Holly Honderich
Reporting from Washington DC

For inauguration revellers arriving at Union Station, one of the first voices you’ll hear belongs to Steve Migliaccio.

“Trump hats! Trump shirts!” he shouts.

Migliaccio travelled from Rhode Island to sell his Trump merchandise, but he’s also come to celebrate the coming president.

“This is history in the making, it really is,” he says, adding he’s supported Trump for nearly 10 years, since he launched his 2016 campaign.

The mood so far has been “happy go lucky” Migliaccio says, despite the frigid cold. “It’s real uplifting,” he says.

Image source, Getty Images

General Mark Milley, former chairman of the Joint Chiefs, says he is "deeply grateful" for the pardon that President Biden granted him a short while ago.

Milley is an outspoken critic of Trump, and has said he was concerned about being called back into uniform and court-martialled by the Trump administration.

In a statement reacting to the pardon, Milley says after 43 years of serving the country, "I do not wish to spend whatever remaining time the Lord grants me fighting those who unjustly might seek retribution for perceived slights".

He adds he wants to save his family and friends from "the resulting distraction, expense, and anxiety".

"It has been an honor and a privilege to serve our great country in uniform for over four decades, and I will continue to keep faith and loyalty to our nation and Constitution until my dying breath," he adds.

Capitol police officer Harry Dunn, who received a pre-emptive pardon, also said he was "eternally grateful" to Biden.

"I wish this pardon weren’t necessary, but unfortunately, the political climate we are in now has made the need for one somewhat of a reality. I, like all other public servants, was just doing my job and upholding my oath. I will always honor that," he told CBS News, the BBC's US partner.

Trump's family has now arrived at the church, including Ivanka and Eric Trump and their families.

We're still waiting for Donald Trump and his wife Melania to arrive.

Image source, Reuters

Image source, Getty Images

Bernd Debusmann Jr
Reporting from the White House

Donald Trump plans to tell Americans that he hopes to usher in a "thrilling new era of national success", according to excerpts of his inauguration speech obtained by CBS, the BBC's US partner.

In his remarks, Trump is also expected to say that a "tide of change is sweeping the country".

He will also outline a "series of historic executive orders" to begin his presidency.

It has previously been reported that as approximately 200 executive actions might be signed today alone, including on immigration, the US-Mexico border and the economy.

"With these actions, we will begin the complete restoration of America and the revolution of common sense," he will add.

"My message to Americans today is that it is time for us to once again act with courage, vigour and the vitality of history's greatest civilisation".

Today's inauguration events are beginning with a service at St. John's Church, which lies a short walk away from the White House.

It's a tradition for the occasion and many former presidents have attended the service.

The service will begin at 08:30 local time (13:30 GMT), and a host of well-known faces have begun to arrive ahead of Donald Trump.

Image source, Reuters

Image source, Reuters

Image source, Reuters

We're now seeing some pictures coming in from the US capital, where crowds gathering ahead of Donald Trump's inauguration.

They're queuing outside the Capital One Arena, where the ceremony will take place, after freezing weather conditions forced the event indoors.

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Nada Tawfik
Reporting from Washington DC

Four years ago, Donald Trump left Washington unwilling to accept his election defeat, impeached twice and facing the prospect of criminal investigations.

He returns defiant and determined to reshape the country in his image after his extraordinary political comeback.

Donald Trump’s second inauguration will follow tradition – first a prayer service at St John’s Church then tea at the White House with the Bidens, before being driven with the outgoing president to his swearing in.

It’s the first time in 40 years that the ceremony won’t take place outdoors on the Capitol steps, due to the extreme cold.

A smaller audience of roughly 600 guests will witness him taking the oath of office inside the Capitol Rotunda.

Meanwhile, crowds of his supporters are already queuing to get into an arena that Trump will visit later. He has said the theme of his inaugural address will be unity and success.

Trump doesn’t plan on wasting any time in reversing the course of the country – he’s vowed to sign immediately a flurry of executive orders - directives that do not require congressional approval - to push through his agenda and to undo Joe Biden’s.

Bernd Debusmann Jr
Reporting from the White House

US President Joe Biden has issued pre-emptive pardons for several figures "threatened with criminal prosecutions", including Dr Anthony Fauci and former chairman of the Joint Chiefs Mark Milley.

In a statement, the White House says that the pre-emptive pardons are for officers that testified at the House Select Committee, as well as the committee's members and staff. The committee investigated the 6 January 2021 riot at the US Capitol and Trump's role in that day's events.

Fauci - who oversaw the US response to the Covid-19 pandemic - has been frequently criticised by Trump and his political allies.

Milley, for his part, has become an outspoken critic of Trump and referred to him as "a fascist to the core".

Now retired, Milley has previously said he was concerned about being called back into uniform and court-martialled by the Trump administration. He noted that Steve Bannon, a key Trump ally, has vowed to "hold him accountable."

"These public servants have served our nation with honour and distinction and do not deserve to be the targets of unjustified and politically motivated prosecutions," the White House statement says.

"The issuance of these pardons should not be mistaken as an acknowledgment that any individual engaged in any wrongdoing, nor should acceptance be misconstrued as an admission of guilt for any offence."

Bernd Debusmann Jr
Reporting from the White House

Image source, Getty Images

Today marks US President Joe Biden's last day at the White House, four years to the day since he took office after unseating Donald Trump in the 2020 election.

In the morning, Biden is scheduled to receive his daily briefing - a regular event that happens behind closed doors in which he receives the latest from the US intelligence community.

After that, he'll greet Donald and Melania Trump and host them for a tea and coffee reception in the Blue Room of the White House. The event will be closed to press.

Later on, the Trumps and Bidens will depart - together - to the US Capitol, where Biden will attend the swearing-in ceremony. Kamala Harris and her husband Doug Emhoff, as well as JD and Usha Vance, will also be there.

He will, officially, no longer be president at around noon.

Biden will leave Washington DC shortly thereafter, giving final remarks at a farewell event for staff members at Joint Base Andrews, the military base from where the president travels.

He will then fly to Vandenberg Space Force Base in California and then head to Santa Ynez, a small community in Santa Barbara County.

Biden, 82, has been quiet about any specific plans he has after his presidency ends - but has said repeatedly that he is not "going anywhere".

Caroline Hawley
Diplomatic correspondent in Washington DC

Sub-zero temperatures were never going to deter Donald Trump’s most ardent supporters today.

Outside a huge arena where he held a campaign-style victory rally yesterday, a long queue several people thick snakes along several blocks – all of them waiting for the chance to watch his inauguration on giant screens.

It’s dawn, and some have been here for several hours, wearing “Make America Great Again” hats.

Some people, I’ve been told, left the rally and joined the line straight away again – such is their enthusiasm.

One man just told us: “I love everything about him apart from his spray tan.”

Today marks the culmination of an extraordinary political comeback that has left his supporters triumphant, his opponents demoralised and afraid.

Here, where I am, there’s no whiff of opposition to his promise to carry out the “largest deportation in US history”, to slash environmental regulations, and roll-back transgender rights. They’re relishing his pledges and have been promised swift action.

A blizzard of new executive orders is expected later, as the new president seeks to reshape America - and the world.

Marita Moloney
Live editor

Image source, Getty Images

Dawn is just breaking in Washington DC, where the presidential transition of power will begin in a few hours.

If you're one of our US readers then welcome to our live coverage, where we've been building up to Donald Trump being sworn in as the 47th president just before 12:00 local time (17:00 GMT).

A day of ceremony, stage performances and formal balls awaits on what is set to be the coldest inauguration in 40 years.

Away from the freezing conditions is the blizzard of orders Trump has pledged to sign. He stated yesterday that "every radical and foolish executive order of the Biden administration will be repealed within hours of when I take the oath of office". More on what those orders could include is here.

In her analysis, our North America editor writes: "No-one can deny Trump, 78, has a clear mandate after his decisive election victory in November". She adds that today "marks the moment he starts being judged on action and not promises".

At a raucous rally on Sunday, Trump told supporters: "You're going to have a lot of fun watching television tomorrow."

We've got a dedicated stream on this page where you can watch live as all the action unfolds, plus we'll have correspondents braving the DC chill and across the US to bring you the latest through to the early hours. Stay with us here as we give you a front row seat to a historic day.

Faisal Islam
Economics editor

There is total blank here on the all-important tariff detail, in Davos, where I am, and where the world’s most influential financiers, business people and non-American leaders are gathering for the World Economic Forum. No one really knows what is actually going to be announced. The tech heavy stock exchange Nasdaq is hosting an Inauguration Watch Party.

But the uncertainty has already sent the dollar soaring, and US government borrowing costs up too, as markets bet that tariffs and massive tax cuts will see inflation climb, and see off the chances of further US interest rate cuts. This has a knock on effect all around the world, as we have seen in the UK this month.

Top officials are pondering if the Trump ally policy suggestions to, for example, withdraw from the IMF and World Bank, could really occur. In Davos there is a growing expectation that in his video address to the Forum on Thursday, President Trump will announce withdrawal from the World Health Organisation.

There is a distinct divide, however, between US executives’ message of ongoing, accelerating American growth, and the fears for the global economic system elsewhere. American executives expect to be doing deals, benefitting from massive tax cuts, Trump’s push for “energy dominance” and the close relationship between Big Tech and the new President.

Jordan Kenny
Newsbeat politics reporter in Las Vegas

Is an inauguration party really complete without a cardboard cut-out of the incoming President Trump?

“I actually am the one who brought it,” confesses 22-year-old Schayden Gorai, who helped organise this party in Las Vegas.

“We had an event for The Gays For Trump - we did a pool party and he was the cut-out.”

As a gay man with Hawaiian and Asian heritage, Schayden acknowledges he’s not quite what people expect from a Trump supporter, “but I think President Trump is the president and champion of everyday people”.

The 47th US president has pledged lots of changes, including banning support for schools and businesses with diversity policies to support minorities but for Schayden, Trump’s promises when it comes to the economy override any concerns.

“For people our age, the direction this country is going in is very concerning,” he tells Newsbeat.

“Are we ever going to be able to afford our own home to build a family?

“He's not going to make the economy great again for half the country that voted for him. We're going to make the economy great again for all Americans.”

Faisal Islam
Economics editor

It is going to be a very consequential day for the world economy.

The tariff policies announced today by President Trump will not just affect the countries targeted for extra taxes on their imports. Canada, Mexico, and China are all expected to face new charges on their trade.

It is still possible that the incoming president could indicate a general tariff on every import coming into his country as part of the establishment of an External Revenue Service.

The talk from the US is of an attempt to replace a large chunk of the federal income taxes raised within the US, with as much as a trillion dollars worth of these trade taxes. We will begin to get some of the detail in the first wave of executive orders released today.

As important as what the US does is how the rest of the world - friend and foe - responds. Canada, for example, has already announced it will retaliate, as the US will have started a trade war, in its eyes. Trump’s message is aimed squarely at his own country, but the markets and the rest of the world are on tenterhooks.

Close the border, deport illegal immigrants and put faith back in schools. Americans who voted to put Donald Trump back in the White House have lots of thoughts on what they want him to do as soon as he is sworn in as president today.

Thousands of his biggest supporters have travelled from across the country for the inauguration and the BBC spoke to them outside his victory rally in Washington DC on Sunday.

Bernd Debusmann Jr
Reporting from the White House

Image source, Bernd Debusmann Jr/BBC News

Good morning from the White House - which is already buzzing with activity in the pre-dawn hours of inauguration day.

Getting here was itself an unusual experience. I took the first train into the area at 05:00 EST (10:00 GMT) this morning, and it was packed, shoulder-to-shoulder, with Trump supporters headed downtown for today's events.

Many were wearing the now-famous red "Make America Great Again" hats - a sight that, outside of tourist areas, is relatively rare in a city where about 92% of voters cast their ballots for Kamala Harris.

When one gets past the two layers of security screenings put in place today, there are already several dozen reporters here, doing live shots outside in the freezing cold, checking equipment or clacking away on keyboards.

Donald Trump is staying across the street at the President's guest house, also known as Blair House. At about 08:00 EST (13:00 GMT), he'll head to a nearby church, St John's, for a church service.

After that, he'll head over to the White House where Joe and Jill Biden will host Trump and his wife Melania for tea, before he heads to the US Capitol.

He's not expected back here until after the evening's inaugural balls.

Mike Wendling
Reporting from Washington DC

In a word, yes.

Hundreds of the rioters who stormed the Capitol hoping to keep Trump in the White House in 2021 were charged with misdemeanours and have no restrictions on their travel.

And a number have said they will be in Washington today.

One of the rioters told me he knows several “J6ers” - the term the rioters like to use for themselves - who will “definitely” be in attendance.

Some of the rioters were convicted of more serious crimes which include travel restrictions after their prison sentences are completed.

At least half a dozen have successfully applied for permission to come to the inauguration – although other judges have rejected travel requests.

There are bigger questions hanging in the chilly air over DC today – who will Trump pardon, and when? He’s pledged that absolving the rioters will be a “day one” priority.

Will it really? And will that include rioters who got violent and assaulted police officers? How about the ringleaders – those who led far-right groups like the Oath Keepers and Proud Boys to the Capitol, and who got some of the longest sentences?

Trump’s vice-president JD Vance seemed to indicate last week that there wouldn’t be a blanket pardon for everyone involved, particularly those who were violent.

But that did not sit well with the hardcore Maga faithful, many of whom want all records cleared.

Nearly 1,600 people have been charged with crimes related to the riot. Who gets pardoned and who does not is still a very open question.

Image source, Getty Images

Ana Faguy
Reporting from Washington DC

Local and federal officials are expecting about 200,000 people to show up in Washington DC, a number which could include both Trump's supporters and protesters.

Many US senators and representatives will attend, as well as guests of the incoming administration.

After Trump, incoming Vice-President JD Vance and their families, the next most important attendees are the outgoing president and vice-president.

This means we'll see President Joe Biden, and Vice-President Kamala Harris - who lost the November election to Trump - alongside their respective spouses Jill Biden and Doug Emhoff.

Former presidents and their spouses are often on the guest list, but former First Lady Michelle Obama will skip this year's inauguration, according to her office.

In addition to the former presidents, billionaire tech chiefs Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos and Mark Zuckerberg are expected to attend the ceremony, US media report.

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

The Wall Street Journal reports this morning that the incoming president will call for a "revolution of common sense" in his inaugural address later today.

The US-based newspaper says it has seen a copy of Trump's expected remarks, and reports that he will welcome "a thrilling new era of national success" during his speech.

According to the WSJ, the speech will be more optimistic than his 2017 address, with Trump expected to emphasise the "vitality of history's greatest civilisation".

Caitlin Wilson
Reporting from Washington DC

Though Washington DC is home to the US federal government’s operations for Americans of every political persuasion, the permanent residents of this city overwhelmingly support the Democrats.

The capital city's mayors have all been Democrats since the job was created in the 1970s, and more than 80% of DC voters have chosen Democrats since the 1960s.

In November’s election, more than 90% of voters in the city ticked their ballots for Kamala Harris, while just 6% chose Donald Trump.

That means that every few years, Democratic DC residents are joined in their city by a president, administration and political appointees with whom they vehemently disagree - and many of those residents could lose their jobs as the politics of the federal government flip.

That tension can ramp up during inauguration weekend, when hundreds of thousands of a new president’s fans visit to party and revel in their candidate’s victory.

With the District’s public schools and many workplaces closed for Monday’s events anyway, some Washingtonian Democrats have chosen to leave town for the long weekend, hoping to avoid an influx of ardent Trump-supporting tourists.

For those who are sticking around and tourists alike, some bars and restaurants are offering inauguration food and drink specials, such as the “$47 for 47” meal and “Dry January, Wet Inauguration” cocktail deal.

Image source, Getty Images