-a-Lago event

• Watch the video below

Donald Trump's will have a very hectic Monday – if he gets around to just a handful of his 'Day One' pledges.

The 78-year-old will be sworn-in as president, host a rally, end the war in Ukraine, start mass deportation raids across the country, and nix electric car mandates and pardon thousands who were convicted for their parts in the January 6 Capitol Riot.

Promises for his first 24 hours back in the Oval Office range from tariffs to transgender athletes playing on girls sports teams, with a series of executive orders being readied for the president's signature.

It will round out the day following an inauguration ceremony that got moved indoors because of a dangerous polar vortex threatening D.C. and large parts of the country.

Read more here:

Life-threatening cold weather forecast for Washington, D.C. has forced Donald Trump to move his historic second inauguration indoors in a blow to his White House return.

Meteorologists are forecasting dangerously cold temperatures with highs only in the 20s.

Trump posted on Truth Social that the swearing-in ceremony would be moved indoors to the Capitol Rotunda.

He would also deliver his inaugural address from there.

'This will be a very beautiful experience for all, and especially for the large TV audience!' Trump wrote.

To accommodate the MAGA masses, the Capital One Arena - where Trump will hold his pre-inauguration rally Sunday - will be opened for a viewing party.

Donald Trump will be sworn in as President of the United States for the second time on Monday in a crowning moment for one of the greatest comebacks in political history.

The 78-year-old will take the Oath of Office in the heart of Washington D.C. with wife and First Lady Melania Trump by his side to officially become the nation's 47th commander-in-chief.

With the eyes of the world on the Capitol, he will get back the keys to the White House after an unprecedented campaign that saw two attempts on his life and a historic election victory over Kamala Harris.

Eight years ago, he came into Washington, D.C. as an outsider and was a shock to the system for a city used to career politicians.

Now he arrives with more power and with his popularity on the rise, marked by the billionaire tech titans who will be behind him: Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos and Mark Zuckerberg.

Read Brittany Chain's preview on the Trump inauguration here:

Good morning and welcome to MailOnline’s live coverage as Donald Trump officially starts his second presidency following his inauguration in Washington.

Trump returns to the White House having pulled off the most astounding political comeback in modern history following his landslide victory over Kamala Harris in the presidential election.

We’ll be kicking off our live updates from London before our reporters in New York take over to guide you through the ceremony.

Stick with us for the latest news, analysis, pictures and videos on what is an historic day across America.