Donald Trump dances to YMCA with wife Melania and JD Vance at inauguration ball after signing flurry of executive orders
DONALD Trump has victory danced his way back into the White House with his wife Melania and new Vice President JD Vance at multiple glitzy inauguration balls.
Trump's first day back in Washington DC also included a spree of executive orders and January 6 pardons.
Jubilant Trump promised a "golden age of America" after being sworn in as the 47th President of the United States on Monday.
He arrived to raucous cheers, chants and applause as he entered the Capital One Arena.
The MAGA man, 78, delivered on many of his promises to voters as he immediately withdrew from the Paris Climate Accords and World Health Organization, and signed to end government censorship of speech.
Trump signed dozens of orders and directives in what has been dubbed a "shock and awe" effort.
After staging one of the greatest political comebacks ever, Trump today vowed to usher in a "thrilling new era of national success."
And he insisted he was “saved by God to make America great again” after taking the oath of office in front of political elites, celebrities and influential billionaires in the Capitol Rotunda room.
It was the first time in decades the ceremony was held indoors as freezing temperatures grip Washington DC.
Trump said: "From this day forward, our country will flourish and be respected. I will very simply put America first."
Most read in The US Sun
Following the ceremony, Trump and wife Melania waved outgoing president Joe Biden and wife Jill goodbye as the choppered out of Washington DC.
In a jam-packed day, Trump enjoyed tea with the Bidens at the White House, his inauguration ceremony, and a luncheon.
Then he made his way to three different balls after the inauguration parade.
Trump stunned the world as he beat Kamala Harris to retake the White House.
The campaign saw him survive two assassination attempts and repeatedly weather legal storms, many of which Don raged were politically motivated.
You can follow our live blog below ...
Biden's last minute pardons for family members
Joe Biden has pardoned members of his own family moments before his term ends.
The outgoing leader says they have been "subjected to unrelenting attacks and threats, motivated solely by a desire to hurt me".
He added: "Unfortunately, I have no reason to believe these attacks will end."
The pardons include his brother James and his wife Sara Jones, the president's younger sister Valerie, her husband John Owens and Francis, another brother.
Pardon documents show Biden is pardoning them for "any nonviolent offenses against the United States which they may have committed or taken part in during the period from January 1, 2014 through the date of this pardon."
Donald Trump arrives to take power
Donald Trump has arrived in the rotunda and is seated across the walkway from Joe Biden.
Trump arrived to cheers and a large applause as he is set to be back in the White House in just minutes.
Trump gave wife Melania a kiss on the cheek in a sweet moment and then turned to shake Biden's hand.
He is sitting next to his vice presidential nominee JD Vance.
Trump and Vance inside the Capitol as they prepare to take officeCredit: Getty President Biden arrives
Joe Biden has arrived in the Rotunda as he prepares to hand over power to Trump.
Biden entered the rotunda to polite applause, but those waiting for the ceremony in some parts of DC booed him.
Trump supporters lost tickets to the inaugeration when it was moved inside due to the dangerous weather.
The 46th president was forced to drop out of running for re-election in July after Trump hammered the Democrat in a debate.
Joe Biden arrived to applause and boos as he hands power over to TrumpCredit: Getty
State Governors relegated to overflow viewing room
While tech titans like Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg and Jeff Bezos were given seats to watch the inauguration ceremony, even state Governors were relegated to the Emancipation Hall overflow viewing room.
Trump supporters watching the inauguration on TV screens at a Hard Rock Cafe near the Capitol loudly booed as former Democratic Presidents Bill Clinton and Barack Obama and Republican President George W. Bush were seen entering the Capitol Rotunda for the swearing in ceremony.
They also booed the liberal Justices of the Supreme Court and cheered the conservative ones as they entered the Rotunda.
Meanwhile, Elon Musk was cheered when shown on the screens.
Michelle Obama misses inauguration
Michelle Obama has skipped Donald Trump's inauguration with husband Barack attending alone.
Her absence comes after she ditched Jimmy Carter's funeral earlier this month and opted to stay in Hawaii instead.
Michelle didn't give a reason for sitting out for Trump's swearing-in in the brief statement from her office.
Barack was seen walking through the Capitol building alone as he made his way into the Rotunda.
Read more here.
Barack Obama attended the inauguration without wife MichelleCredit: Sky News King Charles congratulates Trump
King Charles has sent a personal message of congratulations to Trump ahead of his inauguration.
The message reflects on the "enduring special relationship between the UK and US", Buckingham Palace said.
Former presidents arrive at Trump's inauguration
All living former presidents have gathered at Trump's ceremony - just two weeks after reuniting at Jimmy Carter's funeral.
Michelle Obama is the only former first lady not in attendance.
Credit: AFP 
Credit: Reuters 
Credit: AFP Route to Capitol almost empty as motorcade went through
Pennsylvania Avenue, which connects the White House to the Capitol, was practically empty as Trump’s motorcade drove past.
The last minute change of plans on Friday to move the inauguration indoors due to the cold weather meant that most Trump supporters concentrated at the Capital One Arena.
Inside the Capitol, supporters gathered in Emancipation Hall, which was set up as an overflow viewing room for the inauguration ceremony.
Notable attendees included AI billionaires Sam Altman and Alexandr Wang, YouTube influencers and brothers Logan and Jake Paul, New York Mayor Eric Adams, mixed martial artist and boxer Conor McGregor, and comedian and podcaster Theo Von.
Trump's children Ivanka, Donald Jr and Eric arrive
Credit: Getty 
Credit: Getty 
Credit: Getty
Donald Trump heads to the Capitol
Donald Trump and Joe Biden are sharing a limo to the Capitol building, where the MAGA man will be sworn in as president.
Their limo is part of a motorcade including various police and secret service cars.
Hundreds of security personnel have been deployed to line the streets to keep the outgoing and incoming presidents safe.
Credit: Getty 
Credit: Sky News Supporters forced to go through airport-style security checks
Supporters trying to get to Pennsylvania Avenue to see Trump drive by had to go through airport-style security checks.
The checkpoint was guarded by FBI and Secret Service agents, cops and TSA (Transportation Security Agency) officers who usually guard airports.
Along the route, anti-Trump protestors Heri Bert von Feilitzsch, 59, and his son Matthias, 23, carried placards mocking the incoming president.
Heri, an author, and Matthias, who works in sales in the construction industry, traveled from Winston-Salem in North Carolina on Saturday.
Originally from Germany, Heri said: “I’m an immigrant, even though I’m an American citizen now, I’m first generation.
“I despise the anti-immigrant rhetoric. I think that America is built on immigration.
“If you make any part of the population subhuman, as a German I know where that can lead.
“That’s why I’m here.
“I think Trump is just lawless. He could start wars, he could ruin the economy, there’s no end to the possibilities.”
Former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson arrives
Boris Johnson has been pictured arriving ahead of Trump's inauguration ceremony.
The former British Prime Minister is on the extensive guest list that includes political leaders, former presidents and influential billionaires - such as Elon Musk.
Trump will sworn in as the 47th US President in the US Capitol Rotunda in Washington DC later today.
Credit: AFP Trump briefed on firing 5,000 apocalyptic warheads with 'nuke football'
Donald Trump will be handed the nuclear codes today as defense leaders brief him on how to unleash America's ultimate weaponry.
In line with tradition, the Maga man will be able to authorize an atomic strike at any moment once he is handed the infamous “nuclear football”.
After Trump has officially taken the oath of President, the satchel - containing an all-important digital device called “the biscuit” - will be brought to his side.
The US commander-in-chief is responsible for the key to unleashing hellfire on America's enemies - by way of a three-inch by five-inch box.
The United States has one of the largest nuclear stockpiles in the world with 5,044 warheads.
The Bidens welcome Donald and Melania Trump at The White House
Credit: AFP Inside the Capitol Rotunda
This is where the official swearing-in will take place today after the ceremony was moved indoors.
A choir could be seen practicing ahead of their performance and a podium bearing the Presidential seal has been set up.
Credit: Getty
Empty chairs at the US Capitol
The ceremonies today were moved indoors due to freezing weather.
It's around -3 degrees Celsius in Washington DC now and is expected to drop as low as -7 later on today.
Pictures showed chairs laid out for the swearing-in covered in a layer of snow on Monday morning.
Vice President Harris & her husband Doug welcome in the new VP JD Vance with his wife Usha
Credit: AFP 
Credit: AP 
Credit: Getty Inside Statuary Hall - where a luncheon will follow the inauguration ceremony today
Credit: AFP 
Donald Trump and his wife Melania leave St John's Church
Credit: Getty 
Credit: Getty Vice President Kamala Harris and her husband Douglas Emhoff appear at The White House
Credit: Getty The Bidens appear at The White House
Credit: AFP 
Credit: AFP 
Credit: AP
Joe Biden and his wife Jill grin in an inauguration day selfie
Jill shared the snap to her Instagram this morning
Tech giants gather in the church
Meta and Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerber (C) CEO of Google Sundar Pichai (CR), CEO of Apple Tim Cook (R) Founder of Amazon and Blue Origin Jeff Bezos (FR)Credit: Getty Tiffany Trump arrives at church with her husband Michael Boulos
Credit: Reuters 
Credit: Reuters Melania and Donald head into the church
The First Lady-in-waiting, Melania, is wearing a long navy blue coat and a matching hat for today's ceremony.
Trump is wearing a typical black overcoat over his suit and a purple tie.
Credit: Reuters 
Credit: Reuters
