President Donald Trump speaks at the inauguration ceremony. Photo: Reuters

The inauguration ceremony took place in the US Capitol Rotunda, after plans to hold it outdoors were abandoned due to a forecast of cold weather. This was the first indoor inauguration in 40 years. John Roberts, the chief justice of the Supreme Court, administered the oath to the President, in line with tradition. President Trump pledged to uphold the responsibilities of the President and protect the US Constitution. He followed the oath with a pronouncement that “the golden age of America begins right now.”

Mr.Trump said, "From this day forward, our country will flourish and be respected again all over the world. We will be the envy of every nation, and we will not allow ourselves to be taken advantage of any longer during every single day of the Trump administration."

"I will, very simply, put America first. Our sovereignty will be reclaimed. Our safety will be restored. The scales of justice will be rebalanced," he said, adding that "the vicious, violent and unfair weaponisation of the Justice Department and our government will end and our top priority will be to create a nation that is proud, prosperous and free."

America will soon be greater, stronger and far more exceptional than ever before, he said. 

Trump on Monday evening signed a proclamation declaring a national emergency at the southern border of the United States. He announced the reinstatement of a policy requiring some asylum seekers to wait in Mexico for US immigration court hearings. This action is part of several measures to boost border security and reduce migration to the US. Trump said that his next priority is to address inflation, lower prices, declare an energy emergency, and promote oil drilling.

He said he would immediately begin overhauling the trade system to protect American workers and families. He also said that, instead of taxing American citizens to benefit other countries, the US would impose tariffs and taxes on foreign countries to benefit its own citizens. He vowed to rebuild the strongest military the world has ever seen. Trump said he would change the name of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America and regain control of the Panama Canal.

Upon his return to the Oval Office following the inauguration, Trump signed close to 100 executive orders. According to the White House, President Trump withdrew the US from the World Health Organization and the 2015 Paris Agreement on climate.  He signed executive orders imposing a 25% tax on all imported products from Canada and Mexico, and an additional 10% import tax on goods from China. He signed other executive orders to facilitate oil exploration, end incentives for electric vehicles, and extend TikTok's operations in the US to allow its parent company, ByteDance, more time to divest from the app.

President Trump announced that, from now on, the US government will recognize only two genders: male and female. He also said he will end the Green New Deal, revoke the electric vehicle mandate, and protect the auto industry and workers.

The US Senate on Monday unanimously approved Marco Rubio as Secretary of State.