Donald Trump: Punchy and combative new president upends status quo, builds case for change
Updated
US President Donald Trump made it clear today he plans on bringing the radical change he brought to the campaign trail to life in the White House.
In an unusually forceful and combative inaugural address, Mr Trump listed where he thinks the country is failing and his plans to fix it.
The picture he painted was of an ailing country blighted by drug addiction and crime.
"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 unrealised potential," he said.
"This American carnage stops right here and stops right now."
Mr Trump's solution is to upend the political order — taking power from the elites in Washington DC who he accuses of neglecting the country.
"Today's ceremony, however, has very special meaning. Because 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 American people," he said.
"For too long, a small group in our nation's capital has reaped the rewards of government while the people have borne the cost."
In its place he plans on pursuing an unashamedly aggressive reordering of the nation's policies, redefining relationships with allies and foes as he pushes to "make America great again".
"From this moment on, it's going to be America first," Mr Trump said.
"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 the ravages of other countries making our products, stealing our companies, and destroying our jobs."
Mr Trump has promised America will start winning again like never before. The question many overseas leaders will be wondering is will that victory be their loss?
Domestically now Mr Trump will have ownership of not just the problems he's identified but the solutions — and the challenge of proving to his supporters that he's not just another politician.
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Donald Trump is sworn in as the 45th President of the United States. (AP: Andrew Harnik)
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Vice-President Mike Pence takes his oath of office. (AP: Matt Rourke)
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President Donald Trump delivers his inaugural address. (AP: Patrick Semansky)
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President-elect Donald Trump shakes hands with President Barack Obama. (AP: Patrick Semansky)
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Donald Trump promised to hand power back to the American people, during his inaugural address. (AP: Susan Walsh)
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President Trump acknowledged the crowd and thanked former presidents, including Barack Obama. (Reuters: Saul Loeb)
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Hillary Clinton stands beside former president George W Bush and his wife Laura at the swearing-in ceremony for Donald Trump at the US Capitol in Washington on January 20, 2017. (Reuters: Rick Wilking)
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President Donald Trump formally signs his cabinet nominations into law, in the President's Room of the Senate. (AP: Scott Applewhite)
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White House Chief of Staff Reince Priebus directs US President Donald Trump where to sign the document to confirming James Mattis as his Secretary of Defence, his first signing in the Oval Office on January 20, 2017. (Reuters: Jonathan Ernst)
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Former president Barack Obama and wife Michelle waved goodbye to the Capitol from a helicopter, before leaving for a vacation in California. (AP: John Angelillo)
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Donald Trump made a promise to stop the "American carnage" in his first speech as President. (AP: Patrick Semansky)
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Among the guests at the inauguration were former President George W Bush and his wife Laura.
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Donald Trump's children, Ivanka, Tiffany, Barron, Eric and Donald Trump Jr., were also at the ceremony. (Reuters: Carlos Barria)
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President Barack Obama and President-elect Donald Trump's motorcade drives down Pennsylvania Avenue towards the inauguration ceremony. (AP Photo: Susan Walsh)
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Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton and her husband, former president Bill Clinton, arrive on Capitol Hill for Donald Trump's inauguration. (AP: Saul Loeb )
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Shortly before the inauguration, protesters clashed with police and smashed in shop windows. (AP: Michael Biesecker)
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Some activists had stun grenades are fired at them while protesting against President Trump's inauguration. (Reuters: Adrees Latif)
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A Trump supporter photographs the US Capitol as the sun rises on the National Mall before Donald Trump's inauguration. (Reuters: Lawler Duggan)
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Protesters attack a man trying to pass at an entry point prior to the inauguration. (Reuters: Bryan Woolston)
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Anti-Trump protesters gather near an entry point near the US Capitol prior to the inauguration. (Reuters: Bryan Woolston)
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Anti-Trump protesters descend on the Capitol. (Reuters: Shannon Stapleton)
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President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama pose with President-elect Donald Trump and his wife Melania on inauguration morning. (AP: Evan Vucci)
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A Trump supporter secures his place ahead of the inauguration. (Reuters: Shannon Stapleton)
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President-elect Donald Trump and his wife Melania arrive for the pre-inauguration church service. (AP: Alex Brandon)
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Rudy Giuliani and his wife Judith arrive for a pre-inauguration church service. (AP: Alex Brandon)
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Vice-President elect Mike Pence arrives for the pre-inauguration church service with his wife Karen. (AP: Alex Brandon)
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Dawn breaks behind the Capitol building on inauguration day. (AP: Cliff Owen)
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US President Donald Trump and his wife, first lady Melania Trump, dance their first dance as first couple to the song "My Way" at his "Liberty" Inaugural Ball in Washington. January 20, 2017. (Reuters: Brian Snyder)
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President Donald Trump with his wife Melania and Vice President Mike Pence with his wife Karen cut a cake at the Armed Services Ball in Washington, US. January 20, 2017. (Reuters: Yuri Gripas)
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US President Donald Trump salutes with his wife Melania at the Armed Services Ball in Washington. January 20, 2017. (Reuters: Yuri Gripas)
Topics: world-politics, us-elections, united-states
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