This article is from the source 'independent' and was first published or seen
on .
It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
Donald Trump inauguration live: Billionaire TV star becomes US President
Donald Trump inauguration live: Billionaire TV star becomes US President
(about 5 hours later)
Donald Trump is set to to be sworn in as US President - although the list of performers welcoming the event is not as impressive as some might have hoped. Here are the latest updates:
Donald Trump has been sworn in as US President. Here are the latest updates:
Please allow a moment for the live blog to load
Please allow a moment for the live blog to load
America’s President-elect has flown into Washington, ready and apparently eager to assume office. Whether America, and the rest of the world, is quite so ready for him, remains to be seen. Certainly the city is taking security seriously – with more than 900,000 people, both protesters and those celebrating, set to arrive in the city for Mr Trump's inauguration.
President Donald Trump is making his way down Constitution Avenue with a military escort as his inauguration parade begins in Washington.
“The mood around the city was just so celebratory during Obama’s inauguration,” said Heidi Batchelder, a DC school teacher, who said she will simply follow events on the radio and miss the parade.
The president will review the parade from a viewing stand near the White House.
“In our school, the mood has been sombre since the election – amongst our students, amongst the faculty – so it’s just been a very different experience. It feels like this cloud has descended.”
He and first lady Melania Trump are riding in the presidential limousine nicknamed "The Beast."
US Department of Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson said police aimed to keep groups separate, using similar tactics as those employed during last year's political conventions.
Trump is being cheered by supporters as his car passes.
“The concern is some of these groups are pro-Trump, some of them are con-Trump, and they may not play well together in the same space,” Mr Johnson said on MSNBC.
Others are shouting "Media sucks" while a group of protesters chants, "Not my president, not my president."
About 30 groups totaling 270,000 people have received permits to stage demonstrations, both for and against the New York businessman in Washington around the inauguration.
Earlier Mr Trump — in brief remarks at his inaugural lunch at the Capitol — said he was honoured that Hillary Clinton, his rival in the White House race, came to the event.
That number includes some 200,000 people who police say they expect to attend Saturday's Women's March on Washington, an anti-Trump protest. Mr Johnson estimated the number of demonstrations between Friday and Sunday could reach nearly 100.
The bipartisan crowd of lawmakers and other dignitaries gave Clinton a standing ovation after Trump asked her to rise.
About 28,000 security personnel, miles of fencing, roadblocks, street barricades and dump trucks laden with sand are part of the security cordon around three square miles of central Washington.
Clinton and her husband, former President Bill Clinton, sat with members of Trump's family at the event.
Security for events over the weekend and associated costs will run into tens of millions of dollars. Washington DC is expected to spend $30m, with $19m of that expected to be reimbursed by Congress. Those attending the inauguration ceremony and parade will face six security checkpoints, with more than 40 items banned – including backpacks and selfie sticks.
Trump ended by saying he has "a lot of respect for those two people."
Mr Trump was named the 45th President of the United States at midday on Friday. His inauguration was met with protests across Washington DC.