Bernd Debusmann Jr
Reporting from the White House

Image source, Bernd Debusmann Jr/BBC News

Meanwhile, inside the White House, there's an energetic vibe taking over as dozens of reporters are busily working away as the Trump team begins moving in.

The briefing room in which the White House Press Secretary traditionally gives their briefings is currently packed, both by deskless reporters filing stories and by journalists filming themselves while hoping to avoid the still frigid temperatures outside.

When I arrived this morning, the walls of the White House's press area was still adorned with photographer's images of the Biden administration.

Those were slowly taken down over the course of the morning.

Now, they're slowly being replaced with images taken during the last Trump administration between 2017 and January 2021.

New White House staffers have also started to trickle in, and desks that sat empty this morning now have cardboard boxes.

The rest of the White House is similarly busy, and reporters have seen moving crews moving in and out of the West Wing of the White House - where Trump has reportedly brought back the "Reagan rug" he used in his first administration.

The press area will remain extremely busy for the rest of the week, I imagine, as reporters from around the world flock to meet the new team and begin building, or rebuilding, administration sources.

Image source, Bernd Debusmann Jr/BBC News

Bernd Debusmann Jr
Reporting from the White House

Image source, Bernd Debusmann Jr/BBC News

Flags at the White House are now at full-mast again, just weeks after then-President Joe Biden ordered that they be brought to half-mast after news of former President Jimmy Carter's death.

In a statement posted on the website of the Trump White House, the President said that the flags have been raised "in honour of Inauguration Day and everything good and noble it represents about our nation, our people and our form of government".

The same is true of the US Capitol, where the Speaker of the House, Republican Mike Johnson, said that the flags will return to full-staff "to celebrate our country coming together behind the inauguration of our 47th President, Donald Trump".

The White House and Capitol flags will be lowered again tomorrow to honour Carter's legacy.

Image source, Getty Images

There are some images of Trump's swearing in going viral right now that show the president's hand not planted on the Bible.

It's a tradition that most presidents place their hands on the Bible, but in terms of getting sworn-in, it seems the practise doesn't matter.

Members of Congress, members of state legislatures, and executive and judicial officers are bound "by oath or affirmation" to support the Constitution, Article VI, Clause 3 of the Constitution says.

It's the words themselves - not the act of putting one's hand on the Bible - that confirms someone's appointment to office.

Regan Morris
BBC News

On another street in Washington - this one outside DC's Central Jail - there's a sign that reads: “Pardon all J6 hostages Day One."

There’s a lot of excitement outside the jail as friends and family of people locked up for rioting on 6 January 2021 await possible pardons from President Donald Trump (something he alluded to not long ago).

James Charles Phillips - carrying a ram’s horn he uses to call to prayer - broke down in tears when he was told that some US outlets had reported that all J6 inmates would be pardoned and released today, quoting unidentified sources.

That has not been confirmed, but it did lift the mood of the small crowd waiting outside the jail.

"That could be me. I was there on January 6,” Phillips says. A former US Marine, he says it’s “tyranny” how the J6 rioters have been charged.

Ione Wells
Reporting from Capital One Arena

Meanwhile, just outside the doors to the Capital One Arena, it appears a lot of people were willing to sacrifice their bags to get inside (which weren’t allowed in).

People on the streets have been going around scooping about the dozens of abandoned handbags.

Gary O'Donoghue
Senior North America correspondent, reporting from Capital One arena

Image source, Getty Images

The crowd at the Capital One arena got some of the potential stars of the new administration by way of warm up to Donald Trump.

Biggest of all was Elon Musk - a man whose influence has perhaps been more than any other in the past months.

He was not short on hyperbole - "A fork in the road in human civilisation" was how he described this moment and Trump's victory.

Thanks to Trump's supporters, he said, the future of civilisation was now assured.

Safe cities, secure borders and sensible spending would also, Musk said, be taken to Mars.

He was followed by Trump's nominee for FBI Director, Kash Patel.

Patel struck a more traditional note - focusing on crime and avoiding any mention of retribution or revenge against Donald Trump's adversaries.

There was some expectation that the new border tsar, Tom Homan, would make an appearance, but so far he's not showed - busy perhaps rearranging those Chicago deportation raids that were leaked over the weekend.

President Donald Trump's motorcade is now getting ready to head to the Capital One Arena in downtown Washington, DC.

The president is expected to give remarks at a parade in the arena, where his supporters have been avidly waiting to see him speak.

Elon Musk and Kash Patel are some of the speakers to have already graced the stage at the stadium - some more details about their appearances in our next post. Stick with us.

Image source, Getty Images

We're only a few hours into the new Trump administration, and we're already learning of some key figures being moved around.

Vivek Ramaswamy will leave the Department of Government Efficiency (Doge) to run for governor in his home state of Ohio, according to the BBC's US partner CBS News.

Trump had named Ramaswamy to co-lead Doge with Tesla CEO Elon Musk.

Sources close to Musk say his team was growing frustrated with Ramaswamy's lack of participation in their new department. The sources said there was tension between Doge staff and Ramaswamy, CBS News reported.

Ramaswamy - who is attending Trump's inauguration in Washington, DC - had met with Ohio's governor, Mike DeWine, about the open Ohio Senate seat after JD Vance became vice-president. But DeWine announced last week he was appointing his lieutenant governor for the seat.

• More:What we know about Doge, Elon Musk's cost-cutting mission

Are US ships using Panama Canal being overcharged and treated unfairly?published at 20:32 Greenwich Mean Time 20 January

20:32 GMT 20 January

By Jake Horton

Some more now on Trump's Panama Canal comments from earlier.

The president claimed that “American ships are being severely overcharged and not treated fairly" when using the waterway linking the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.

Ships passing through the canal are charged according to their size and contents, not country of origin.

The Neutrality Treaty signed between the US and Panama in 1977 guarantees fair access for all nations and non-discriminatory tolls.

The canal was built in the early 1900s by the US, who maintained control over it until 1977, when it was gradually ceded back to Panama.

After a period of joint operation, Panama took sole control in 1999.

President Trump said at his inauguration that the canal had “foolishly” been given to Panama by the US.

Will Grant
BBC News, Mexico, Central America and Cuba Correspondent

Earlier, Trump called the Panama Canal a “foolish gift” to Panama and repeated his pledge to do something about it. “We’re taking it back,” he warned.

Unsurprisingly the Panamanian president, Jose Raul Mulino, has “roundly rejected” Trump’s suggestion that the US will take back control of the Panama Canal in his inauguration speech.

Mulino says “the Canal is, and will continue to be, Panama’s".

Image source, Getty Images

The Trump administration says it will pull the US out from the Paris climate agreement - a pact signed by almost every country to reduce emissions and keep the increase in global average temperature below pre-industrial levels.

This marks the second time the US has pulled out of the 2015 agreement. It did so once before under Trump's first term, though that was reversed by the Biden presidency in 2021.

The withdrawal means the US will join Iran, Libya and Yemen as the only countries in the world outside the pact.

The announcement was made in a document shared by the White House on Monday afternoon following Trump's inauguration.

Trump has repeatedly signalled on the campaign trail that he wants to ramp up oil and gas drilling and production in the US - a promise he made once again during his inaugural speech on Monday.

The US is already the world's top producer of oil, behind Saudi Arabia and Russia.

• For context: In 2015, nearly 200 countries pledged to try and prevent global temperatures rising by more than 1.5C above those of the late 19th Century - known as "pre-industrial" levels

Image source, EPA

Our eyes now turn to the Capital One Arena in downtown Washington, DC, where President Donald Trump will travel to shortly to greet his supporters at a parade in the stadium.

The place has gone wild for Elon Musk and Kash Patel, who are already at the arena, with the crowd applauding every time they are shown on screen.

First to speak on stage is an animated Elon Musk, who says Trump's win is "no ordinary victory, this was a fork in the road of human civilisation" - adding "this one really mattered".

He thanks supporters for "making it happen", saying the "future of civilisation is assured".

He says now there will be safe cities, secure borders, sensible spending, "and we're gonna take Doge to Mars."

Kash Patel, Trump's pick for FBI director, is next up.

He says: "We are at a crossroads here in America, but our future is bright".

Did 'many' illegal migrants from prison enter the US?published at 20:03 Greenwich Mean Time 20 January

20:03 GMT 20 January

By Lucy Gilder

During his speech we heard Trump claim “dangerous criminals, many from prisons and mental institutions… have illegally entered our country from all over the world".

Limited data is held by US agencies on the number of illegal migrants with criminal records, and there are no official records on how many have spent time in prisons or mental institutions.

Trump had made this claim repeatedly but has not provided evidence for it.

In the last financial year (October 2023 to September 2024), US Border Patrol arrested more than a million illegal migrants.

Where officials were able to check against law enforcement databases, they found that just over 17,000 had previous criminal convictions.

'Only two genders' - Trump signals end to pro-trans policiespublished at 19:56 Greenwich Mean Time 20 January

19:56 GMT 20 January

Anthony Zurcher
North America correspondent

Donald Trump took a moment during his inaugural address to weigh in on one of the more contentious cultural battles in the US today.

He said that it would be the “official policy” of the US government that there are only two genders - male and female.

During last year’s presidential campaign, Trump frequently condemned policies that allow transgender athletes to compete in women’s sport and increased civil rights protections for transgender individuals.

One of his more effective political adverts hit his opponent Kamala Harris for her past support of gender-affirming care for federal prisoners.

The incoming Trump administration is likely to take steps to require federal documents, including passports, to reflect gender assigned at birth and to end all government funding for gender-reassignment surgery.

Trump strikes dark tone as he begins second presidencypublished at 19:47 Greenwich Mean Time 20 January

19:47 GMT 20 January

Courtney Subramanian
Reporting from Washington DC

Donald Trump's speech echoed the dark "American carnage" remarks he delivered when he took office eight years ago.

He abandoned the lofty themes of bipartisanship and unity that presidents typically invoke during an inaugural address and instead deployed themes from his campaign, listing a number of personal grievances and attacking the federal government

Joe Biden listened on a few a feet away, at times with his head bowed.

Trump called his election a reversal of a "horrible betrayal" and proclaimed "America's decline is over".

He also set out his own policy priorities, including on immigration and energy production.

We expect him to begin implementing that agenda in the coming hours, potentially signing 100 executive orders today alone.

Image source, Getty Images

In the last few hours we've seen members of the far-right Proud Boys group parading around the streets of Washington.

They were seen wearing their signature black and yellow shirts and carrying pro-Trump signs.

Dozens of members of the group have been imprisoned for their involvement in the 6 January riot at the US Capitol.

As we've been reporting, Trump is poised to issue pardons for those convicted of taking part in the violence.

Rachel Looker
Reporting from Capitol Hill

Image source, ge

President Trump has officially been sworn in as the 47th president of the United States but today's events are from over.

We've just seen Trump signing the first official documents of his second presidency surrounded by congressional leaders, with more to come later.

Here's what else we're expecting over the coming hours:

• Lunch for guests: A formal lunch is being held in Statuary Hall now, where Trump will dine with his allies and supporters
• Parade: A modified inauguration parade will be held around the Capital One Arena, which Trump will attend
• Signing ceremony: Trump is expected to sign executive orders at the White House later this afternoon
• Inaugural balls: Three balls will take place this evening - the Liberty Ball, Commander in Chief Ball and Union Station Ball

We're expecting more political fallout and announcements as the day goes on too. Stay with us.

Image source, Getty Images

After a flurry of activity and speeches, the pace of today's event will slow a little now as guests sit down for a lavish lunch. Here's what's on the menu:

First Course

• Chesapeake Crab Cake with tomato tartar, bay sauce, pickled vegetables, romanesco, dill, and chive oil
• Chardonnay, Veritas Vineyards ‘Reserve,’ Monticello, Virginia

Second Course

• Greater Omaha Angus Ribeye Steak with Thumbelina carrots, broccoli rabe, carrot top herb sauce, red wine truffle jus, and potato gratin
• Cabernet Sauvignon, Mount Veeder, Napa Valley, California

Third Course

• Minnesota Apple Ice Box Terrine with sour cream ice cream and salted caramel
• Korbel Russian River Valley Natural, Sonoma County, California

The inauguration guests might be having a break but we're not - stay tuned for more updates and analysis as the second Trump administration whirs into life.

Image source, Getty Images

Joe Biden has just delivered a very brief farewell address at Joint Base Andrews - his first as a former president - before he and Jill Biden fly to California.

He said Trump's inaugural address had shown "we have a lot more to do" and attempted to rally supporters to political action.

"We're leaving the office but we're not leaving the fray," Biden went on, and encouraged Americans to stay engaged and take care of each other.