Donald Trump dances to \u2018YMCA\u2019 with The Village People at his Washington DC victory rally on Sunday<\/p>\n
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Donald Trump will promise a \u201cthrilling new era\u201d for America in his inaugural address at the US Capitol on Monday after he is sworn-in as the 47th commander-in-chief of the United States.<\/p>\n
Trump will become the first president since Grover Cleveland to enter the White House for a non-consecutive second term, with the ceremony driven indoors for the first time since Ronald Reagan\u2019s second inauguration in 1985 by the punishing sub-zero temperatures currently blasting Washington DC.<\/p>\n
\u201cI return to the presidency confident and optimistic that we are at the start of a thrilling new era of national success,\u201d the Republican will say, according to pre-released excerpts of his speech.<\/p>\n
\u201cA tide of change is sweeping the country.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ahead of the ceremony, the incoming first lady Melania Trump unveiled a new cryptocurrency venture after her husband delivered a campaign-style speech at a \u201cMake America Great Again Victory Rally\u201d at DC\u2019s Capital One Arena on Sunday.<\/p>\n
On day one, the president-elect has plans in place to sign more than 200 executive orders \u2013 a record \u2013 covering everything from border security and energy, but will be forced to do so with only a quarter of the staff he needs.<\/p>\n
In pictures: Trump cabinet nominees begin arriving for Inauguration Day church service<\/p>\n
(Reuters)<\/p>\n
(Reuters)<\/p>\n
(Getty)Joe Sommerlad20 January 2025 12:45<\/p>\n
Breaking: Biden issues pre-emptive pardons to Dr. Fauci and other Trump targets in one of his final actsPresident Joe Biden has issued pre-emptive pardons to Dr Anthony Fauci, General Mark Milley and the members of Congress who served on the House committee that investigated the attempted insurrection at the US Capitol on January 6 2021 in one of his final acts before leaving the White House, anticipating their political persecution by his incoming successor Donald Trump.<\/p>\n
President-elect Trump will be sworn in as the 47th president of the United States at an inauguration ceremony in the Capitol rotunda on Monday afternoon and has previously hinted that he could seek revenge against his numerous political enemies after returning to the Oval Office.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur nation relies on dedicated, selfless public servants every day. They are the lifeblood of our democracy,\u201d President Biden wrote in a statement announcing his decision.<\/p>\n
\u201cYet alarmingly, public servants have been subjected to ongoing threats and intimidation for faithfully discharging their duties.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn certain cases, some have even been threatened with criminal prosecutions, including General Mark A Milley, Dr. Anthony S Fauci, and the members and staff of the Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the United States Capitol. These public servants have served our nation with honor and distinction and do not deserve to be the targets of unjustified and politically motivated prosecutions.\u201d<\/p>\n
Here\u2019s the very latest.<\/p>\n
Joe Sommerlad20 January 2025 12:35<\/p>\n
Snoop Dogg fans appalled by performance at Trump inauguration partyThe one and only D-O double G (real name Calvin Cordozar Broadus Jr) was filmed performing his classic track \u201cNuthin\u2019 but a G Thang\u201d at the first-ever \u201cCrypto Ball\u201d in celebration of Trump\u2019s inauguration, a party hosted by David Sacks, former PayPal COO and the incoming White House AI and crypto czar.<\/p>\n
After previously mocking the president-elect, Snoop switched allegiances last year to praise Trump and claim he \u201chas done only great things\u201d for him.<\/p>\n
Here\u2019s Tom Murray on the fallout among his fans.<\/p>\n
Joe Sommerlad20 January 2025 12:25<\/p>\n
Why Michelle Obama is skipping Trump\u2019s inaugurationThe former first lady has made it clear she wants nothing to do with Donald Trump, having warned at the Democratic convention last year that he poses as a threat to American democracy.<\/p>\n
Here\u2019s a look at the reported reason for her absence from today\u2019s proceedings from Rhian Lubin.<\/p>\n
Joe Sommerlad20 January 2025 12:05<\/p>\n
Who will perform the national anthem at Trump\u2019s inauguration?As the president-elect takes his oath of office later today, he will be serenaded by a host of performers, including Christopher Macchio, who will belt out the national anthem.<\/p>\n
Macchio, 46, a classical-crossover vocalist from New York City, takes on the honor from Lady Gaga, who performed the national anthem at Joe Biden\u2019s 2021 swearing-in ceremony.<\/p>\n
Here\u2019s Inga Parkel\u2019s profile of the singer.<\/p>\n
Joe Sommerlad20 January 2025 11:45<\/p>\n
Eight years ago, the stars avoided Trump\u2019s inauguration. This time it\u2019s differentCarrie Underwood might not be Beyonc\u00e9 or Garth Brooks in the celebrity superstar ecosystem. <\/p>\n
But the singer\u2019s participation in Trump\u2019s inauguration is nevertheless a sign of the changing tides, where mainstream entertainers, from Nelly to The Village People are more publicly and more enthusiastically associating with the new administration.<\/p>\n
Eight years ago, Trump reportedly struggled to enlist stars to be part of the swearing-in and the various glitzy balls that follow. <\/p>\n
The concurrent protest marches around the nation had more famous entertainers than the swearing-in, which stood in stark contrast to someone like Barack Obama, whose second inaugural ceremony had performances from Beyonc\u00e9, James Taylor and Kelly Clarkson and a series of starry onlookers.<\/p>\n
There were always some celebrity Trump supporters, like Kid Rock, Hulk Hogan, Jon Voight, Rosanne Barr, Mike Tyson, Sylvester Stallone and Dennis Rodman, to name a few. <\/p>\n
But Trump\u2019s victory this time around was decisive and while Hollywood may always skew largely liberal, the slate of names participating in his inauguration weekend events has improved.<\/p>\n
Kid Rock, Billy Ray Cyrus, The Village People and Lee Greenwood all performed at his MAGA-style rally on Sunday. <\/p>\n
Those performing at inaugural balls include the rapper Nelly, country music band Rascal Flatts, country singer Jason Aldean and singer-songwriter Gavin DeGraw.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe people who are coming out and participating directly are still a small subset of the entire universe of what we call celebrity,\u201d said Robert Thompson, a professor of pop culture at Syracuse University. <\/p>\n
\u201cBut we\u2019re seeing a lot more celebrities who are coming out and supporting Trump. There may not be that distinct division that we saw before.\u201d<\/p>\n
Joe Sommerlad20 January 2025 11:25<\/p>\n
Recap: Trump concludes DC rally by dancing on stage with Village PeopleIn case you missed it, the president-elect hosted a \u201cMake American Great Again Victory Rally\u201d at Washington\u2019s Capital One Arena on Sunday, which saw him wrap up his final speech as president-elect by dancing on stage with The Village People to their 1978 disco hit \u201cYMCA\u201d.<\/p>\n
Say what you like about Trump but you never got this with Dwight Eisenhower.<\/p>\n
Katie Hawkinson reports.<\/p>\n
Joe Sommerlad20 January 2025 11:05<\/p>\n
Pope condemns Trump\u2019s mass deportation plan: \u2018It will be a disgrace\u2019Pope Francis has condemned the president-elect\u2019s plans for the mass deportation of illegal immigrants from the United States, calling his plans a \u201cdisgrace\u201d in an interview on the Italian talk show Che Tempo Che Fa on Sunday.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf it is true, it will be a disgrace, because it makes the poor wretches who have nothing pay the unpaid bill,\u201d his holiness said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt won\u2019t do. This is not the way to solve things.\u201d<\/p>\n
Katie Hawkinson reports.<\/p>\n
Joe Sommerlad20 January 2025 10:45<\/p>\n
Trump to call for \u2018revolution of common sense\u2019 in inaugural addressThe Wall Street Journal has got hold of an exclusive extract from the speech will deliver at the Capitol later today, which reveals he will promise a \u201crevolution of common sense\u201d.<\/p>\n
The newspaper quotes Trump\u2019s upcoming remarks as follows:<\/p>\n
\u201cI return to the presidency confident and optimistic that we are at the start of a thrilling new era of national success.<\/p>\n
\u201cA tide of change is sweeping the country.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy message to Americans today is that it is time for us to once again act with courage, vigor and the vitality of history\u2019s greatest civilization.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Republican will reportedly deliver a more upbeat address this time far removed from his \u201cAmerican carnage\u201d speech of eight years ago, which appeared to lift beats from Batman villain Bane in Christopher Nolan\u2019s blockbuster The Dark Knight Rises, as he spells out in blunt terms what he believes the country needs as he presides over an administration focused on the mass deportation of illegal immigrants, exposing steep international trade tariffs and slashing the size of the sprawling federal government.<\/p>\n
Donald Trump (AP)Joe Sommerlad20 January 2025 10:35<\/p>\n
Vivek Ramaswamy reportedly plans to step aside from DOGE after \u2018friction\u2019 with staffFormer Republican presidential candidate and biotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy is reportedly expected to leave his post alongside Elon Musk at the newly-created Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) before it has even kicked into gear, with \u201cfriction\u201d with staff cited as the reason by CBS.<\/p>\n
Ramaswamy has also been linked in recent days with a run to replace Mike DeWine as Ohio governor once his final term is concluded.<\/p>\n
Katie Hawkinson has more on the palace intrigue below.<\/p>\n
Joe Sommerlad20 January 2025 10:25<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Donald Trump dances to \u2018YMCA\u2019 with The Village People at his Washington DC victory rally on Sunday Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inboxGet our free Inside Washington emailGet our free Inside Washington email I would like to be emailed about offers, events and […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":4059,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[173],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4058","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"yoast_head":"\n