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Donald Trump inauguration speech: 'This American carnage stops now' – live Donald Trump inauguration speech: 'This American carnage stops now' – live
(35 minutes later)
6.04pm GMT 6.38pm GMT
18:04 18:38
Tom Dart Video: Obama goodbye speech
The Guardian’s Tom Dart reports from Bellville, Texas: 6.38pm GMT
Business was brisk in the Trump Cafe, a Donald-themed diner in the small Texas town of Bellville, an hour’s drive from Houston. Patrons cheered the president’s inauguration and clapped during moments in his speech when patriotism and promises united in rhetorical embrace. 18:38
Larry Reed sat at the entrance behind a table selling hats, flasks, wristbands and Trump badges with the slogan “Make America Great Again, President, Commander in Chief, Tweet Softly - But Carry A Big Stick.” Five big themes in Trump speech
“I think that we’ve needed change in this country for a long, long time, and that’s why he got elected,” the 72-year-old said. Dan Roberts
“Middle America, everything other than a couple of coastal areas has been crying out for change and neither party has given it. And it’s time. And so they took someone with a little populism and said ‘hey, you know what? He doesn’t have to be perfect. If he claims to do these things, and he does it, we’re going to be happy’.” Rebirth
Reed does not think electing Trump is risky. “No president can bring this country down, okay? Every president has had flaws, deep flaws, every one of them. They’re just men. But if they will lead, if they will put the right people in place to implement things that we need to see, we’ll be fine. We always are, no matter who the president is, and that’s what everyone has to realise this year. We’re going to be just fine if everybody will just zip their lips and watch it happen.” Obama hung his head in apparent disbelief as his successor called for the “American carnage” to stop, claiming drug gangs were rampaging across a landscape scattered with the tombstones of rusty factories. Trump is no longer just painting this bleak picture to get elected, but to stoke fear and justify radical action: warning ominously of a “great national effort” and “hardships” to come as he rebuilds a supposedly ruined nation.
5.55pm GMT Isolationism
17:55 More than ever before, Trump made clear the era of US nation-building and economic leadership is over. Nato allies will shudder at his withering depiction of American military “subsidy”, while free-traders would recoil at the claim that its middle class wealth has been ripped away by the foreign theft of factories. “America First” was also the slogan of US isolationists in 1940.
White House climate change page disappears Authoritarianism
The old White House climate change page – https://www.whitehouse.gov/energy/climate-change – has disappeared like a species. The old url redirects to a generic Trump splash. Boasting that the military and police were behind him, Trump doubled down on his convention speech promise that “safety will be restored” today. Radical Islamic terrorism will not just be confronted, but “eradicated from the face of the earth”. There will also be little room for dissent in Trump’s united America, where “we all bleed the same red blood of patriots”.
Read further. Betrayal
5.52pm GMT Despite a divisive election, there was no room for building political bridges in Trump’s speech. Much of it was spent describing how politicians had enriched themselves at the expense of “the people”, who this billionaire property developer now claims as his own. Though there was no policy in his speech, Trump insists the “time for empty talk is over, now arrives the hour of action”.
17:52 Religion
The Bidens are taking the Amtrak home to Delaware, of course. There’s footage now of them at Union Station. More than any president in decades, Trump claimed to have religion on his side too. In a speech littered with biblical allusions, he assured Americans they “will be protected by God” and they were all “infused with the breath of life by the same almighty creator”. Before running for president, Trump rarely spoke of his faith but he has learned to stir religion and nationalism into an uncompromising and intimidating brew.
5.51pm GMT 6.36pm GMT
17:51 18:36
Let’s check the planner for what’s next. Looks like steak: Obamas wave goodbye
Afternoon: The JCCIC has planned the traditional inaugural luncheon, to take place in National Statuary Hall at the Capitol. Four years ago Obama and guests dined on steamed lobster and hickory grilled bison. The menu for this year’s luncheon includes Maine lobster and Gulf shrimp, Seven Hills Angus beef, and chocolate soufflé and cherry vanilla ice cream for dessert. The Obamas turn atop the stairs of their airplane and wave goodbye. Next stop California.
3pm EST/8pm GMT: The inaugural parade. There has been some controversy over a few of the groups slated to perform, including the marching band from Talladega College, a historically black college in Alabama, and the Marist College Band, from Poughkeepsie, New York. Additional college and high school bands and other groups from around the country will participate, as well as national groups such as the Boy Scouts of America, Wounded Warrior Project, and representatives from each military branch, to name a few. 6.25pm GMT
Evening: The Trumps and Pences will attend three official inaugural balls, according to the presidential inaugural committee. Two, titled “Liberty and Freedom: The Official Presidential Inaugural Balls”, will be held at the Walter E Washington Convention Centre, with Sam Moore, the Piano Guys and the Rockettes listed among the performers. The Salute To Our Armed Services Ball will take place at the National Building Museum. 18:25
5.48pm GMT There’s a slapstick negotiation around the table of legislators about who gets which pen. Trump, as he signs each document making a nomination official, says something about the nominee. Then the legislators, with the dignity for which they are known, jockey over who gets the keep the pen that signed whose document.
17:48 “We have two Nikki Haleys,” Trump says. “Is she applying for two different positions?”
Trump inauguration speech: as prepared for delivery “Terry Branstad, the governor. Longest-serving governor. And China loves him, and he loves China. He’s a good man.”
Here’s the text of Trump’s inauguration speech, as prepared for delivery: Ivanka and Jared Trump and their youngest are standing behind Trump’s chair. Melania Trump is standing on Trump’s left. A bit rigidly.
Chief Justice Roberts, President Carter, President Clinton, President Bush, President Obama, fellow Americans, and people of the world: thank you. Trump finishes the stack of paper and everyone applauds. Trump shakes hands.
We, the citizens of America, are now joined in a great national effort to rebuild our country and to restore its promise for all of our people. 6.20pm GMT
Together, we will determine the course of America and the world for years to come. 18:20
We will face challenges. We will confront hardships. But we will get the job done. Trump signing procedural grab-bag
Every four years, we gather on these steps to carry out the orderly and peaceful transfer of power, and we are grateful to President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama for their gracious aid throughout this transition. They have been magnificent. The press secretary tells us what those documents do:
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, D.C. and giving it back to you, the American People. .@POTUS signing 3 things: Mattis waiver bill into law, formal nominations 2 Senate & proclamation for nat'l day of patriotism #Inauguration
For too long, a small group in our nation’s Capital has reaped the rewards of government while the people have borne the cost. “You getting some more pens back there?” Trump says. “This is fun.”
Washington flourished – but the people did not share in its wealth. 6.17pm GMT
Politicians prospered – but the jobs left, and the factories closed. 18:17
The establishment protected itself, but not the citizens of our country. Obama: 'I'll be right there with you'
Their victories have not been your victories; their triumphs have not been your triumphs; and while they celebrated in our nation’s Capital, there was little to celebrate for struggling families all across our land. This has been the privilege of my life, and I know I speak for Michelle as well... and I can’t wait to see what you do next, and I promise I’ll be right there with you. Yes we did. Yes we can.
That all changes – starting right here, and right now, because this moment is your moment: it belongs to you. 6.15pm GMT
It belongs to everyone gathered here today and everyone watching all across America. 18:15
This is your day. This is your celebration. “This isn’t a period, it’s a comma, in the continuing story that is America,” Obama says.
And this, the United States of America, is your country. Applause line.
What truly matters is not which party controls our government, but whether our government is controlled by the people. 6.15pm GMT
January 20th 2017, will be remembered as the day the people became the rulers of this nation again. 18:15
The forgotten men and women of our country will be forgotten no longer. Trump signing documents at Capitol
Everyone is listening to you now. As Obama speaks, Trump is seated at a table at the Capitol signing documents. It’s not clear what they are. Paul Ryan and Kevin McCarthy and Roy Blunt and Mitch McConnell are there. But so is Nancy Pelosi.
You came by the tens of millions to become part of a historic movement the likes of which the world has never seen before. President Trump signs nominations for his cabinet and proclamation for National Day of Patriotism pic.twitter.com/BLNcY1eJEm
At the center of this movement is a crucial conviction: that a nation exists to serve its citizens. Updated
Americans want great schools for their children, safe neighborhoods for their families, and good jobs for themselves. at 6.17pm GMT
These are the just and reasonable demands of a righteous public. 6.13pm GMT
But 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. 18:13
This American carnage stops right here and stops right now. Obama:
We are one nation – and their pain is our pain. Their dreams are our dreams; and their success will be our success. We share one heart, one home, and one glorious destiny. Throughout this process, Michelle and I, we’ve just been your frontmen and women. We’ve just been your face and voice. But this has not been about us. It has always been about you. And all the amazing things that have happened in the last ten years have all just been about you.
The oath of office I take today is an oath of allegiance to all Americans. 6.12pm GMT
For many decades, we’ve enriched foreign industry at the expense of American industry; 18:12
Subsidized the armies of other countries while allowing for the very sad depletion of our military; Obama:
We’ve defended other nation’s borders while refusing to defend our own; “Michelle and I we’ve really been milking this good-bye thing,” he begins. “So it behooves me to be very brief.”
And spent trillions of dollars overseas while America’s infrastructure has fallen into disrepair and decay. He says that when they started, they did so “with an abiding faith in the American people.”
We’ve made other countries rich while the wealth, strength, and confidence of our country has disappeared over the horizon. [...]
One by one, the factories shuttered and left our shores, with not even a thought about the millions upon millions of American workers left behind. “All of you came together in small towns and big cities, a whole bunch of you really young, and you decided to believe. And you knocked on doors and made phone calls, and talked to your parents who didn’t know how to pronounce Barack Obama...
The wealth of our middle class has been ripped from their homes and then redistributed across the entire world.
But that is the past. And now we are looking only to the future.
We assembled here today are issuing a new decree to be heard in every city, in every foreign capital, and in every hall of power.
From this day forward, a new vision will govern our land.
From this moment on, it’s going to be 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 the ravages of other countries making our products, stealing our companies, and destroying our jobs. Protection will lead to great prosperity and strength.
I will fight for you with every breath in my body – and I will never, ever let you down.
America will start winning again, winning like never before.
We will bring back our jobs. We will bring back our borders. We will bring back our wealth. And we will bring back our dreams.
We will build new roads, and highways, and bridges, and airports, and tunnels, and railways all across our wonderful nation.
We will get our people off of welfare and back to work – rebuilding our country with American hands and American labor.
We will follow two simple rules: Buy American and Hire American.
We will seek friendship and goodwill with the nations of the world – but we do so with the understanding that it is the right of all nations to put their own interests first.
We do not seek to impose our way of life on anyone, but rather to let it shine as an example for everyone to follow.
We will reinforce old alliances and form new ones – and unite the civilized world against Radical Islamic Terrorism, which we will eradicate completely from the face of the Earth.
At the bedrock of our politics will be a total allegiance to the United States of America, and through our loyalty to our country, we will rediscover our loyalty to each other.
When you open your heart to patriotism, there is no room for prejudice.
The Bible tells us, “how good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity.”
We must speak our minds openly, debate our disagreements honestly, but always pursue solidarity.
When America is united, America is totally unstoppable.
There should be no fear – we are protected, and we will always be protected.
We will be protected by the great men and women of our military and law enforcement and, most importantly, we are protected by God.
Finally, we must think big and dream even bigger.
In America, we understand that a nation is only living as long as it is striving.
We will no longer accept politicians who are all talk and no action – constantly complaining but never doing anything about it.
The time for empty talk is over.
Now arrives the hour of action.
Do not let anyone tell you it cannot be done. No challenge can match the heart and fight and spirit of America.
We will not fail. Our country will thrive and prosper again.
We stand at the birth of a new millennium, ready to unlock the mysteries of space, to free the Earth from the miseries of disease, and to harness the energies, industries and technologies of tomorrow.
A new national pride will stir our souls, lift our sights, and heal our divisions.
It is time to remember that old wisdom our soldiers will never forget: that whether we are black or brown or white, we all bleed the same red blood of patriots, we all enjoy the same glorious freedoms, and we all salute the same great American Flag.
And whether a child is born in the urban sprawl of Detroit or the windswept plains of Nebraska, they look up at the same night sky, they fill their heart with the same dreams, and they are infused with the breath of life by the same almighty Creator.
So to all Americans, in every city near and far, small and large, from mountain to mountain, and from ocean to ocean, hear these words:
You will never be ignored again.
Your voice, your hopes, and your dreams, will define our American destiny. And your courage and goodness and love will forever guide us along the way.
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. Thank you, God Bless You, And God Bless America.
5.45pm GMT
17:45
Obama helicopter departs
The helicopter winds up. And leaves. They’re heading to the airport and thence to California, for family vacation.
The Trumps and Pences stand on the steps, watching the helicopter go.
5.43pm GMT
17:43
Obamas board helicopter
The Trumps and Obamas stand there. Then they walk down the steps in formation. The Obamas are hand-in-hand. Their walking towards the helicopter, which sounded like it was running but the blades aren’t moving. The group waits for the veep motorcade to pull out.
There go the Obamas. Hand in hand, walking to their ride. The Trumps follow them to the steps.
Trump shakes Obamas hand. He says something in his ear. It really does look like he says, “I’ll call you.” Trump seems to return, indecisively, the salute of a military escort holding a salute.
They finish their farewell. Michelle gets in. Barack gets in. He turns to wave from the door. And disappears inside.
The Trumps turn and walk back to the Capitol.
Next is lunch.
5.39pm GMT
17:39
Hugs. The Obamas and Trumps now will have a photo op with “just presidents.” The veeps and spouses walk down to limos. Joe and Jill Biden are hopping in one. Jill hugs Karen Pence goodbye. Mike Pence says something important to Joe Biden.
5.38pm GMT
17:38
Obama and Trump and Biden and Pence walk out of the Capitol.
There’s a photo opportunity on the steps. Trumps and Obamas and Bidens and Pences.
5.37pm GMT
17:37
Obama to Trump: 'we'll be right around the corner'
There’s footage of Trump walking Obama through the Capitol rotunda.
We’re not making this up. The camera catches a snippet of their conversation. Obama is heard to say to Trump:
“Well as I said, we’ll be right around the corner.”
5.35pm GMT
17:35
Sam Levin
At the University of California, Berkeley campus, a group of immigrant student activists have gathered to prepare for a morning of “teach-ins” aimed at organizing against Trump and his “harmful” agenda.
Crowded inside a diversity office at the school of public health, the students, including some who are undocumented and have relied on the protections of Obama’s Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (Daca) policy, watched Trump’s swearing-in on a laptop.
“I feel nauseous. I can’t look at him,” said Miriam Avilez, a 27-year-old undocumented student, as Trump stepped up to the podium. She briefly hid her face in her hands as the president began to speak. “Today, reality really slapped me in the face. I woke up this morning and thought, ‘Crap, this wasn’t a nightmare. Should I pinch myself? Is this really happening?’”
I'm watching inauguration with a group of immigrant student activists, some undocumented, at UC Berkeley. pic.twitter.com/5HHrwgzzVG
“God help us all,” said Sofia Villagomez, 23, as Trump was sworn in. The public health student, part of a group called Borders and Bodies Collective, said it was a struggle to force herself to even watch the events. “I’m just feeling like I need to be informed about what’s going as much as what’s happening just pains me. We’re headed for a fight for sure.”
Gladis Chavez, a 26-year-old undocumented student, said the reports that Trump may immediately repeal Daca, which could put students like her at risk of deportation, were heavily weighing on her. “It really scares me. I don’t know what I’m going to do if I lose everything I’ve been working for. I’m trying to start my adult life.”
5.32pm GMT
17:32
Hillary Clinton heads up the stairs, shaking hands. Oversight committee chair Jason Chaffetz, not known to be a huge Hillary Clinton fan, gives her a warm smile.
George W Bush leaves. He stops to shake Dole’s hand too.
People are streaming out now. There goes John Boehner. The camera moves to the interior and Hillary Clinton is hanging out with George W Bush. Nice shot of the Bushes and Clintons walking together.
Back outside, Dick and Liz Cheney stop to chat with the Doles.
5.30pm GMT
17:30
Trump leaves the platform. He stops at the top of the stairs to say hi to the Doles. “Hi Bob, Hi Elizabeth.” Obama, behind Trump, stops too. Then Biden does. Everybody heading back inside now.
5.28pm GMT
17:28
What did you make of the speech?
Trump just delivered one of his campaign speeches..
it was a slightly more subdued version of campaign speech, including combative tone & grand promises, w/ stab toward grace notes at end
That was like a bad liberal parody of a Republican president's inaugural address.
That was the most unique inauguration speech maybe ever
So, that was a giant middle finger to the Washington establishment. Populist to the core. His core supporters had to love this speech.
Trump speech as prepared was 1,432 words
5.23pm GMT
17:23
One last prayer, this time by a rabbi. Hang on, there’s one more, from a pastor who points out:
“In the bible, rain is the sign of a blessing. And it started to rain Mr President when you came to the platform.”
It’s true, the timing was uncanny.
It starts raining literally just as Trump begins his speech
5.20pm GMT
17:20
Trump concludes speech with promise to make America great again
Trump closes with a variation on the conclusion with which he capped many stump speeches:
We will make America strong again
We will make America wealthy again
We will make America proud again
and yes, together, we will make America great again.
The crowd chants along to the “great again” line.
Trump finishes:
Thank you, god bless you, and god bless America.
Thank you. God bless America.
5.18pm GMT
17:18
Trump:
“The time for empty talk is over. Now arrives the hour for action.”
We will not fail. Our country will thrive and prosper again. We stand at the birth of a lewl [sic] millennium, ready to unlock the mysteries of space...”
He had trouble with that phrase, little millennium. “Whether we are black or brown or white, we all bleed the same red blood of patriots,” he continues.
Trump waxes poetic:
“Whether a child is born in the urban sprawl of Detroit or the windswept plains of Nebraska, they look up at the same night sky... and they are infused with the same breath of life by the almighty creator.”
5.15pm GMT
17:15
Trump: USA 'will be protected by god'
Trump says the United States won’t impose its lifestyle on anyone but “we will shine for everyone to follow.”
Then he says of “radical Islamic terrorism” that “we will eradicate completely from the face of the Earth.”
He says “we will rediscover our loyalty to each other. When you open your heart to patriotism, there is no room for prejudice. The bible tells us how good and pleasant it is when the people live together in unity...
When America is united, America is totally unstoppable.
There should be no fear. We are protected and we will always be protected [by law enforcement and military]... and most importantly, we will be protected by god.”