Donald Trump Inauguration Live: US President speaks at inauguration ball

• 3:16pm on 21 Jan 2017;
• Eryk Bagshaw

Thanks for joining us

As the US goes to sleep with a new president and the inauguration celebrations go into the night, here is a wrap up of our coverage so far. 

• Donald Trump has been sworn in as the 45th President of the United States of America. 
• He promised to bring an end to "this American carnage" in a highly political speech at his swearing in ceremony. 
• Crowd estimates suggest that about half the 1.8 million Americans who attended Obama's swearing in attended the inauguration. 
• Climate change and LGBT polices were wiped from the official White House website.
• President Trump issued his first executive order from the Oval Office to "ease the burden of Obamacare". 
• There have been protests in Washington DC, where two police officers have been injured in clashes, property has been damaged and cars burnt, but the demonstrations did not affect the ceremony.
• Cash bars, no stars and an Irish hoedown at official inauguration balls
• Following the swearing in ceremony, the Obamas departed Washington DC to immediately go on holidays. They have already launched The Obama Foundation.

That is it from us for now, thanks for reading along throughout the day.

Be sure to follow the Fairfax Foreign Desk for regular updates from the US. 

• 2:57pm on 21 Jan 2017;
• Michael Idato

A review of Trump's ball: 'Make America's got talent great again'

It was a question that would inevitably be answered: who do you book when every A-list artist in the world has declined the invitation to perform at newly anointed US President Donald Trump's inauguration ball?

Tonight we got our answer. Word's can't quite describe it, but we'll give it a go

It was equal parts Irish hoedown, Make America's Got Talent Great Again and Uncle Don and Aunty Mel's wedding, the one you didn't really want to go to, that was kind of actually worse than you expected.

Read Michael Idato's full review here. 

• 2:48pm on 21 Jan 2017;
• Eryk Bagshaw

Singer never informed of song choice

Rachel Platten, the artist behind Hilary Clinton's campaign song, "Fight Song," has spoken out after the song was covered by The Piano Guys at Trump's first inauguration ball. 

• 2:40pm on 21 Jan 2017;
• Phoebe Moloney

TRUMP appears in Sydney's skies

Sydney-siders following the 45th presidential inauguration on their phones might do well to look up at the sky. T-R-U-M-P was written across Sydney's skyline in smoke on Saturday afternoon, visible from Kogarah to the CBD.

Rob Vance, the pilot who wrote the piece, said those who commissioned it wished to remain anonymous as they feared a backlash. 

Mr Vance is also the manager of his family business, Skywriting Australia. 

"I think we are the only ones doing it [skywriting] in Sydney at the moment. It was ok with me," Mr Vance said.

"He did win the election, so half of the people must have voted for him."

Mr Vance said the skywriting piece set his clients back a sizeable $3,990.

• 2:31pm on 21 Jan 2017;
• Eryk Bagshaw

'Should I keep the Twitter going?'

That is what the President of the United States, Donald Trump, asked the cheering crowd at his second appearance at the inaugural ball. 

"The enemies keep saying oh that's terrible, but it's a way of bypassing dishonest media right?" 

"Yeah!," the crowd yelled.

"I think so, I think so," Mr Trump responded, indicating that he would keep a personal tone to his often controversial social meda presence. 

• 2:19pm on 21 Jan 2017;
• Lisa Visentin

Touching up the Oval

President Trump has already applied a personal touch to the Oval office. He has reinstated a bust of Winston Churchill to the room. 

When Obama assumed office in 2009, conservatives were up in arms over a rumour he had removed the bust from the Oval.

The ongoing speculation prompted the White House to issue a statement saying the bust had been lent to George W Bush by British Prime Minister Tony Blair, and was returned at the end of his presidency.

A second bust of Churchill, which has been in the White House since the 1960s, spent the Obama administration on a table near the Treaty Room. It seems Trump has now promoted it to the Oval.

Pre-empting his boss' own statue-related conspiracy, White House press secretary Sean Spicer tweeted a picture of the bust of Martin Luther King retaining its prime position in the Oval. 
 

• 2:10pm on 21 Jan 2017

• 2:00pm on 21 Jan 2017;
• Lisa Visentin

The Trumps' first dance

President Trump and First Lady Melania have shared their first dance as first couple to a cover of Frank Sinatra's My Way. 

Melania was resplendent in a floor-length off-the-shoulder cream gown. Here's a clip of dance. 

Michelle Obama also wore a white gown for her first dance with President Obama at his inauguration in 2009. They danced to Etta James' "At Last", sung by Beyoncé.

• 1:52pm on 21 Jan 2017;
• Eryk Bagshaw

Trump: 'They said we didn't have a chance'

President Trump has given his first address since being sworn in as president. 

Speaking at the Liberty and Freedom Inaugural Ball, Mr Trump said that people did not give him a chance of winning the presidency.

"We began this journey and they said we weren't going to win," he said.

"This was a movement, now the work is begins, we are not playing games." 

"People who weren't saying nice things to me said we did a really good job today." 

Mr Trump singled out the arrival of a helicopter in the proceedings as a highlight. 

"The helicopter was an incredible scene, like a movie, it was an incredible scene, so beautiful," he said. 

"This whole day is so special, so incredible, so many people made such a difference. 

"We love you, we are going to be working for you and we are going to be producing results," he said.

• 1:41pm on 21 Jan 2017

Trumps arrive at the first inauguration ball

President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump have arrived at the first inauguration ball, greeted by a concert band and loud cheers.

• 1:23pm on 21 Jan 2017

Celebrations from an old foe

Champagne corks popped in Moscow as Russians celebrated the start of Donald Trump's presidency, while there were guarded congratulations from Mexico and fears of a trade war in Berlin.

Mexico's President Enrique Pena Nieto said on Twitter that while the sovereignty, national interest and protection of Mexicans was paramount, he was hopeful that ties between the two countries would strengthen.

Germany's Vice-Chancellor Sigmar Gabriel warned of a "rough ride" after President Donald Trump was sworn in.

There were no such concerns in Moscow, where Champagne flowed and Russians expressed optimism for better relations with Washington.

"It's weird, but it's great, and for the first time ever Russians are applauding the victory of a US presidential candidate. It's a sign of the times," political analyst Stanislav Byshok said.

AP, Reuters, AAP

• 1:09pm on 21 Jan 2017;
• Arielle De Bono

Protests in Sydney

Up to 5000 people have joined an anti-Trump protest in Sydney that will march from Hyde Park to the US consulate. 

The event is among the first of several taking place in cities across 30 countries, to coincide with the Women's March on Washington – which will protest the leadership of President Trump on the day of his inauguration. 

Holding signs bearing slogans like "a woman's place is in the revolution" and, quoting Hillary Clinton's now iconic 1995 speech to the UN, "women's rights are human rights", the crowd gathered at the park to hear from speakers including Aboriginal elder and activist Jenny Munro, anti-Islamophobia advocate Mariam Veiszadeh. Tracey Spicer served as MC for the event.

Sisters Geena and Caillie Dunne said they were marching because of the impact Trump's election would have on Australian discourse.

"The amount of media coverage that has come to Australia means that the attitudes of our people are automatically going to be affected," Geena said.

The crowd have now begun their march towards the US consulate on Martin Place. 
 

• 1:08pm on 21 Jan 2017;
• Lisa Visentin

Rockettes come back for round two

The smiling, dancing Rockettes have now performed at two of President Trump's inauguration balls.

But their participation has been dogged by speculation that their fixed smiles were plastered over literal gritted teeth. 

A spokesperson for the Radio City Rockettes was forced to issue a statement last month denying that the dancers' participation was compulsory, after it emerged one Rockette, Phoebe Pearl, had condemned the group's participation on social media.

In an Instagram post under the hashtag #notmypresident, Peal said she was "embarrassed and disappointed" when she learned the Rocketts had been signed to perform at the inauguration.

The story was picked up by the New York Times, and the Union representing the Rockettes later issued a statement confirming all participation was "voluntary". 

 

• 12:54pm on 21 Jan 2017;
• Eryk Bagshaw

Clinton's song played at Trump's inauguration ball

YouTube stars The Piano guys, one of the headliners of President Trump's inauguration balls, have played a cover of one of the Clinton campaign song's during their performance on Friday night. 

Rachel Platten's "Fight Song" was used by the Clinton campaign in a series of high profile ads of actors and musicians singing their support for the Democrat nominee. 

The Piano Guys opted for the track as their second song after they played their signature trick, a song inside a piano.  

• 12:44pm on 21 Jan 2017;
• Melissa Singer

Andre Agassi speaks out at the Australian open

There have been plenty of celebrities weighing in with their thoughts on Mr Trump, the latest being tennis champion Andre Agassi, who appeared in a special video link at the Australian Open on Saturday morning.

"It's been a divisive year and a half in our country's evolution and ... I've voted both sides of the aisle many times," he said.

As a strong education advocate, Agassi said that's always been his=focus when deciding who gets his political support.

"Promises are made every four years [by the administration] ... it's not time for promises anymore it's time for action. I hope everybody can keep an open mind as it relates to the temperature of our culture and our country. We obviously all need to come together on even ground."

• 12:37pm on 21 Jan 2017;
• Eryk Bagshaw

Pelican 212 take the stage

Pelican 212, who describe themselves as the world's shortest horn band featuring identical twin trumpet players, have taken the stage at President Trump's first inauguration ball. 

Safe to say this is the biggest gig of the Nashville band's careers so far. The last time the tiny tots played it was at the Williamson County Fair.

We're told by CNN that the President and First Lady's attendance at the ball is imminent. 

• 12:22pm on 21 Jan 2017;
• Phoebe Moloney

'He will not divide us,' actors put on 24/7 protest performance

Actor turned performance artist, Shia LeBeouf has unveiled a performance artwork protesting Trump's inauguration that he says will be be live streamed 24/7 for the entirety of Trump's presidential term.

LeBeouf is inviting anyone to stand in front of a camera mounted outside the Museum of the Moving Image in New York and say the phrase, "he will not divide us".

Jaden Smith, actor Will Smith's son, kicked off the performance on Friday morning, repeating the phrase for four hours. 

• 12:09pm on 21 Jan 2017;
• Josephine Tovey

White nationalist punched during ABC interview

Washington: One of the most prominent American white nationalists was punched in the face during a live TV interview with the ABC on Friday, shortly after Donald Trump's inauguration in Washington DC.

Richard Spencer gained an international profile when he led an alt-right conference in calls of "Hail Trump, hail victory" while members of the crowd made Nazi salutes, in footage that made waves in November.

The Southern Poverty Law Centre, which monitors hate groups in the US, has referred to Mr Spencer as "a suit-and-tie version of the white supremacists of old". 

Mr Spencer was attacked twice just before 3pm on Friday at the site of a volatile protest in downtown Washington DC, the same spot where a limousine was set on fire and activists clashed with police. 

He was hit once off camera, then shortly after he was attacked again, while doing the interview with the ABC's Washington correspondent Zoe Daniel.

Read the full story here. 

• 11:54am on 21 Jan 2017

Obama's last walk out of the Oval Office

In case you missed it: Here is the last time former President Barack Obama walked out of the Oval Office, leaving a note behind for his successor. 

• 11:37am on 21 Jan 2017;
• Eryk Bagshaw

Trump signs executive order on Obamacare

President Trump has issued an executive order on Obamacare in one of his first actions as president. 

Photos of President Trump signing the executive order, the first of him in the Oval Office, were released at 11:25am. 

The president said the order would "ease the burden of Obamacare," but the full details of the executive order remain unclear. 

He also signed documents to allow General Mattis and General Kelly ​to assume their positions in cabinet. ​