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Donald Trump inauguration: the world holds its breath – live coverage
Donald Trump inauguration buildup: the world holds its breath – live coverage
(35 minutes later)
11.37am GMT
11:37
The White House took on a ghostly quality as most of President Obama’s staff moved out, writes David Nakamura in the Washington Post.
Desks were emptied. Iconic photographs of Obama came off the walls. Handwritten notes were left for the Obama aides’ successors.
Secret Service agents allowed reporters to take some photos of the hallways, where empty frames hung on the walls. “There’s nothing in them,” one said with a shrug ...
A skeleton staff was scheduled to be on hand Friday morning as Obama welcomed Trump for the traditional tea service before leaving for the inauguration and his swearing-in at noon. But most had already left the place behind.
Updated
at 11.39am GMT
11.25am GMT
11:25
In the months leading up to his presidency Trump has made numerous pledges about what he will do on his first day in office. From repealing Obamacare to building a wall to withdrawing from the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal, here’s a video of some of the promises Trump has made.
11.22am GMT
11:22
Trump’s inauguration is due to start at 11.30EST/4.30pm GMT, but security screening is already underway, according to the schedule.
11.18am GMT
11:18
Harriet Sherwood
Before the inauguration ceremony, Trump and his family are due to attend a private service at St John’s church in Washington, at which controversial pastor Robert Jeffress is expected to preach, writes Harriet Sherwood.
Jeffress is the Southern Baptist leader of a 12,000-member megachurch in Dallas, a regular Fox News contributor and a strong supporter of Trump during the election campaign.
He has described Islam as an “evil religion” that “promotes paedophilia” and has said the Roman Catholic church is a “counterfeit religion” which represents the “genius of Satan”.
He has accused Obama of paving the way of the Antichrist by his support for same sex marriage, and that gay people lead a “miserable lifestyle” that is predisposed to “depression, or suicide, or alcoholism.”
Jeffress tweeted on Thursday that he was “Honored to deliver sermon ‘When God Chooses a Leader’ for Trump/Pence private family service at St. John’s Church before#Inauguration.”
Honored to deliver sermon "When God Chooses a Leader" for Trump/Pence private family service at St. John's Church before #Inauguration. pic.twitter.com/MD0HmyKzTP
On Fox News, he said his sermon would focus on Nehemiah, a biblical figure who helped rebuild Jerusalem in the 5th century BC, in part by mounting a defensive wall around the city. About 300 people are expected to attend the service.
Accordingto the New York Times, six faith leaders will take part in today’s inauguration ceremony, more than for any previous president.
They are Catholic cardinal Timothy Dolan, Hispanic Christian leader Samuel Rodriguez, televangelist Paula White, rabbi Marvin Hier, African-American bishop Wayne Jackson of Great Faith Ministries International, and Franklin Graham, the son of evangelical Billy Graham.
11.14am GMT
11:14
Germany finance minister, Wolfgang Schaeuble, has urged Trump to stick to international agreements.
Speaking to Der Spiegel Schaeuble said: “I don’t think a big trade war will break out tomorrow, but we will naturally insist that agreements are upheld.”
Trump criticised German car makers this week for failing to produce more cars in the US and warned that he would impose a tax of 35% on vehicle imports.
Schaeuble said he wished Trump luck if he wanted to tell Americans which cars to buy. “That’s not my vision of America and I don’t think it’s his either,” he said.
He also recommended not taking Trump’s practice of tweeting policy changes too seriously.
“One shouldn’t confuse Trump’s form of communication with statements of government policy. We will not participate in that,” he said.
11.07am GMT
11:07
Madonna has joined the list of celebrities speaking out against Trump, AP reports.
Speaking at New York’s Brooklyn Museum on Thursday night, she said: “He’s actually doing us a great service, because we have gone as low as we can go.
“We can only go up from here, so what are we going to do? We have two choices, destruction and creation. I chose creation.”
Madonna spoke alongside artist Marilyn Minter about art in a time of protest. Both vowed to lead protests against Trump, including attending Saturday’s Women’s March in Washington.
“This is the most frightened I’ve ever been,” Minter said. “The most qualified candidate who ever ran was defeated by the most unqualified candidate who ever ran, and it’s all because of misogyny.”
Madonna said that while she was “horrified” Trump won the election over Hillary Clinton, she now believes it was necessary.
“I do believe that Trump was elected for a reason, to show us how lazy and un-unified and lackadaisical and taking for granted we’ve become of our freedom and the rights that we have as Americans,” Madonna said. “I feel like people forgot what was written in the Constitution.”
She added: “They always say it’s darkest before the dawn and I feel this had to happen to bring people together, so let’s get this party started.”
Updated
at 11.10am GMT
10.53am GMT
10.53am GMT
10:53
10:53
Here’s video of protesters clashing with police outside the pro–Trump “DeploraBall” event on Thursday night.
Here’s video of protesters clashing with police outside the pro–Trump “DeploraBall” event on Thursday night.
There’s more on the protests here:
There’s more on the protests here:
10.49am GMT
10.49am GMT
10:49
10:49
Russians have been flocking to the US since Trump’s election, according to figures from the travel website Opodo.co.uk. It recorded a 168% spike in year on year bookings from Russians going to the US.
Russians have been flocking to the US since Trump’s election, according to figures from the travel website Opodo.co.uk. It recorded a 168% spike in year on year bookings from Russians going to the US.
The second biggest peak comes from Nordic countries Sweden (96%) and Denmark (81%), followed by Germany with a growth of 50%.
The second biggest peak comes from Nordic countries Sweden (96%) and Denmark (81%), followed by Germany with a growth of 50%.
The UK recorded a modest 6% rise in visitor numbers showing that Brits are continuing to visit as usual.
The UK recorded a modest 6% rise in visitor numbers showing that Brits are continuing to visit as usual.
10.36am GMT
10.36am GMT
10:36
10:36
Alec Baldwin and a host of celebrities took to the stage outside of Trump International Hotel and Tower for an anti-Donald Trump rally in New York on Thursday.
Alec Baldwin and a host of celebrities took to the stage outside of Trump International Hotel and Tower for an anti-Donald Trump rally in New York on Thursday.
Baldwin’s impressions of Trump on Saturday Night Live have riled the president-elect. Other speakers included Robert De Niro, Sally Field, Mark Ruffalo and Michael Moore.
Baldwin’s impressions of Trump on Saturday Night Live have riled the president-elect. Other speakers included Robert De Niro, Sally Field, Mark Ruffalo and Michael Moore.
10.26am GMT
10.26am GMT
10:26
10:26
Since you’re here, we have a small favour to ask. More people are reading the Guardian than ever – but far fewer are paying for it, and advertising revenues are falling fast. So you can see why we need to ask for your help. The Guardian’s journalism takes a lot of time, money and hard work to produce. But we do it because we believe that independent reporting and plurality of voices matter. If everyone who reads our reporting helps to pay for it, our future would be much more a monthly payment or a one-off contribution. - Guardian HQ
Since you’re here, we have a small favour to ask. More people are reading the Guardian than ever – but far fewer are paying for it, and advertising revenues are falling fast. So you can see why we need to ask for your help. The Guardian’s journalism takes a lot of time, money and hard work to produce. But we do it because we believe that independent reporting and plurality of voices matter. If everyone who reads our reporting helps to pay for it, our future would be much more a monthly payment or a one-off contribution. - Guardian HQ
10.10am GMT
10.10am GMT
10:10
10:10
New York’s tabloids go with the same pun on their front pages.
New York’s tabloids go with the same pun on their front pages.
The NYC tabloid stars aligned today pic.twitter.com/rQOVhogYYh
The NYC tabloid stars aligned today pic.twitter.com/rQOVhogYYh
10.04am GMT
10.04am GMT
10:04
10:04
Bridge protests
Bridge protests
A banner reading “Build bridges not walls” has been draped across London’s Tower Bridge as part of a series of events across the world aimed to protest against Trump’s presidency.
A banner reading “Build bridges not walls” has been draped across London’s Tower Bridge as part of a series of events across the world aimed to protest against Trump’s presidency.
Protesters were joined by Green Party joint leader Jonathan Bartley.
Protesters were joined by Green Party joint leader Jonathan Bartley.
With Greens @carolinerussell & @jon_bartley at Tower Bridge saying #BridgesNOTWalls. Proud of London for twice rejecting divisive campaigns! pic.twitter.com/SJ0IZyFzAH
With Greens @carolinerussell & @jon_bartley at Tower Bridge saying #BridgesNOTWalls. Proud of London for twice rejecting divisive campaigns! pic.twitter.com/SJ0IZyFzAH
Reuters reports:
Reuters reports:
Protesters on the iconic bridge held up pink letters reading “Act now!” soon after sunrise while others unfurled the banner over the railings and a speedboat with a black flag reading “build bridges not walls” raced down the River Thames.
Protesters on the iconic bridge held up pink letters reading “Act now!” soon after sunrise while others unfurled the banner over the railings and a speedboat with a black flag reading “build bridges not walls” raced down the River Thames.
Beside the British parliament, protesters draped banners saying “Migrants welcome here” and “Migration is older than anguage” over Westminster bridge. Other protests are planned in London and other British cities on Friday.
Beside the British parliament, protesters draped banners saying “Migrants welcome here” and “Migration is older than anguage” over Westminster bridge. Other protests are planned in London and other British cities on Friday.
Trump also faces protests in Washington during his inauguration, and in cities from Toronto to Sydney, Addis Ababa and Dublin over his politics which critics say are divisive and dangerous.
Trump also faces protests in Washington during his inauguration, and in cities from Toronto to Sydney, Addis Ababa and Dublin over his politics which critics say are divisive and dangerous.
The protest in London was organised by the campaign group also called “Bridges not Walls”, in reference to Trump’s pledge to build a wall on the Mexican border.
The protest in London was organised by the campaign group also called “Bridges not Walls”, in reference to Trump’s pledge to build a wall on the Mexican border.
“We won’t let the politics of hate peddled by the likes of Donald Trump take hold,” Nona Hurkmans of Bridges not Walls said in a statement.
“We won’t let the politics of hate peddled by the likes of Donald Trump take hold,” Nona Hurkmans of Bridges not Walls said in a statement.
Updated
Updated
at 10.06am GMT
at 10.06am GMT
9.48am GMT
09:48
Our panel describe what they’re doing to protest against the inauguration; from the UK Women’s March to talking about sexual assault in Washington.
9.44am GMT
09:44
What books might might help the Donald get through his term? Danuta Kean has this reading list:
Third Empire: The Russia That Should by Mikhail Yuriev. A favourite novel of Trump’s new BFF, Vladimir Putin. It’s easy to see why as there are close parallels between the Russian leader and the hero this 2006 sci-fi novel – the shadowy but heroic leader “Vladimir the Restorer”, who, aided by the Ukrainian people, makes Russia a great Empire again.
One Billion Customers by James McGregor. The man who built up the Dow Jones’s operation in China can offer the former star of The Apprentice useful tips on how to deal with the world’s biggest markets. No dry textbook, McGregor’s book provides insights into China that are witty, informed and might just prevent the new leader sparking a catastrophic trade war.
When the Facts Change by Tony Judt. Historian Judt knew what it was to change his mind – particularly to move from the extremes of Marxist Zionism in his youth to a commitment to social democracy. Not only will Judt’s essays help the new president to better understand Israel and Palestine, they may help him realise that it is possible to change your mind gracefully.
Language, Truth and Logic by AJ Ayer. With all those speeches he will have to make, this 1936 classic on thought and communication is a must-read for the Donald. Offering advice on fuzzy logic and muddled speaking, it is a useful primer for the “fake news” age. It even has tests, with which the president-elect can evaluate his tweets for statements of unverifiable “fact”.
No Means No! by Jayneen Sanders. It may be too late for the pussygrabber-in-chief, but this picture book for three-to-nine-year-olds might help him begin to appreciate personal boundaries. The publisher’s blurb for Sanders’s book should bring comfort to all: “A world where ‘No!’ does actually mean ‘No!’ can be a world with far less violence and increased respect for humankind.”
Updated
at 9.45am GMT
9.36am GMT
09:36
Sir Nigel Sheinwald former UK ambassador to the US has reflected a nervousness about Trump within the diplomatic community.
Speaking to BBC Radio 4’s Today programme he questioned Trump’s ability to unify the US and stand up to Russia.
Sheinwald said: “There is a real question about whether Trump can unify his country. On the campaign trail he was a populist on the campaign trail he appealed mainly to division and prejudice. He has got to get over that and work out whether he can genuinely unify.
“I’m sure the tweets won’t end, but he’s got to find a way of getting a across a reliable sense of consistency in policy and leadership. And he’s got to listen. He has got a cabinet he doesn’t know very well. He hasn’t worked with these people. He’s barely spoken to most of them.”
Sheinwald added:
“The really big test is over Russia and Nato. That’s the first big test, because it is an area, as with trade, where Congress, the heart of the Republican party, is not with him.
“Over the next few months, you are going to have to see whether a harder edge comes into his approach to Russia, and whether he is prepared to validate a sense of commitment to Nato and to Europe. He can’t continue to say that he thinks Nato is obsolete.
The question is whether he can redefine his view of what’s important and valuable in terms of longer term American interests. I think you will see that wrecking the Iran deal, setting up a trade war, all those things which are possible repercussions of his policies are not actually in America’s interests.
9.14am GMT
09:14
New Yorker cartoonist Paul Noth provides two imagined previews of the ceremony.
My cartoon in this week's @NewYorker pic.twitter.com/NiHmRWkmo1
My talented brother @PaulNoth @NewYorker pic.twitter.com/VSfPxVdECu
9.08am GMT
09:08
Trump may not be giving up tweeting, but he has abandoned the android phone where most of his notorious tweets were fired from, according to the New York Times.
Trump’s tweeting weapon of choice was a Samsung Galaxy.
The NYT reports:
This week, he was forced to abandon his cherished “Trump” 757 for an Air Force jet, and, according to people close to the transition, he has traded in his Android phone for a secure, encrypted device approved by the Secret Service with a new number that few people possess.
The official rationale was security. But some of Mr. Trump’s new aides, who have often been blindsided when a reporter, outside adviser or officeseeker dialed the president-elect directly, expressed relief. Several of them, however, expect the new president to satisfy his compulsion for continuous communication by calling outsiders and by tramping from office to office in search of gossip and sounding boards.
Here’s what Trump tweeted before going to bed on the eve of his inauguration.
Thank you for a wonderful evening in Washington, D.C. #Inauguration pic.twitter.com/a6xpFQTHj5
8.54am GMT
08:54
Farage hails 'global revolution' started by Brexit
Ukip’s former leader, Nigel Farage, claims that Trump’s victory is part of a “global revolution” started by the UK’s vote to leave the European Union.
Sky News played a clip of Farage speaking at an pre-inauguration party he said:
“Throughout most of my life, what happens in America in terms of social trends, developments, we follow four or five years later. America is the leader.
“Now, I would like to think in my own little way that what we did with Brexit was the beginning of what is going to turn out to be a global revolution and that Trump’s victory is a part of that.”
Farage told the Press Association: “I get a sense of the history, and that this particular inauguration is a very significant one because in so many areas it marks a significant change in direction. I’m very excited about it.
“In terms of America’s place in the world and its direction, what is happening ... is very significant indeed. “I’m very, very pleased that post-Brexit we got involved in this.”
Farage attended a lavish party at the five-star Hay-Adams Hotel on Thursday evening to celebrate Trump’s inauguration.
“It’s to celebrate the fact that in 2016 we saw this dramatic change in politics,” he said.
“I suppose the party is the international dimension in all this. “We’ve had Brexit and perhaps that contributed just a little bit to things changing in the USA and who’s to say that bandwagon won’t continue to roll in 2017 across much of Europe.”
Updated
at 8.59am GMT
8.33am GMT
08:33
Trump is "going to ..."
In his 751 word pre-inauguration address at the Lincoln Memorial Trump used the phrase “going to” 22 times.
He promised he was “going to”: “unify our country ... do a special job ... get our jobs back ... not let other countries take our jobs ... build our great military ... strengthen our borders ... work together ... and make America great again.”
Here’s the full text:
Thank you very much. Thank you very much everybody, and thank you Tom. I’d like to congratulate our incredible entertainers tonight. Toby, and Lee Greenwood and all of the great talent. It was really very special. I also have to thank our incredible military right here. Thank you. Stand up, please. You guys were really great. Thank you. So this journey began 18 months ago. I had something to do with it, but you had much more to do with it than I did. I’m the messenger. I’m just the messenger. And we were tired. And I love you. Believe me, I love you. We all got tired of seeing what was happening. And we wanted change, but we wanted real change. And I look so forward to tomorrow. We’re going to see something that is going to be so amazing. So many people have poured into Washington, D.C.
This started out tonight being a small little concert, and then we had the idea maybe we’ll do it in front of the Lincoln Memorial. I don’t know if it’s ever been done before. But if it has, very seldom. And the people came by the thousands and thousands, and here we are tonight, all the way back. All the way back. So it’s a movement that began, it’s a movement that started, and it’s a movement like we’ve never seen anywhere in the world, they say. There’s never been a movement like this and it’s something very, very special. And we’re going to unify our country, and our phrase – you all know it, half of you are wearing the hat – “Make America Great Again.” But we’re going to make America great for all of our people, everybody. Everybody throughout our country. That includes the inner cities, that includes everybody.
And we’re going to do a special job, and I can only tell you that 18 months ago, we never knew, a lot of people didn’t know, some people had a feeling. A lot of people didn’t give us much of a chance, but we understood what was happening. And that last month of the campaign, when I traveled around to every place that you can imagine. State after state after state, speech after speech. And we had ten thousand, twenty thousand, thirty thousand people. There was never an empty seat, just like tonight. We didn’t know if anybody would even come tonight. This hasn’t been done before. And you look. It was the same way. And we all knew that last month of the campaign. I think a lot of us knew the first week of the campaign, but that last month of the campaign we knew that something special was happening.
And I can only tell you this: The polls started going up, up, up, but they didn’t want to give us credit. Because they forgot about a lot of us. On the campaign I called it “the forgotten man” and “the forgotten woman.” Well, you’re not forgotten anymore. That I can tell you. Not forgotten anymore.
So I want to thank my great family, my incredible wife Melania. They’ve been so supportive, and it wasn’t easy for them. But they have been so supportive. I want to thank you, most importantly. And I promise you that I will work so hard. We’re going to get it turned around. We’re going to get our jobs back. We’re not going to let other countries take our jobs any longer. We’re going to build up our great military. We’re going to build it up. We’re going to strengthen our borders. We’re going to do things that haven’t been done for our country for many, many decades. It’s going to change. I promise you it’s going to change.
So I’ll see you tomorrow. And I don’t care frankly if it’s going to be beautiful or if it’s going to rain like crazy. Makes no difference to me. I have a feeling it’s going to be beautiful. But I will see you tomorrow, and I’m going to be cheering you on. You’re going to cheer me on, but I’m going to be cheering you on. Because what we’ve done is so special. All over the world they’re talking about it. All over the world. And I love you folks, and we’re going to work together. And we are going to – make America great again. And I’ll add: Greater than ever before! Thank you very much and enjoy the fireworks. Thank you everybody. Thank you.
Here’s the speech as a Wordle image.
8.04am GMT
08:04
Worst approval ratings for a president-elect
Pamela Duncan
Trump’s pre-inauguration approval ratings are worse than any of his recent predecessors on every front, writes Pamela Duncan.
Gallup polls have captured pre-inauguration approval rates since 1992, allowing for comparison of four presidents-elect (Bill Clinton, George W Bush, Barack Obama and Trump).
Trump’s 40% favourability rating mean his is the lowest of the past four presidents-elect (Obama was on 78% prior to taking office in 2009) while more people viewed him unfavourably than favourably.
The gap between Trump’s approval ratings among Democrats and Republicans is the widest of any recent president-elect. The Gallup poll of 1,032 adults taken between January 4 and 8 2017, showed that just 8% of Democrats approve of the new president while his approval rating among Republicans stood at 82%.
In 2001 George W Bush enjoyed a 97% approval rate among Republicans while both Obama and Clinton had ratings of 95% and 92% respectively among Democrats in the run up to their inaugurations.
In a response to the poll Trump tweeted that the ratings were rigged.
The same people who did the phony election polls, and were so wrong, are now doing approval rating polls. They are rigged just like before.
7.53am GMT
07:53
Be a part of our experimental group to try out new mobile live blog features and notifications for the inauguration.
The Guardian Mobile Innovation Lab will be testing four features on three platforms (iOS, Chrome on Android, and the web). These experimental formats will supplement the Guardian’s overall inauguration coverage.
Here’s what you can try:
Get a live video stream inside a notification
iOS users can watch the ceremony and other key moments as they happen. We will send a notification to your lock screen containing a live video stream of the ceremony and key moments from the day. Just press the notification to expand and you’ll be able to watch right there. So far as we know, this is the first time anyone has used notifications this way, and we’re excited to try it.
To get this feature: Download the Guardian Mobile Innovation Lab app on iOS and turn on the notifications on the first screen to participate.
Stay up to date with a rolling live blog through notification
Keep a rolling summary of the day’s events on your lockscreen. The notification will update automatically with the highlights of what happened most recently as well as information about what’s to come.
To get this feature: Download the Guardian Mobile Innovation Lab iOS app and turn on notifications to receive these if you are an iOS user, or sign up on Android for Chrome web notifications.
Read updates and watch live video simultaneously.
You can try this feature now if a live video is available. If so, press play when the video appears at the top of the blog. As it plays, scroll down the blog to keep it rolling as you read the latest updates and analysis.
See the day’s events through different lenses
There will be plenty of action on the podium outside the Capitol – and plenty happening off it. Our new feature, which we are calling “Shifting Lenses”, allows you to swipe left and right between two views to get the latest on what’s happening in the official ceremony and also around the streets of Washington.. Shifting Lenses will be available through the experimental mobile lab iOS app. Since it is our first time testing out this format, we will be running it on the afternoon of 20 January, after some of the day’s events have finished.
To get this feature: Download the Guardian Mobile Innovation Lab app on iOS and turn on notifications to participate.
These are experimental features, and while we hope they behave, some aspects may not be exactly as described. We’ll send around a survey to our experimental group afterwards and would love your thoughts on the experience.
7.43am GMT
07:43
Tom McCarthy
Hello and welcome to our live blog coverage of the presidential inauguration of Donald J Trump. The forecast calls for rain.
Trump and his wife Melania spent the night in Washington DC, where they arrived on Thursday and headed to his new hotel, which is just down Pennsylvania Avenue from the White House.
At a pre-inaugural speech at the Lincoln Memorial he promised to make America “greater than ever” and urged his supporters to “enjoy the fireworks.”
President-elect Trump is scheduled to take the oath of office on a specialty riser outside the US Capitol building at noon ET, at that point becoming President Trump. He will be surrounded by a sea of officials, dignitaries, family members, friends and other invited guests, including Barack Obama and his family.
US supreme court justice John Roberts will administer the oath, which is:
I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.
Then President Trump will deliver an inaugural address, to be followed by the departure by helicopter of the Obamas, who are going on holiday.
The Trumps and dignitaries and invitees will lunch at the Capitol. Then Trump and his wife, and newly minted vice-president Mike Pence and his wife, Karen, and perhaps family members, will parade to the White House. The day ends with the Inaugural Ball and sideline parties including, this year, a “DeploraBall” held by rightwingers attempting to reclaim the term used as an insult by Hillary Clinton during the election campaign.
Read Nicole Puglise’s guide to events here:
Protests
As Trump prepares to begin his presidency, protesters are mobilizing to demonstrate against it. The biggest protest of the inauguration will take place on Saturday, with at least 200,000 people expected to attend the Women’s March on Washington. Read our guide to protest activity:
Meet the leaders of the Trump resistance:
Readers bid Obama farewell
Thank you for reading, and please join us in the comments.
