Nadine Yousif
BBC News

Image source, Reuters

When Trump won his first presidency in 2016, Melania was initially absent from the White House, instead staying in New York with their son Barron.

Born Melanija Knavs, the 54-year-old Slovenian-American former fashion model eventually traded a glamorous life in the gilded walls of Manhattan’s Trump Tower for the confines of political life that came with the Oval Office.

Described by some as an “enigma”, she has preferred to be less public than her predecessors.

She avoided the spotlight in recent years as her husband challenged several legal cases against him and campaigned for a second term.

But she has appeared on key occasions, like when her husband announced in late 2022 that he would be running again.

A day after Trump’s 2024 victory, she posted a brief message vowing she and her husband would safeguard freedom. Some experts say it suggests a shift in her approach to the largely undefined role of being America’s First Lady.

Azadeh Moshiri and Usman Zahid
Pakistan correspondent and senior producer

There’s one man here in Pakistan who has been capitalising on Donald Trump’s star power: Saleem Bagga. He’s a street vendor who some believe has a striking resemblance to the soon to be president of the United States.

This apparent likeness attracts crowds in eastern Punjab, and they get more than just a selfie. He sings to them as he sells them his kheer, a type of rice pudding.

We managed to get in touch with him and he sent us a video serenade ahead of Inauguration Day: “VIP Donald Trump pudding, it’s with butter and milk. It’s ice cream with milk and cream, VIP Donald Trump ice cream with milk.”

He also has a proposal for Trump: "My wish is that Donald Trump would invite me to the US…I would be really delighted to visit him and see him.”

If you're reading this page, you're probably aware that in a few hours Donald Trump's inauguration day will begin in Washington DC.

Are you planning to watch the inauguration or travel to the US Capitol? We want to hear from you.

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TikTok resumed services to its 170 million users in the US after President-elect Donald Trump said he would issue an executive order to give the app a reprieve when he takes office today.

On Saturday evening, the Chinese-owned app stopped working for American users, after a law banning it on national security grounds came into effect.

Trump, who had previously backed a ban of the platform, promised yesterday to delay implementation of the law and allow more time for a deal to be made.

TikTok then said that it was in the process of "restoring service". Soon after, the app started working again and a popup message to its millions of users thanked Trump by name.

In a statement, the company thanked the incoming president for "providing the necessary clarity and assurance" and said it would work with Trump "on a long-term solution that keeps TikTok in the United States".

TikTok CEO Shou Chew is expected to attend Trump's inauguration today.

There is typically high demand to watch the inauguration in person, and tickets are highly prized.

Members of Congress receive a certain number of tickets to the ceremony, which they can distribute to their constituents.

If you're not able to attend in person, there are plenty of ways to watch remotely.

The BBC will cover it live on our news channel, and you can follow the build-up at the top of this page - just click watch live.

Helen Willetts
BBC Weather

A huge change in the weather is under way in the US. Following a few milder days to end last week, an Arctic blast is driving south and will affect the entire North American continent.

Indeed, with the wind chill it will become dangerously cold – and the arctic blast is likely to last several days and nights, it could be potentially record breaking.

For the south, Texas and southern Gulf states there is also the chance of disruptive snow and freezing rain from today too. This weather system will track eastwards over the coming few days.

As for Washington DC today, the forecast maximum temperature is -4C (that’s 25F) but add on the wind chill with gusts to around 30mph and it will feel closer to -13C (9F).

This makes it the coldest inauguration since 1985, which was the coldest on record, when the high was only -8C (17F) and the midday temperature just -14C (7F).

Although there has been snow over the weekend, the day ahead is expected to be dry with sunny spells.

Trump looks to remake America with sweeping second actpublished at 07:55 Greenwich Mean Time

07:55 GMT

Sarah Smith
North America editor, in Washington DC

Every new president begins a fresh chapter in American history. And when Donald Trump is inaugurated in a frigid Washington DC today, he will be hoping to usher in a new era for this country.

The ceremony in the rotunda of the US Capitol, moved indoors for the first time in decades due to the bitter cold, will also mark the moment he starts being judged on action and not promises.

And he has promised seismic change as well as action on day one. At a raucous rally in the city on Sunday, Trump said he would sign a flurry of executive orders within moments of being inaugurated, covering issues ranging from immigration and deportations to the environment and transgender rights.

But even if his presidency begins with a serious bang, there are still questions about what Trump's second act will look like.

Will we feel the tectonic plates of power shift beneath our feet as he re-enters the White House? Can he deliver his pledged sweeping reforms? Will it be as apocalyptic as his opponents suggest?

• Read more of Sarah Smith's analysis here

The inauguration takes place at the US Capitol in Washington DC today and both Donald Trump and his Vice-President JD Vance will take part in swearing-in ceremonies at 12:00 local time (17:00 GMT), where they take the oath of office.

The newly-elected president then gives what is known as the inaugural address - their first speech to the nation since officially taking office.

Trump’s “American carnage” speech at his 2017 inauguration was about 17 minutes in length.

The president then heads inside the Capitol where they will sign off on their first official actions.

They’ll then eat an inaugural luncheon, before heading out to review troops from the Capitol steps, and leading them in a procession.

Trump is expected to sign more than 200 executive actions today. This would include executive orders, which are legally-binding, and other presidential directives like proclamations, which are usually not.

An executive order is a written order issued by the president to the federal government which does not require congressional approval.

In other words, they are one of the ways presidents can implement policy changes without having to get lawmakers to vote for them.

But executive orders have to work within the confines of the law, and can be subject to legal review.

Trump signed 220 executive orders in his first term, some of which were challenged in the courts.

Biden issued 160 executive orders, and Obama and Bush, who both served two consecutive terms, issued 277 and 291 respectively.

Image source, Reuters

The Americast team are in Washington DC ahead of Donald Trump’s inauguration today and they’ve recorded an episode after he spoke at a rally in front of thousands of supporters in Washington DC.

Justin, Sarah and Marianna assess how Trump will try to use executive orders to push through his agenda and what obstacles could stand in his way.

• You can listen to that episode in full here

Regan Morris
Reporting from Washington DC

For 902 nights, supporters of those convicted of participating in the 6 January 2021 US Capitol riots have gathered outside a DC jail to hold a vigil and show support to the inmates inside.

On the eve of Donald Trump’s inauguration, they were hopeful that pardons could be coming their way in a matter of hours.

“This could be our last night,” says Nicole Reffitt, whose husband is serving a nearly seven-year sentence for his role in the riots, which aimed to overturn the results of the 2020 election.

A crowd of about 40 people gathered outside the DC Central Detention Facility danced and hugged and broadcast phone calls with the inmates via speakerphone to the crowd.

“Your son is going to be coming home very soon and thank you for everything that you’ve done,” inmate Dominic Box says in a phone call to the crowd. He was found guilty in October of violent entry and disorderly conduct.

President-elect Trump has promised “major pardons” for those convicted of their participation in the 6 January attacks and he’s referred to many of the more than 1,200 convicted as “political prisoners.” But he has not stipulated who exactly might be pardoned.

Mimi Yu was outside the jail decked head to toe in MAGA gear. She travelled to Washington from Toronto with a crowd waving a “Canadians for Trump” flag.

“I love Donald Trump. I love America. Sometimes I forget I’m Canadian,” she says.

Many object to the possible pardons. Police officer Michael Fanone was brutally attacked that day, beaten and tasered and restrained. He suffered a brain injury and a heart attack. After he testified in the 6 January hearings, he and his family received death threats.

“These are individuals who committed acts of violence, for a political purpose,” he tells the BBC. “So what Donald Trump is saying is that listen if you commit acts of violence on my behalf, I’ll give you a pass.”

Trump has claimed some credit for the ceasefire deal agreed between Israel and Hamas last week.

"This epic ceasefire agreement could have only happened as a result of our historic victory in November," the incoming president wrote on social media following the agreement.

He was one of the first to say that the agreement was reached - and signalled in the lead up to the inauguration that he wanted to see a ceasefire agreed before taking office.

In December, Trump issued an apparent warning to Hamas to agree to a deal, writing: "There will be all hell to pay in the Middle East … Those responsible will be hit harder than anybody has been hit in the long and storied history of the United States of America."

Speaking to NBC News, Trump said Saturday that the deal "better hold".

• We've got a separate live page on the Israel-Hamas ceasefire, which you can follow throughout the day here

Image source, Reuters

As we reported in our previous posts, Donald Trump promised to sign a blitz of executive orders on his first day as president, telling supporters that he would move with "historic speed and strength" in the hours after taking the oath of office.

Here’s what could be towards the top of his to-do list:

• Immigration - The president-elect has vowed to end automatic citizenship for anyone born in the US, although that move could face significant hurdles. His press secretary has previously said Trump plans on launching “the largest mass deportation of illegal immigrants in American history” on day one
• 6 January pardons - Trump says his administration will “look at independent cases” but has vowed to pardon those involved in the 2021 Capitol riot
• Paris climate agreement - During his last time in office, Trump walked away from the major climate deal. The US was later readmitted under Joe Biden, but reports suggest he is looking at withdrawing again when he takes office. It would mean the US is no longer beholden to meeting carbon emission reduction targets
• Russia and Ukraine - On the campaign trail, Trump said he could end the war in Ukraine “in a day”, and he has since said Ukraine should “probably” expect less aid when he returns to the White House

Merlyn Thomas
Reporting from the rally in Washington DC

Image source, Reuters

“We won”. Those were the first words of a triumphant Donald Trump as he addressed a sports arena packed with his supporters yesterday.

He said his swearing in ceremony on Monday would end what he called “four long years of American decline” and bring “a brand new day of American strength, prosperity and pride”.

He told the crowds he planned to sign a host of executive orders on his first day in office. Immigration was a major theme - he promised to crack down on undocumented migrants. After the president-elect’s speech, he was joined on stage by the Village People, who sang the MAGA anthem YMCA.

His close ally, the billionaire Elon Musk, also joined him briefly, promising America would be made great again. During the day Trump and Vice-President-elect JD Vance took part in a wreath laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery.

Image source, Reuters

Rachel Looker and Sumi Somaskanda
Reporting from Washington DC

Ahead of his return to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, President-elect Donald Trump addressed a raucous crowd of thousands in a Washington DC arena for a "Victory Rally" in which he offered a preview of the next four years.

The Republican promised to act unilaterally on a wide array of issues, using his presidential powers to launch mass deportation operations, slash environmental regulations and end diversity programmes.

He is expected to sign more than 200 executive actions today. This would include executive orders, which are legally-binding, and other presidential directives like proclamations, which are usually not.

"Every radical and foolish executive order of the Biden administration will be repealed within hours of when I take the oath of office," the incoming president said.

Trump promised executive orders that would ramp up artificial intelligence programmes, form the Department of Government Efficiency (Doge), make records available related to the assassination of John F Kennedy in 1963, direct the military to create an Iron Dome missile defence shield and eliminate diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) policies from the military.

• You can read more on this story here

Ana Faguy
Reporting from Washington DC

Donald Trump's inauguration day will kick off with a service at St John's Church, Lafayette Square, a historic Washington DC church, followed by tea at the White House.

Musical performances and opening remarks are set to begin on the main event stage - located on the West Lawn of the US Capitol building - at 09:30 EST (14:30 GMT). That will be followed by:

• The swearing-in of Trump and Vance as well as the inaugural address in which the president will set out his goals for the next four years
• Trump will then head inside to the President's Room - near the Senate chamber - to sign key documents
• He will then attend a lunch hosted by the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies
• This is followed by a parade that goes from the Capitol building down Pennsylvania Avenue to the White House
• Later in the evening, Trump will appear at three inaugural balls throughout the city - the Commander-in-Chief Ball, the Liberty Inaugural Ball and the Starlight Ball

Marita Moloney
Live editor

Good morning from the London newsroom where we're beginning our live coverage of Donald Trump's inauguration as 47th president of the United States.

The inauguration - the formal ceremony that marks the end of one president's time in office and the start of the successor's administration - is the most high-profile part of the transition of power between government leaders in Washington DC.

Today's events will include a formal swearing-in ceremony, as well as musical performances and a number of formal balls.

But freezing temperatures this year will move events indoors, with Trump and Vice-President-elect JD Vance set to take the oath of office in the United States Capitol Rotunda building.

On the eve of his return to the White House, Trump promised to sign a blitz of executive orders on his first day as president, telling supporters that he would move with "historic speed and strength" in the hours after taking the oath of office.

He is expected to sign more than 200 executive actions on Monday - we'll bring you more on that shortly.

We've got correspondents in Washington DC and across the US poised to bring you the latest details and analysis of this historic day and you'll be able to follow the build-up live right here, so stay with us.