Donald Trump sworn in as 45th US President

Donald Trump was sworn in as the 45th President of the United States on Friday, succeeding Barack Obama and telling a bitterly divided country he will pursue “America First” policies at home and abroad.

As scattered protests erupted elsewhere in Washington, Trump raised his right hand and put his left on a Bible used by Abraham Lincoln and repeated a 35-word oath of office from the US Constitution, with US Chief Justice John Roberts presiding.

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Afterward, he stretched his arms wide and hugged his wife, Melania, and other members of his family. Then he turned around to a podium and delivered his inaugural address. “This moment is your moment, it belongs to you,” Trump told a large crowd that had earlier booed Chuck Schumer, the Democratic minority leader in the US Senate. Revisiting themes from his improbable campaign victory, Trump, 70, said his presidency would aim to help struggling middle-class families, build up the US military and strengthen US borders.

“We are transferring power from Washington DC and giving it back to you,” he said.

“From this day forward a new vision will govern our land,” Trump said. “From this day forward it's going to be only America First.”

Mike Pence was sworn-in as the Vice-President. He took the oath of office before Trump. Hillary Clinton, the Democratic candidate whom Trump defeated on November 8, attended the ceremony with her husband, former President Bill Clinton. Former Presidents George W Bush and Jimmy Carter were also present with their wives. Bush's father, former President George HW Bush, 92, was in Houston recovering from pneumonia.

The transition from a Democratic President to a Republican took place on the West Front of the domed US Capitol before a crowd of former presidents, dignitaries and hundreds of thousands of people on the grounds of the National Mall.

Away from the Capitol, masked activists ran through the streets smashing windows at a restaurant and a coffee shop. They carried black anarchist flags and signs that said: “Join the resistance, fight back now.”

Trump and his vice president, Mike Pence, began the day attending a prayer service at St John's Episcopal Church near the White House. — Reuters

The time for empty talk is over and time for action has arrived. 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. — Donald Trump, US President