Trump begins first full day as president with prayer service – but will MORE ‘shock and awe’ orders follow?
- Trump pardons Jan 6 rioters
- Trump will change Gulf of Mexico name
- Trump says 'Impossible is what we do best'
- Former presidents arrive at Trump's inauguration
- Trump's children Ivanka, Donald Jr and Eric arrive
- Watch: Trump vows to ‘take back our country’
- 'Ring of steel' around president-elect
- In pictures: Farage, McGregor and Musk's son X at Trump rally
DONALD Trump has begun his first official day as the 47th President of the United States.
He appeared at The Washington National Cathedral around 11am on Tuesday for a national prayer service.
Vice President JD Vance and his wife Usha stood alongside him in the pews - with the wider Trump team gathered behind them.
Trump is later expected to meet with Congressional leaders to discuss his plans going forward for the new administration.
Within hours of being sworn in on Monday he signed a slew of executive orders and pardons in what has been dubbed a "shock and awe" effort.
The jubilant Maga leader, 78, promised a "golden age of America" before arriving at the Capital One Arena to raucous cheers, chants and applause on Monday.
He then victory danced his way back into the White House with his wife Melania and new VP Vance at multiple glitzy inauguration balls.
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This blog is ending
After an historic inauguration and a speech for the ages, The Sun is now ending this blog.
Donald Trump has now embarked on his second administration and is putting together his cabinet and staffing the White House.
He has promised to bring about a "golden age" for America and a change of direction for the US far different from how Joe Biden governed.
Thank you for joining The Sun for this historic moment.
GOP Senator calls out J6 pardons
US Senator Susan Collins, from Maine, has called out Trump's January 6 riot pardons.
Collins will be a key vote for Trump to keep in the senate with the Republican somewhat of a swing vote.
In a statement, she said: "I do not support pardons given to people who engaged in violence on January 6… This has been a terrible week for our justice system."
It comes after the new president pardoned 1,600 people on his first day in office - rioters who he has labelled "hostages".
Resistance to Trump already building
Democratic Attorneys General are beginning to oppose Donald Trump's plan.
AGs from California and Massachusetts and 15 other states are suing the federal government after Trump issued an executive order to end birthright citizenship.
The order is now set to be tied up in courts with the debate likely to happen over Article 14 of the Constitution - which considers the issue.
Hamas terror chief wants to meet Trump
A Hamas leader has said he wants to meet with new President Donald Trump amid fears that the fragile ceasefire in Gaza won't last.
The senior terror chief revealed just hours after the pause in fighting kicked in that the militant group was ready to open a dialogue with the US.
In a rare departure from its stance on Israel's closest ally, Qatar-based Mousa Abu Marzouk told : "We’re prepared for a dialogue with America and achieving understandings on everything."
Trump, 78, has said he is "not confident" that the ceasefire in war-torn Gaza will hold, over a year into Hamas' war with Israel.
Hamas leader Mousa Abu Marzouk wants to meet with Trump Rep complains to Apple over gulf name
US House Rep Dan Crenshaw has laid a complaint Apple and CEO Tim Cook over the naming of the Gulf of Mexico.
The one-eyed Texan posted on X saying that Apple Maps still labels the sea south of the US as the Gulf of Mexico.
In one of his first executive orders, Trump has renamed it the Gulf of America.
Crenshaw posted: "Hey @tim_cook, just noticed Apple Maps still calls it the Gulf of Mexico.
"Sent a report through the app, but thought you’d want to know!"
Crenshaw took Apple to task after Trump changed the name of the gulf Trump's first cabinet pick sworn in
Donald Trump's first cabinet pick has been sworn in with Marco Rubio becoming his secretary of state.
The former Florida Senator and political rival was confirmed 99-0 by the Senate in a vote yesterday to be the nation's top diplomat.
Rubio put his hand on a bible at the Vice President's ceremonial office at the White House on Tuesday morning and was sworn in by JD Vance.
Rubio has a huge inbox on his desk and is set to try and find peace between Russia and Ukraine, keep the peace in the Middle East, and contest with China.
The Floridian succeeds Joe Biden's sole secretary of state Antony Blinken.
Vice President JD Vance swears in Marco Rubio as secretary of stateCredit: Alamy The Trumps and Vances' bow their heads in prayer during the service
Credit: Reuters January 6 Capitol Rioters released from prison
Former Proud Boys extremist group leader Enrique Tarrio and Oath Keepers founder Stewart Rhodes have been released from prison today.
The pair were instrumental in the January 6 attack on the US Capitol in 2021 and were given lengthy sentences for seditious conspiracy convictions.
President Trump granted pardons to them and some 1,500 other defendants yesterday - absolving them of their sentences following the riots.
Rhodes and Tarrio were two of the highest-profile defendants and received some of the harshest punishments in what became the largest investigation in Justice Department history.
Trump gives a classic fist bump and thumbs up at the service in DC
Donald Trump & his wife Melania greet people in the church
The couple clasped hands as they made their way in for the service, lining up next to VP JD Vance and his wife Usha.
Credit: AFP 
Credit: Sky News 
Summary and recap
It's been an eventful 48 hours in Washington so here's a quick recap of some of the key policy actions and memorable moments from the inauguration of the 47th President.
- The President struck a nationalistic tone in his inaugural address; to applause from his supporters, he said that following an assassination attempt in Pennsylvania, he was "saved by God to make America great again".
- Trump pledged “the golden age of America begins right now” and that the US was entering the “start of a thrilling new era”.
- Cartels are set to be officially declared as terrorists which will give him more power to crush violent Mexican drug smuggling gangs.
- Trump attacked America’s previous leadership saying it had left the country in such a state that it couldn’t solve problems as he vowed to solve “crisis”.
- Trump declared the US will put a man on Mars and vowed to create a “common sense revolution”.
- Elon Musk, the X and Tesla boss, sparked outrage among some after they claimed he made a stiff-armed Roman-style salute in front of Trump‘s supporters.
- Other tech billionaires at the inauguration included Meta's Mark Zuckerberg, Google CEO and founder Sundar Puchai, and Jeff Bezos of Amazon.
- The President signed a sweeping execution order on the death penalty and issued pardons for more than 1,500 Jan 6 rioters.
Credit: ALAMY In pictures: Oath Keepers founder released from prison
Stewart Rhodes, founder of the citizen militia group Oath Keepers, who was sentenced to 18 years for seditious conspiracy, leaves Federal Correctional Institution, Cumberland, after President Donald Trump commuted his sentence in a sweeping pardon of those charged in the January 6, 2021 attack on the US Capitol.
Credit: REUTERS 
Credit: REUTERS 'I got a pardon baby': rioter pardoned
One of the best known rioters to attack the Capitol on January 6, Jake Angeli-Chansley, who went in shirtless and wearing horns and furs on his head, has been pardoned.
He posted the following on X:
I JUST GOT THE NEWS FROM MY LAWYER... I GOT A PARDON BABY! THANK YOU PRESIDENT TRUMP!!! NOW I AM GONNA BUY SOME MOTHA FU**IN GUNS!!! I LOVE THIS COUNTRY!!! GOD BLESS AMERICA!!!! J6ers are getting released & JUSTICE HAS COME... EVERYTHING done in the dark WILL come to light!
X
Credit: REUTERS 'I got a pardon baby': rioter jubilant
One of the best known rioters to attack the Capitol on January 6, Jake Angeli-Chansley, who went in shirtless and wearing horns and furs on his head, has been pardoned.
He posted the following on X:
I JUST GOT THE NEWS FROM MY LAWYER... I GOT A PARDON BABY! THANK YOU PRESIDENT TRUMP!!! NOW I AM GONNA BUY SOME MOTHA FU**IN GUNS!!! I LOVE THIS COUNTRY!!! GOD BLESS AMERICA!!!! J6ers are getting released & JUSTICE HAS COME... EVERYTHING done in the dark WILL come to light!
XCredit: REUTERS In case you missed it: Elon Musk breaks silence over ‘Nazi salute’ claims at Trump’s inauguration rally
The world’s richest man and Donald Trump’s best pal Elon Musk has hit back at his critics after he was accused of making a “Nazi salute” during a speech at an inauguration rally.
The X and Tesla boss sparked outrage among some after they claimed he made a stiff-armed Roman-style salute in front of Trump‘s supporters.
Responding to the outcry, Musk accused his enemies of engaging in “dirty tricks” to try and smear him.
“The ‘everyone is Hitler’ attack is sooo tired,” he added in a post on X, accompanying it with a sleeping emoji.
Musk made the apparent gesture while speaking at the Capital One Arena in Washington DC where he was addressing Trump’s supporters following the inauguration.
In case you missed it: Elon Musk breaks silence over ‘Nazi salute’ claims at Trump’s inauguration rally
The world’s richest man and Donald Trump’s best pal Elon Musk has hit back at his critics after he was accused of making a “Nazi salute” during a speech at an inauguration rally.
The X and Tesla boss sparked outrage among some after they claimed he made a stiff-armed Roman-style salute in front of Trump‘s supporters.
Responding to the outcry, Musk accused his enemies of engaging in “dirty tricks” to try and smear him.
“The ‘everyone is Hitler’ attack is sooo tired,” he added in a post on X, accompanying it with a sleeping emoji.
Musk made the apparent gesture while speaking at the Capital One Arena in Washington DC where he was addressing Trump’s supporters following the inauguration.
Trump takes US reins with flurry of executive orders
US President Donald Trump begins his first full day in office today, riding a wave of executive orders signed just hours after his inauguration on everything from immigration to the environment and culture wars.
After the pomp of his inauguration ceremony and stunning array of executive orders, the president's Tuesday begins with a more solemn event: a prayer service at the National Cathedral.
The service will begin at 11am (4pm GMT) and include leaders from diverse faith denominations. The cathedral has held this service the day after the inauguration since 1933.
Trump takes US reins with flurry of executive orders
US President Donald Trump begins his first full day in office today, riding a wave of executive orders signed just hours after his inauguration on everything from immigration to the environment and culture wars.
After the pomp of his inauguration ceremony and stunning array of executive orders, the president's Tuesday begins with a more solemn event: a prayer service at the National Cathedral.
The service will begin at 11am (4pm GMT) and include leaders from diverse faith denominations. The cathedral has held this service the day after the inauguration since 1933.
In pictures: President Trump's inauguration
Here are some of the best images from the inauguration on Monday – from billionaires to Barron, a chilly White House early in the morning to the President dancing with the Village People in the evening.
Credit: REUTERS 
Credit: ALAMY In pictures: President Trump's inauguration
Here are some of the best images from the inauguration on Monday – from billionaires to Barron, a chilly White House early in the morning to the President dancing with the Village People in the evening.
Credit: REUTERS Credit: ALAMY Five key takeaways from Trump’s inauguration speech
If you're just joining us, here are five key takeaways from the President's speech on Monday:
- Trump pledged “the golden age of America begins right now” and that the US was entering the “start of a thrilling new era”.
- Cartels are set to be officially declared as terrorists which will give him more power to crush violent Mexican drug smuggling gangs.
- Trump attacked America’s previous leadership saying it had left the country in such a state that it couldn’t solve problems as he vowed to solve “crisis”.
- Declared the US will put a man on Mars.
- Vowed to create a “common sense revolution” and row back green policies and remake the education system to promote patriotism.
Credit: AP
TV historian Mary Beard on THAT salute from Musk
TV historian Mary Beard has said she would be "hesitant" before labelling Elon Musk's gesture a "fascist" salute.
The X and Tesla boss sparked outrage among some after they claimed he made a stiff-armed Roman-style salute in front of Trump‘s supporters.
But the world’s richest man and Donald Trump’s best pal hit back at his critics.
Responding to the outcry, Musk accused his enemies of engaging in “dirty tricks” to try and smear him.
“The ‘everyone is Hitler’ attack is sooo tired,” he added in a post on X, accompanying it with a sleeping emoji.
Tech giants take centre stage at inauguration
As well as X's Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg from Meta, bottom, and Amazon's Jeff Bezos and Google CEO and founder Sundar Pichai, below, all had a prominent place at the inauguration.
Credit: GETTY 
Credit: GETTY Trump's decision to leave WHO – reaction from Europe
Berlin has said it will try to talk US President Donald Trump out of his decision to withdraw the United States from the World Health Organisation, Germany's health minister said on Tuesday.
The UN agency also said that it hoped that its top donor country would change its mind and looked forward to a constructive dialogue with Trump's team.
"The new U.S. president's announcement to withdraw from the World Health Organisation (WHO) is a serious blow to the international fight against global health crises," Karl Lauterbach said.
"We will try to persuade Donald Trump to reconsider this decision," he added.
Germany is the second largest national donor to the WHO, contributing around 3% of the agency's funding.
Trump announced the withdrawal on Monday, alleging that the global health agency had mishandled the COVID-19 pandemic and other international health crises.
In the U.N. agency's first reaction to the move, WHO spokesperson Tarik Jaarevi told reporters in Geneva: "We hope that United States will reconsider, and we really hope that there will be constructive dialogue for the benefit of everyone, for Americans but also for people around the world."
'Golden age for lawbreakers': Democrats slam Trump's pardon for Jan 6 rioters
Democrats have slammed the move to extend the pardons to violent rioters, many of whose crimes were captured on camera and broadcast on live TV.
Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi called it "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".
In an emailed statement, Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer said: "Donald Trump is ushering in a Golden Age for people that break the law and attempt to overthrow the government."
The riots in 2021 resulted in the DC National Guard forming a protective barrier around the Capitol, pictured below.
Credit: AP
