Vice-President Mike Pence shakes hands with justice Clarence Thomas as he takes the oath of allegiance during his swearing-in. His wife Karen Pence and others look on.
Washington: Donald Trump was sworn in as the 45th president of United States yesterday, issuing a staunchly nationalist vow to put “America first” in his opening address to a country—and a world—watching a page of history turn.
“From this day forward, a new vision will govern our land,” Trump said, pronouncing an end to business as usual in Washington.
“Today we are not merely transferring power from one administration to another or from one party to another, but we are transferring power from Washington, DC. And giving it back to you, the people.”
“From this day forward, it’s going to be only America first.”
“Together we will make America strong again. We will make America wealthy again. We will make America proud again. We will make America safe again. And, yes, together, we will make America great again,” Trump said.
Just moments before, the 70-year-old Republican billionaire placed his left hand on a bible used by Abraham Lincoln and recited the 35-word oath spoken since George Washington.
Trump’s inauguration caps the improbable rise to power of the Manhattan real estate mogul, who had never before held elected office, served in the government or the armed forces.
A crowd of hundreds of thousands looked on, including outgoing president Barack Obama and Trump’s defeated election opponent Hillary Clinton—who narrowly missed out on becoming America’s first female president.
Obama and his wife Michelle departed the Capitol by helicopter moments after the swearing-in ceremony, turning a page on eight years of Democratic leadership in the White House.
Key quotes from Trump's inaugural speech
"We are not merely transferring power from one administration to another, or from one party to another -- but we are transferring power from Washington, DC and giving it back to you, the American People."
"January 20th, 2017 will be remembered as the day the people became the rulers of this nation again. The forgotten men and women of our country will be forgotten no longer."
'American Carnage'
"For too many of our citizens, a different reality exists: Mothers and children trapped in poverty in our inner cities; rusted-out factories scattered like tombstones across the landscape of our nation; an education system, flush with cash, but which leaves our young and beautiful students deprived of knowledge; and the crime and gangs and drugs that have stolen too many lives and robbed our country of so much unrealized potential. This American carnage stops right here and stops right now."
No more enriching others
"For many decades, we've enriched foreign industry at the expense of American industry; subsidised the armies of other countries while allowing for the very sad depletion of our military; we've defended other nation's borders while refusing to defend our own; and spent trillions of dollars overseas while America's infrastructure has fallen into disrepair and decay."
New vision: America first
"From this day forward, a new vision will govern our land. From this moment on, it's going to be only America First. America First. Every decision on trade, on taxes, on immigration, on foreign affairs, will be made to benefit American workers and American families. We must protect our borders from ravages of other countries making our products, stealing our companies, and destroying our jobs. Protection will lead to great prosperity and strength."
"We will follow two simple rules: Buy American and Hire American."
"We will reinforce old alliances and form new ones — and unite the civilised world against Radical Islamic Terrorism, which we will eradicate completely from the face of the Earth."
