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Trump declares border, energy emergencies after sworn in as 47th president

By Joe Fisher & Allen Cone
U.S. President Donald Trump takes oath on the day of his presidential Inauguration at the Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., on Monday. Pool photo by Kevin Lamarque/UPI
1 of 16 | U.S. President Donald Trump takes oath on the day of his presidential Inauguration at the Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., on Monday. Pool photo by Kevin Lamarque/UPI | License Photo

Jan. 20 (UPI) -- Donald Trump became the 47th president of the United States in Washington, D.C., on Monday, and right away announced a series of changes, including declaring national emergencies at the southern border and energy.

Trump, after being sworn in as president for the second time shortly after noon, declared a "golden age of America begins right now." That includes signing a slate of executive orders.

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He spoke for 30 minutes, nearly twice as long as 2021, from the Capitol Rotunda where four years earlier a mob of Trump supporters violently attempted to prevent the certification of Joe Biden as the 46th president.

"All illegal entry will immediately be halted and we will begin the process of returning millions and millions of criminal aliens back to the places from which they came," Trump said. "We will reinstate my 'remain in Mexico' policy. I will end the practice of catch and release and I will send troops to the southern border to repel the disastrous invasion of our country."

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Trump also said the U.S. government will take the official position that there are "only two genders: male and female."

Trump took the oath, administered by Chief Justice John Roberts, at 12:05 p.m. EST. His children and wife stood by with Biden and Harris looking on. He acknowledged the living former presidents in attendance before announcing immediate changes.

"The vicious, violent weaponization of our Justice Department will end," Trump said. "Our top priority will be to create a nation that is proud, prosperous and free. America will soon be greater, stronger and far more exceptional than ever before. I return to the presidency confident and optimistic that we are at the start of a thrilling new era of national success. A tide of change is sweeping the country."

Trump said his life was saved, during the failed assassination attempt against him, so he could "make America great again."

"That is why each day under our administration of American patriots, we will be working to meet every crisis with dignity and power and strength," Trump said. "For American citizens, Jan. 20th, 2025, is liberation day."

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He claimed that the election was a signal that Americans are unifying behind him.

Trump claimed credit for the cease-fire agreement between Israel and Hamas that was forged before he took office. He reiterated his plans to rename the Gulf of Mexico the "Gulf of America" and to seize control of the Panama Canal, repeating an unfounded claim that China is operating the canal.

Before the ceremony

On Monday morning, Trump and his attended a special service at St. John's Episcopal Church.

At the White House, President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden greeted Trump and his wife, Melania, as they arrived there.

Vice President Kamala Harris and Vice President-elect J.D. Vance also greeted each other.

"Welcome home," Biden told the Trumps as they arrived at the White House.

Inside the Executive Mansion, they participated in a tea.

They then left for the Capitol in a motorcade.

Ceremony

The 60th inauguration ceremony began at 11:45 a.m. EST at the Capitol Rotunda and ended shortly before 1 p.m.

Beginning the ceremony, former Vice Presidents Dan Quayle and Mike Pence were introduced. Karen Pence was not in attendance. Former President Clinton and former presidential nominee Hilary Clinton were introduced and escorted to their seats next, followed by former President Bush and former first lady Laura Bush and former President Obama.

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Members of the U.S. Supreme Court were introduced next.

First lady Jill Biden and second gentleman Doug Emhoff were introduced together. President Biden and Vice President Harris entered the Rotunda after first lady Melania Trump and second lady Usha Vance were introduced.

The Armed Forces Chorus performed Oh America with singer Christopher Macchio. Country singer Carrie Underwood sang America the Beautiful a cappella after a technical issue with her background music from Armed Forces Choir and United States Naval Academy Glee Club.

Sen. Amy Klobuchar, chair of the inaugural ceremony committee, delivered the first speech during the inaugural ceremony. She noted that inauguration day, always held on Jan. 20, falls on Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

"A further reminder we must strive to uphold the values enshrined in our Constitution," Klobuchar said. "Equal justice under law."

Archbishop Timothy Dolan and Rev. Franklin Graham delivered the ceremony's invocation. Dolan evoked the history of the United States from first President George Washington to the birth of King.

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Associate Justice Brett Kavanaugh administered the Vance's oath of office with Vance's wife and son at his side.

Location and attendees

The inauguration ceremony was not held at its usual location at the National Mall due to cold weather.

The National Mall is across Constitution Ave. NW, where Trump, as the 45th president, held a "Stop the Steal" rally on Jan. 6, 2021. Following the rally, Trump supporters marched to the U.S. Capitol Building and rioted, interrupting the certification of the election temporarily. More than 1,200 people were indicted.

The move to the Rotunda, with about 800 seats, has prompted many would-be attendees who traveled to Washington for the event to watch at other locations, including the Capital One Arena. Many lawmakers from both sides of the political aisle were in attendance as are many of Trump's nominees for cabinet positions.

Billionaire donors Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg, Jeff Bezos and Tim Cook are also in attendance with seats close to the swearing in. They arrived through the west door of the Rotunda where cabinet nominees also arrived.

Former Presidents Barack Obama, George W. Bush and Bill Clinton also was in attendance.

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Trump was not at the inauguration for Biden four years ago.

After the ceremony

The Trumps watched the Bidens depart on Nighthawk 46, which is called Marine One when a president is onboard. The helicopter went to Joint Base Andrews to board a presidential aircraft, that is part of the Air Force One fleet, but since he is no longer the president, will be termed "Special Air Mission."

Trump then spoke for about 30 minutes at an overflow group of about 1,200 people at Emancipation Hall. During the unscripted remarks including repeating the 2020 presidential elections was "rigged" and plans to pardon some participants in the Jan. 6 intrusion.

Selected guests then attended a luncheon at Statuary Hall in the Capitol. Afterward, Trump participated in a military honors ceremony, also in the Capitol.

At about 5 p.m. EST, Trump departed the U.S. Capitol to Capital One Arena to address supporters at a rally.

Scenes from Donald Trump's presidential inauguration

Left to right, first lady Jill Biden and President Joe Biden welcome newly-elected President Donald Trump and his wife Melania Trump to the North Portico of the White House on the morning of Trump's inauguration in Washington on January 20, 2025. Pool photo by Jim Lo Scalzo/UPI | License Photo

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