Trump sworn in for a second term, promising sweeping change
Donald Trump returned to the White House in an inauguration held indoors because of bitter cold, vowing rapid action on immigration, trade and the federal government.
Donald Trump was sworn in as the 47th president of the United States on Monday, returning to power four years after leaving office and promising a sweeping overhaul of government, immigration and trade in an inaugural address heavy with grievance and ambition.
The ceremony was moved indoors to the Capitol Rotunda because of dangerously cold weather in Washington, a rare change that limited the crowds. Trump took the oath alongside Vice-President JD Vance and declared the start of what he called a new "golden age" for the country, pledging to act decisively from his first day.
Within hours he began signing a flurry of executive orders, moving to tighten border security, roll back policies of his predecessor and reshape the federal workforce. He had campaigned on promises to curb immigration, impose tariffs, cut regulation and reduce the size of government, and he signalled he intended to move quickly on all fronts.
His return marked one of the most remarkable comebacks in American political history, following an election loss, criminal cases and an attempt on his life. Supporters celebrated a vindication; critics warned of the implications for institutions and the rule of law.
World leaders watched closely, bracing for a renewed era of "America First" policies that promised to test alliances and unsettle the global economy. The scale and speed of the changes Trump promised ensured that his second term would begin at a breakneck pace.