US President Donald Trump has been sworn in, with cannons fired in salute and Hail to the Chief playing in the background.
Trump was seen celebrating the moment with his family and Vice President JD Vance.
In his inaugural address, President Donald Trump declared, “I was saved by God to make America great again.” He promised that a “golden age” for the United States begins “right now.”
As the first convicted felon to ever become commander-in-chief, the Republican president outlined a series of policies in his speech—many of which are expected to stir controversy.
Proclaiming that a “golden age begins right now”, Mr Trump said he would rename the Gulf of Mexico the “Gulf of America” and take back the Panama Canal.
“I’m going to put America first… The scales of justice will be rebalanced,” he added. “From this moment on, America’s decline is over.”
In the speech, he promised to “declare a national emergency” at the southern border with Mexico as well as a “national energy emergency”.
He pledged to “bring law and order back to our cities” and bring in “a society that is colourblind and merit-based”, adding “there are only two genders – male and female”.
He also promised to tariff and tax foreign countries to enrich American citizens.
Turning to America’s military and foreign wars, Mr Trump said: “My proudest legacy will be that of a peacemaker and unifier.”
He promised to reinstate any armed services members who were expelled for objecting to the COVID vaccine mandate – on full back pay.
“Like in 2017, we will again build the strongest military the world has ever seen.”
Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who has been keen to praise Mr Trump amid speculation over the future of US aid to Ukraine, congratulated him on social media and hailed his “peace through strength” policy.
