As it happenedended

Donald Trump inauguration: Billionaire TV star becomes US President - as it happened

Former reality television star and property magnate sworn in at Capitol

Rachael Revesz

Washington DC

,Andrew Buncombe,Lizzie Dearden

Friday 20 January 2017 03:20 EST

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Trump takes oath to become 45th President

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Donald Trump has been sworn in as US President. Here is how the day's events unfolded:

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President Donald Trump is making his way down Constitution Avenue with a military escort as his inauguration parade begins in Washington.

The president will review the parade from a viewing stand near the White House.

He and first lady Melania Trump are riding in the presidential limousine nicknamed "The Beast."

Trump is being cheered by supporters as his car passes.

Others are shouting "Media sucks" while a group of protesters chants, "Not my president, not my president."

Earlier Mr Trump — in brief remarks at his inaugural lunch at the Capitol — said he was honoured that Hillary Clinton, his rival in the White House race, came to the event.

The bipartisan crowd of lawmakers and other dignitaries gave Clinton a standing ovation after Trump asked her to rise.

Clinton and her husband, former President Bill Clinton, sat with members of Trump's family at the event.

Trump ended by saying he has "a lot of respect for those two people."

Mr Trump was named the 45th President of the United States at midday on Friday. His inauguration was met with protests across Washington DC.

Donald Trump’s inaugural concert crowd looked a lot smaller than Barack Obama’sThe IndependentDonald Trump held his inaugural concert Thursday night and it looks like he drew a significantly smaller crowd than Barack Obama did in 2009. This year, the Trump administration managed to gather 10,000 attendees, according to MSNBC. In contrast, the Obama administration drew an estimated crowd of 400,000 people to his first concert.

Lizzie Dearden20 January 2017 08:37

Lizzie Dearden20 January 2017 08:58

5 ways you can protest Donald Trump's presidencyThe IndependentDonald Trump will enter the White House as perhaps the most disliked incoming president in modern US history. Recent polls have shown that 40 per cent of Americans view how he has handled the transition favourably – a record low for a president in at least 40 years. To put it in perspective, Barack Obama took office in 2008 with an 80 per cent rating; Bill Clinton had 81 per cent; and George HW Bush took had an 83 per cent rating.

Lizzie Dearden20 January 2017 09:03

As Donald Trump lagged behind Hillary Clinton in October, he gave supporters in Gettysburg a “contract” detailing what he would achieve during his first day in office.

Here are the 10 key promises he made:

Introduce a constitutional amendment for congressional term limits.
Freeze hiring for the federal government to reduce payrolls, although the military, public safety and public health agencies would be exempt.
Ban White House and congressional officials from becoming lobbyists for five years after they leave the government.
Announce plans to renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement with Canada and Mexico or withdraw from the deal.
Formally withdraw from the Trans-Pacific Partnership.
Lift restrictions on mining coal and drilling for oil and natural gas.
Remove any Obama-era roadblocks to energy projects such as the Keystone XL pipeline.
Cancel U.S. payments to U.N. climate change programs and redirect the money to U.S. water and environmental infrastructure.
Stop all federal funding to “sanctuary cities,” places where local officials don't arrest or detain immigrants living in the country illegally for federal authorities.
Suspend immigration from regions associated with terrorism where vetting is difficult.

Lizzie Dearden20 January 2017 09:16

Anti-Trump protests are sweeping the world todayThe IndependentProtesters have burned a US flag as demonstrations against Donald Trump’s inauguration sweep the globe. Police pepper sprayed crowds clashing outside the “DeploraBall” held by the incoming President’s supporters in Washington. Hundreds of protesters gathered outside the National Press Club in Washington, booing ball-goers coming in and out of the event in tuxedos and dresses.

Lizzie Dearden20 January 2017 09:25

Veteran investor George Soros has predicted that global markets will falter as a result of the uncertainty injected into markets by the inauguration, our business editor Josie Cox writes.

He said that uncertainty in markets is “at the peak” and that he does not expects “markets are going to do very well.”

Read the full story here

Lizzie Dearden20 January 2017 09:28

'Donald Trump will fail and Brexit will last three days', billionaire investor George Soros tells DavosThe IndependentDonald Trump is a “would-be dictator” who will fail and Theresa May will not last because of the Brexit “divorce”, billionaire business magnate George Soros has told the Davos world economic forum. The Hungarian-American investor, on the eve of Mr Trump’s inauguration, delivered a cutting verdict on the incoming President.

Lizzie Dearden20 January 2017 09:31

Banners have been unfurled at bridges across London as part of a #bridgesnotwalls protest marking Donald Trump's inauguration. Some demonstrators are stationed on the bridges, while others are passing down the Thames in boats during the morning rush hour. Activists include LGBT protests, pro-migration groups and religious and ethnic minority representatives.

Lizzie Dearden20 January 2017 09:34

Donald Trump surprised attendees at a lunch on the eve of his inauguration by announcing his nominee for ambassador to the UK.

He has chosen billionaire Robert Wood “Woody” Johnson IV, a Republican Party fundraiser with no government experience.

Described by Vanity Fair as “press shy”, the owner of the New York Jets American football team reportedly paid $635 million for the NFL outfit in 2000 and has known Mr Trump for years.

However, he originally supported rival Jeb Bush in the Republican primaries by serving as his campaign's finance chairman.

Mr Trump revealed Mr Johnson was his preferred nominee for the diplomatic posting at a Washington DC luncheon on the eve of his inauguration, introducing a guest as “sitting next to the ambassador Woody Johnson, going to Saint James”.

Lizzie Dearden20 January 2017 09:48