Inauguration live updates: Trump says 25% tariffs on goods from Canada, Mexico could start Feb. 1
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US President Donald Trump signs executive orders in the Oval Office of the White House.JIM WATSON/AFP/Getty Images
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9:36 p.m.
Loonie erases earlier rally as Trump suggests possible Feb. 1 start to tariffs
– Reuters, Globe Staff
The Canadian dollar at about 9 p.m. ET was trading at 69.26 cents U.S., close to where it was trading at before a WSJ report Monday morning suggested that Mr. Trump was not immediately planning a 25 per cent tariff on Canadian imports.
The market reaction to Trump’s comments Monday evening suggested a Feb. 1 start to the tariffs was a knee-jerk fall in the Canadian dollar and Mexican peso. The U.S. dollar added 1.3 per cent against the peso.
9:10 p.m.
Trump launches sweeping border crackdown, mass deportation push
Guatemalan migrants who originally had appointments in the U.S. on January 29 show their cellphones displaying the CBP One application as they pose for a photo while speaking with Reuters, after U.S. Customs and Border Protection canceled CBP One appointments, on the inauguration day of Donald Trump’s second presidential term, in Tapachula, Chiapas state, Mexico January 20, 2025.Raquel Cunha/Reuters
– Reuters
President Donald Trump on Monday kicked off his sweeping immigration crackdown, declaring illegal immigration at the U.S.-Mexico border a national emergency, designating criminal cartels as terrorist organizations and taking steps to block citizenship for children of immigrants in the U.S. illegally.
The series of executive orders that Trump outlined in his inaugural address, said he would invoke a 1798 wartime law known as the Alien Enemies Act to target foreign gang members in the U.S., a legal authority last used to detain non-citizens of Japanese, German, and Italian descent in internment camps during World War Two.
Shortly after the inauguration, U.S. border authorities said they had shut down outgoing President Joe Biden’s CBP One entry program, which had allowed hundreds of thousands of migrants to enter the U.S. legally by scheduling an appointment on an app. Existing appointments were cancelled, leaving migrants stunned and unsure of what to do.
Republicans say large-scale deportations are necessary after millions of immigrants crossed illegally during Biden’s presidency. There were roughly 11 million immigrants in the U.S. illegally or with a temporary status at the start of 2022, according to a U.S. government estimate, a figure that some analysts now place at 13 million to 14 million.
8:43 p.m.
Trump signs executive order withdrawing from the World Health Organization
– Reuters
The United States will exit the World Health Organization, President Donald Trump said on Monday, saying the global health agency had mishandled the COVID-19 pandemic and other international health crises.
8:03 p.m.
Trump says 25% tariffs on Canada, Mexico could come on Feb. 1
Commercial trucks drive on the Ambassador Bridge between Windsor, Ontario, Canada and Detroit, Michigan, U.S., as seen from Detroit, Michigan, U.S., January 18, 2025.Rebecca Cook/Reuters
– Reuters
U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday said he was thinking of imposing 25 per cent tariffs on imports from Canada and Mexico because they were allowing many people to cross the border as well as fentanyl.
He said the action could come on Feb. 1.
He said he had spoken on Monday with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
7:56 p.m.
Trump pardons nearly all charged in Jan. 6 U.S. Capitol riot
– Reuters
President Donald Trump on Monday pardoned about 1,500 people who stormed the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, in a sweeping gesture of support to the people who assaulted police as they tried to prevent lawmakers from certifying his 2020 election defeat.
7:49 p.m.
Ontario, Alberta premiers react to news of no tariffs yet, while Canadian industries brace for uncertainty
– Globe Staff
Canadian politicians, business leaders and the public in general breathed a sigh of relief Monday after U.S. President Donald Trump opted not to impose tariffs on Canada on the first day of his administration but instead review trade relationships with Canada, China and Mexico.
But Canada is not out of the woods yet, according to Ontario Premier Doug Ford, who said he was not relived and warned of Trump, “he’s coming for us.” Alberta Premier Danielle Smith, who was in Washington on Monday for the inauguration, rolled out a six-point strategy to shield Canada from the threat of tariffs.
Meanwhile food growers said it is an opportunity to “make our case” before any tariffs are imposed, and the aluminium sector still braced for intense volatility due Trump’s ongoing threat.
7: 39 p.m.
Loonie climbs in wake of reports Trump’s decision not to impose tariffs on his first day
– Globe Staff
The Canadian dollar rose sharply against the U.S. dollar on Monday morning, and ended the day with five-week highs, as investors expressed relief that the country would avoid immediate U.S. trade tariffs from President Donald Trump.
Energy and industrial shares led gains on the Toronto Stock Exchange.
By late afternoon, the loonie was trading 1.1-per-cent higher at 1.4325 per U.S. dollar, or 69.81 U.S. cents, after touching its strongest intraday level since Dec. 17 at 1.4262. Earlier on Monday, the loonie touched its weakest level since March 2020 at 1.4485.
The U.S. dollar has been notably strong since Trump’s election, as financial markets have priced in expectations of tariffs and tax cuts, which would fuel inflation and push up interest rates. Tariffs also cause a target country’s exchange rate to depreciate as demand from foreign buyers for the country’s currency decreases.
7:31 p.m.
Trump signs first executive orders surrounded by supporters
– Reuters
U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday began to issue what is expected to be a flurry of executive orders and directives, as he sought to put his stamp on his new administration on matters ranging from energy to immigration.
Among the executive orders Trump signed with a flourish in front of a cheering crowd at Capital One Arena was one mandating that federal workers return to their offices five days a week. He also ordered a federal hiring freeze, mirroring an action he took at the start of his first term to try to reduce the size of government.
Here are all the orders Trump has signed so far:
- Halting 78 Biden-era executive actions
- A regulatory freeze preventing bureaucrats from issuing regulations until the Trump administration has full control of the government
- A freeze on all federal hiring except for military and a few other essential areas
- A requirement that federal workers return to full-time in-person work
- A directive to every department and agency to address the cost of living crisis
- Withdrawal from the Paris climate treaty
- A government order restoring freedom of speech and preventing censorship of free speech
- Ending “weaponization of government”
Read more about the executive orders expected to be signed here.
7:16 p.m.
Opinion: Trump’s remarks at Capital One Arena left a void of hope for the next four years
– Marsha Lederman
I’m not sure how anyone who witnessed Donald Trump’s speech at the Capital One Arena comes away thinking: This guy is the best person to lead this country. With his rambling, self-aggrandizing back-patting, the nasty references to his predecessor, the grievances and name-calling he insisted on yet again – he doesn’t seem like someone who should be in charge of anything. From the crowd, the cheers and jeers were sometimes stomach-turning. People cheering for the “firing,” as Mr. Trump put it, of “Biden bureaucrats” – real people who were working for their country. And cheering the withdrawal of the U.S. from the Paris climate treaty as Mr. Trump went on about how ugly windmills are and, also, how unreliable – so unreliable you might not be able to watch Trump on TV, he said. Is this really happening, I shouted into the void. (That’s not exactly what I shouted but this is a family live blog.)
And I have to mention this again: Speaking about the “J6 hostages” (people jailed for participation in the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection at the U.S. Capitol) as he stood in front of the families of actual hostages who have been held in Gaza for more than 15 months was … beyond offensive.
I don’t feel a lot of hope at this moment. But I do hope I’m wrong.
7:12 p.m.
U.S. Senate confirms Marco Rubio as secretary of state
Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL), U.S. President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for Secretary of State, arrives for the Inauguration of Donald J. Trump in the U.S. Capitol Rotunda on January 20, 2025 in Washington, DC.Pool/Getty Images
– Reuters
The U.S. Senate on Monday unanimously confirmed Republican Senator Marco Rubio, a China hawk and staunch backer of Israel, as President Donald Trump’s secretary of state.
The Senate backed Rubio by a vote of 99-0, days after the long-term member of the Senate foreign relations and intelligence committees sailed through his friendly confirmation hearing.
Rubio became the first of Trump’s cabinet nominees to be confirmed by the Senate, just hours after the president was sworn in for a second White House term.
Additional votes on Trump nominees were expected this week.
Rubio, 53, is a harsh critic of China and an advocate for Israel. The son of immigrants from Cuba, he has also pushed for tough measures against the Communist-ruled island and its allies, especially the government of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.
7:02 p.m.
What Trump’s energy dominance agenda means for Canada
– Emma Graney and Jeffrey Jones, Report on Business reporters
Canada’s oil and gas sector remains under the shadow of tariff threats, but officials breathed a sigh of relief Monday when U.S. President Donald Trump did not immediately follow through on imposing duties on energy imports.
However, the new president’s vision of U.S. energy independence via a massive boost to domestic production – “drill, baby, drill” – means more uncertainty for a Canadian industry that relies heavily on the U.S. market.
Canada and the U.S. have by far the largest bilateral oil-trading relationship in the world. Last year, Canada accounted for 60 per cent of U.S. crude imports, hitting a record of 4.3 million barrels a day. That was up from 33 per cent of imports just a decade earlier, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA).
Tariffs are not off the table altogether, as Mr. Trump directed federal agencies to evaluate trade relationships with China, Mexico and Canada. But Rory Johnston, oil analyst and founder of Commodity Context, said the fact that they didn’t appear on inauguration day was “a deep, deep relief” for the Canadian oil and gas sector.
6:40 p.m.
American families of Israeli hostages honoured at Trump’s indoor parade
President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance, second lady Usha Vance and first lady Melania Trump greet families of hostages held in Gaza, during an indoor Presidential Inauguration parade event at Capital One Arena, Monday, Jan. 20, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)Evan Vucci/The Associated Press
– Marsha Lederman
Among the people at Capital One Arena for the inauguration parade-moved-indoors to honour Donald Trump are members of families of Israeli hostages. Before Mr. Trump took the stage, the families were singled out in an address by Mideast envoy Steve Witkoff, who promised that his boss, Mr. Trump, would cut through the bureaucratic gridlock and focus on results in the Middle East. He said that resolution was possible, with a four-fold approach to bringing peace to the region. The family members were brought onto the dais, some of them wearing yellow scarves and holding photos of their loved ones. Some in the crowd began chanting “Bring them home.” Immediately after that, with the families of hostages in Gaza standing behind him, Mr. Trump had the audacity to refer to the “J6 hostages” – people convicted in the 2021 insurrection at the Capitol.
6:12 p.m.
Fact-checking false and misleading claims Trump made during his inaugural address
– The Associated Press
In his first address after being sworn in on Monday, President Donald Trump repeated several false and misleading statements that he made during his campaign. They included claims about immigration, the economy, electric vehicles and the Panama Canal. In remarks after the inauguration at the Capitol’s Emancipation Hall, he made a number of other false claims, including one that distorts pardons made by Joe Biden as he left office.
Read a closer look at the facts here.
6:01 p.m.
Opinion: Trump’s inauguration spectacle augurs poorly for America
– Debra Thompson
Some of Mr. Trump’s promises were, of course, ludicrous. To hear it from him, the new manifest destiny of the United States apparently involves taking back the Panama Canal, planting the American flag on Mars, and changing the name of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America. But even though these are undeniably strange preoccupations for a newly inaugurated president, they make sense in the context of Mr. Trump’s tendency to deploy outlandish ideas, and to use bullish power moves to get his way.
The inauguration was, of course, not “liberation day” for many Americans. And the reference to Dr. Martin Luther King’s “I have a dream” speech while billionaires applauded politely – on the civil rights leader’s birthday, no less – was gut-wrenchingly perverse. The guardrails are gone this time around, and Mr. Trump’s first moves as President clearly demonstrate that he believes his mandate is to make his election promises a reality. In this initial preview of what is to follow, the next four years will be anything but a revolution of common sense.
As is his way, Mr. Trump rambled his way through many misleading or outright false statements in his speech. But he was right about at least one thing: that the election that brought him back to the Oval Office might be remembered as the most consequential in American history.
Read more from Debra Thompson on Trump’s inauguration.
5:41 p.m.
Canadian government relieved Trump held off on announcing tariffs
Minister of Foreign Affairs Melanie Joly, with Minister of Public Safety David McGuinty and Finance Minister Dominic LeBlanc, leave a media availability during a Liberal Cabinet Retreat in Montebello, Quebec, Canada January 20, 2025.Blair Gable/Reuters
– Steven Chase
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government said it’s relieved that Donald Trump held off imposing tariffs against Canada and is happy to work with Washington on its reported plans to instead launch an investigation into alleged unfair trade practices by the Canadian government.
Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly said Ottawa received no advanced notice of Mr. Trump’s plan, as reported by the Wall Street Journal, to delay threatened tariffs on Canada and instead issue a memo directing federal agencies to investigate trade deficits with countries including Canada. The newspaper said these studies would also look at the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement, which is up for renewal in 2026.
She said, however, that Ottawa had received word this past weekend that the incoming Trump team was pleased to see Canada deploying Black Hawk helicopters close to the border. Back in November, after he won the election, Mr. Trump had vowed to immediately impose 25-per-cent tariffs on Canada and Mexico unless they took action to stop illegal migration and drug smuggling entering the United States from their territories.
Read more about the Canadian government’s reaction to Trump’s inauguration here.
5:15 p.m.
Trump arrives at indoor parade to sign first executive orders in front of crowd
– The Associated Press
Trump entered Capitol One Arena via stairs in the stands that had him walking past his supporters, who were close enough to touch him and pat him on the shoulder. It was a marked contrast from the Republican National Convention, when Secret Service agents kept a wide aisle between Trump and Republican officials amid heightened security following his near-assassination.
The indoor parade — attended by regular supporters — serves as a visual contrast to the events at the Capitol, where Trump was surrounded by lawmakers and many of the country’s richest men.
Trump took a red, white and blue stage, placing a binder on a podium to raucous cheers from the crowd. Trump then stood and smiled, pumping his fist as sustained cheers continued. He is expected to sign his first executive orders in front of the crowd.
5:02 p.m.
What are Trump’s Day 1 priorities?
– The Associated Press
President Donald Trump has promised a flurry of executive action on Day One, and there are executive orders already prepared for his signature. Those orders will end diversity, equity and inclusion funding, crack down on border crossings and ease regulations on oil and natural gas production. The Republican has promised dozens of actions, though it’s unclear whether he’ll make good on his pledge to do them all on his first day.
Take a closer look at some of Trump’s plans here.
4:28 p.m.
Trump’s new meme coin and new crypto token soar on his first day in office
– Reuters
The crypto project connected to President Donald Trump, World Liberty Financial, raised $1-billion in token sales, the company said on Monday, as a new Trump memecoin also soared to more than $10-billion in market value as Trump took office for his second term.
The boom in Trump-related crypto ventures comes as he promises to usher in a new “golden age” for cryptocurrencies, in stark contrast to the regulatory scrutiny of the industry the Biden administration enforced. It has also raised ethics concerns from experts and industry insiders.
WLF, promoted and formed by Mr. Trump, his sons, and Mr. Trump’s new special envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, launched two months before the U.S. election.
Mr. Trump’s new memecoin, branded $TRUMP, was launched Friday night during the first-ever Crypto Ball in Washington, in conjunction with festivities for the inauguration. The coin surged on Monday from less than US$10 on Saturday morning to as high as US$74.59 before giving up some of its huge rise on Monday.
3:49 p.m.
Can Trump rename the Gulf of Mexico?
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration public affairs officer Dennis Feltgen updates the progress of Hurricane Michael in 2018 as it rapidly picked up steam in the Gulf of Mexico.Wilfredo Lee/The Associated Press
– The Associated Press
“A short time from now, we are going to be changing the name of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America,” Trump said during his inauguration speech. This body of water is often referred to as the United States’ “third coast” because of its coastline across five southeastern states. Mexicans use a Spanish version of the same name for the gulf: “El Golfo de México.” Trump could maybe change the name of the Gulf of Mexico, but it’s not a unilateral decision, and other countries don’t have to go along.
The International Hydrographic Organization — of which both the United States and Mexico are members — works to ensure all the world’s seas, oceans and navigable waters are surveyed and charted uniformly, and also names some of them, but there is no official body or protocol that governs naming conventions for the whole world. There are instances where countries refer to the same body of water or landmark by different names in their own documentation.
3:43 p.m.
Watch: Comparing Trump’s inauguration comments on crime and trade from 2017 and 2025
President Donald Trump hit on the the same topics of crime and trade in his 2025 inauguration speech as he did at his first inauguration eight years ago. There was an echo of his “American carnage” comment from 2017 when he said on Monday that, “America’s decline is over.”
The Globe and Mail
3:34 p.m.
Trump appears to not place hand on Bible during swearing-in ceremony. Does it matter?
Donald Trump is sworn in as the 47th president of the United States by Chief Justice John Roberts as Melania Trump holds the Bible.Morry Gash/The Associated Press
– The Associated Press
Some media reports earlier in the day said Donald Trump took the oath of office with his hand on a Bible. But photos and videos of the swearing-in show Trump with his hand at his side. Does it matter?
It’s traditional to use a Bible during the presidential oath of office, but it is not required. Only the oath is mandated by the Constitution.
Theodore Roosevelt didn’t use a Bible when he was sworn in following the assassination of William McKinley in 1901. John Quincy Adams used a law text for his 1825 inauguration.
And, sworn in aboard Air Force One after John Kennedy’s assassination in 1963, Lyndon B. Johnson used a Catholic missal.
3:16 p.m.
Trump says he’s withdrawing the U.S. from the Paris climate agreement again
– The Associated Press
President Donald Trump says he will again withdraw the United States, a top carbon polluting nation, from the landmark Paris climate agreement, dealing a blow to worldwide efforts to combat global warming and once again distancing the U.S. from its closest allies.
The White House announcement, which came as Trump was sworn in Monday to a second term, echoed Trump’s actions in 2017, when he announced that the U.S. would abandon the global Paris accord. The pact is aimed at limiting long-term global warming to 2.7 degrees Fahrenheit (1.5 degrees Celsius) above pre-industrial levels or, failing that, keeping temperatures at least well below 3.6 degrees Fahrenheit (2 degrees Celsius) above pre-industrial levels.
The 2015 Paris agreement is voluntary and allows nations to provide targets to cut their own emissions of greenhouse gases from the burning of coal, oil and natural gas. Those targets are supposed to become more stringent over time, with countries facing a February 2025 deadline for new individual plans. The outgoing Biden administration last month offered a plan to cut U.S. greenhouse gas emissions by more than 60 per cent by 2035.
3:02 p.m.
A wave of Trump-demanded departures hits senior leadership at the State Department
– The Associated Press
A large number of senior career diplomats who served in politically appointed leadership positions at the State Department have left their posts at the demand of the incoming Trump administration, which plans to install its own people in those positions, according to current and outgoing U.S. officials.
Personnel changes in the senior ranks of the department, like those at all federal agencies, are not uncommon after a presidential election, and career officials serving in those roles are required, just as non-career political appointees, to submit letters of resignation before an incoming administration takes office.
In the past, some of those resignations have not been accepted, allowing career officials to remain in their posts at least temporarily until the new president can nominate his team. That offers some degree of continuity in the day-to-day running of the bureaucracy.
While turnover is inevitable and expected during any change of administration, the departures come at an increasingly fraught time, notably in Ukraine and the Middle East, in the foreign policy realm. Conflict is raging between Russia and Ukraine, and new negotiations will be required early next month to extend and expand a temporary ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza.
Thus, changes in the top ranks of the State Department and the White House National Security Council may have a more significant impact than they might have had during previous transitions.
2:45 p.m.
Schedule of events for the duration of Inauguration Day
– The Associated Press
A look at the lineup of official inaugural events surrounding Donald Trump’s second inauguration following the swearing-in ceremony.
Inaugural luncheon:
The new president and vice president attend a luncheon at Statuary Hall in the U.S. Capitol hosted by the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies
Pass in review:
After the luncheon, the president and vice president head to the East Front steps of the Capitol, where they are to review the military troops.
Presidential parade:
Because of cold weather, Trump is moving the traditional parade down Pennsylvania Avenue to Washington’s Capitol One Arena. The event is expected to feature remarks from Trump and marching bands
Oval Office ceremony:
Trump heads to the White House for an Oval Office ceremony
Inaugural balls:
- Commander in Chief Inaugural Ball: Country music band Rascal Flatts and country singer Parker McCollum will perform at the ball geared toward military service members. Trump is scheduled to speak.
- Liberty Inaugural Ball: Rapper Nelly, country singer Jason Aldean and disco band The Village People are scheduled to perform at the ball geared toward Trump’s supporters. Trump is set to give remarks.
- Starlight Ball: Singer-songwriter Gavin DeGraw will perform and Trump will speak at the third inaugural ball, at which guests are expected to be big donors of the incoming president.
2:35 p.m.
Trump participates in a formal signing ceremony at the U.S. Capitol
– The Associated Press
Flanked by members of Congress from both parties, Trump sat in a high-backed red chair at an ornate desk and began affixing his signature to documents. One act was related to cabinet duties while another directed that U.S. flags be flown at full staff on Inauguration Day.
Trump had bristled at the idea of flags flying at half-staff, as directed by Biden, for 30 days to honour the death of former President Jimmy Carter.
2:26 p.m.
‘Fit check: Melania Trump’s hat and fashion on Inauguration Day
President-elect Donald Trump kisses Melania Trump before the presidential inauguration.Saul Loeb/The Associated Press
– Bianca Bharti
Melania Trump wore a wide-brimmed navy and white hat by American designer Eric Javits to her husband’s inauguration. The hat obscured almost the entire upper half of her face, making it difficult to read her expressions. To brave the frigid weather in Washington, she accompanied the hat with a navy silk-wool, double-breasted peacoat by American designer Adam Lippes, which was cinched at the waist and paired with a set of black Louboutin stilettos.
When the incoming president moved in to kiss her during the ceremony, the hat prevented him from being able to stick the landing.
2:21 p.m.
Opinion: Trump’s speech was ‘the most divisive inauguration address’
Donald Trump’s speech was the most divisive inauguration address I have ever heard. And Joe Biden made the day an even more divisive one with his surreptitious last second pardon of five of his family members.
In his Golden Age oration, which was one boast after another, Mr. Trump said he wanted to be remembered as a “unifier.” But he did not have one kind word to say about his opponents who won almost as many votes as he did.
He repeatedly and brutally denounced the record of the outgoing administration with denunciations such as calling its work “a horrible betrayal.”
On the release of the Middle East hostages Mr. Trump may have at least given a partial nod to his predecessor but he couldn’t even find the generosity of spirit to do that. Fact checkers will have a fine time recounting the typically Trumpian false claims.
The speech had many strong confidence-boosting passages but did nothing to bring the polarized country together. And while old Joe wanted to be a healer, his last act only broadened the chasm.
2:16 p.m.
Opinion: Trump addresses supporters in ‘rambling’ speech
President Donald Trump delivers remarks in Emancipation Hall during inauguration ceremonies at the U.S. Capitol.BONNIE CASH/AFP/Getty Images
In a rambling speech at the Capitol after his official inauguration address, Donald Trump addressed a crowd of supporters.
In a speech that was in fact longer than the earlier one he had delivered, Mr. Trump claimed once again that the 2020 election was “totally rigged” and spoke at length about his border wall.
The petty, unpresidential, long-winded remarks went off onto various tangents, but he said it was a better speech than the earlier, official address. He called Trump critic Liz Cheney a “crying lunatic” and Nancy Pelosi “guilty as hell.” He said Hillary Clinton “didn’t look too happy today.” (No kidding.) He spoke about “fake news” and referred to himself at times in the third person. He said he chose not to include anything in his official inauguration address about the people convicted in the Jan. 6, 2021 insurrection at the Capitol. Referring to them as “the J6 hostages,” (hostages!) he promised “a lot of action” on that front.
One thing I think we can all agree on was a comment from Mr. Trump, as he went on and on and on and on for more than 30 minutes, that this has been a movement unlike any in history. Yes, indeed.
1:57 p.m.
Trump’s speech challenged ownership of Panama Canal and touted U.S. Mars ambitions
The U.S. will expand its territorial reach in the next four years, regaining ownership of the Panama Canal and planting the American flag on Mars, Donald Trump pledged in the first speech of his second term as president.
Mr. Trump made no mention Monday of other recently touted ambitions to buy Greenland and bring Canada within U.S. borders.
But he lamented what he called the imprudent decision to give Panama ownership of a canal built at the cost of many lives.
“We have been treated very badly from this foolish gift that should have never been made,” he said, suggesting the U.S. paid an immense cost in money and lives to build the waterway.
Mr. Trump’s account elides considerable historical complexity, not least that most of the 5,600 workers who died during construction of the American canal had come from Barbados, Jamaica, and other parts of the Caribbean. (A previous French attempt failed at the cost of 22,000 lives.)
But Mr. Trump complained that today, “China is operating the Panama Canal, and we didn’t give it to China. We gave it to Panama. And we’re taking it back.” (The U.S. is by far the biggest shipper through the canal, which is owned and operated by the government of Panama.)
The new U.S. President said it “is time for us to once again act with courage, vigorous and the vitality of history’s greatest civilization.”
Less controversial may be his additional promise to leave U.S. footprints on a new planet, an idea that brought a jubilant response from Elon Musk, the billionaire who controls privately-held SpaceX – and has in recent months become one of Mr. Trump’s most committed and financially generous supporters.
The U.S. “will pursue our manifest destiny into the stars, launching American astronauts to plant the stars and stripes onto the planet Mars,” Mr. Trump said.
1:48 p.m.
Watch: Trump vows to overhaul trade and protect workers
President Donald Trump in his inaugural address said his administration would collect tariffs and duties via an “External Revenue Service”, and “overhaul” America’s trade system to protect workers.
1:36 p.m.
Opinion: Trump’s speech lauded by crowd, but created further divides
That address by Donald Trump may have been a crowd pleaser in certain rooms (including, for the most part, the rotunda in which it was delivered), but it was a division-deepener, devoid of grace.
The campaign is over. Mr. Trump did not need to point fingers or do a victory dance, dredging up the election results within metres (or feet) of the woman he defeated and the man who was president and presided over the country Mr. Trump painted as being in terrible disarray.
It was a distasteful way to begin – ugly, but not at all surprising.
1:13 p.m.
The celebrities and famous people who are at Trump’s inauguration
Carrie Underwood performs “America the Beautiful” after Donald Trump was sworn in as the 47th US President.JULIA DEMAREE NIKHINSON/AFP/Getty Images
– Bianca Bharti
Foreign politicians, social media influencers and even Silicon Valley tech founders were in the Capitol Rotunda to witness Donald Trump’s presidential swearing-in ceremony. Here are some notable people who are in attendance:
- Carrie Underwood, singer
- Wayne Gretzky, former NHL player
- Theo Von, comedian
- Jake Paul and Logan Paul, social media influencers and athletes
- Mark Zuckerberg, Meta CEO
- Jeff Bezos, Amazon founder
- Elon Musk, Tesla CEO
- Sundar Pichai, Google CEO
- Tim Cook, Apple CEO
- Shou Zi Chew, TikTok CEO
- Dana White, UFC CEO
- Daniel Noboa, Ecuador president
- Javier Milei, Argentina president
- Giorgia Meloni, Italy prime minister
1:09 p.m.
Opinion: Rabbi Ari Berman’s prayer for Israeli hostages, but no mention of Palestinians killed in Gaza
Rabbi Dr. Ari Berman (C), president of Yeshiva University, delivers a benediction as US President Donald Trump (L) and former US President Joe Biden (L) listen during Trump’s inauguration ceremony.SHAWN THEW/Reuters
For all those people who refused to vote for Kamala Harris because of the Biden administration’s role, as they saw it, in the Israel-Hamas war, I can only imagine how they felt about a prayer at Monday’s inauguration that spoke of the Israeli hostages and made no mention of Palestinians killed in Gaza, delivered by Rabbi Ari Berman while wearing a yellow pin in support of the hostages. He was followed by Rev. Lorenzo Sewell, who had my hair standing on end with his rousing benediction, but who spoke only of Catholics, Protestants, Jews and Gentiles. A third prayer was delivered by a Catholic priest.
1:03 p.m.
Opinion: Why Trump may be holding off on imposing tariffs
A number of factors can be pointed to for Donald Trump holding off – if in fact he does so – on imposing steep tariffs right off the bat.
- He doesn’t want to risk a market slump or meltdown on his very first day.
- Public support is weak for high tariffs. For example, a Wall Street Journal poll showed only about one in 10 Americans favouring a big hit on Canada.
- On Capitol Hill, support from American lawmakers has been tepid for big tariff hikes. Few have spoken out in favour.
- The full court press pushback from Canada has received good exposure in American media, the latest example being The Washington Post prominently featuring a piece from Chrystia Freeland entitled “America, don’t doubt Canada’s resolve.”
- The American economy is doing well, lessening the need for immediate radical measures.
12:59 p.m.
International reaction to Trump’s inauguration
– Reuters
Global leaders react to Donald Trump being sworn in as U.S. president on Monday.
JUSTIN TRUDEAU, CANADIAN PRIME MINISTER
“Congratulations, President Trump. Canada and the U.S. have the world’s most successful economic partnership. We have the chance to work together again — to create more jobs and prosperity for both our nations.”
VOLODYMYR ZELENSKY, UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT
“President Trump is always decisive, and the peace through strength policy he announced provides an opportunity to strengthen American leadership and achieve a long-term and just peace, which is the top priority.”
TAYYIP ERDOGAN, PRESIDENT OF TURKEY
“Since Mr. Trump repeatedly said he would end the Russia-Ukraine war, we as Turkey will do whatever necessary in this regard. We need to resolve this issue as soon as possible. This issue will be on our agenda with our talks with Mr. Trump, and we would take our steps accordingly. I wish Mr. Trump’s second term would bring good for all humanity.”
KEIR STARMER, BRITISH PRIME MINISTER
“For centuries, the relationship between our two nations has been one of collaboration, cooperation and enduring partnership … Together, we have defended the world from tyranny and worked towards our mutual security and prosperity.”
“With President Trump’s longstanding affection and historical ties to the United Kingdom, I know that depth of friendship will continue.”
URSULA VON DER LEYEN, EUROPEAN COMMISSION PRESIDENT
“Best wishes President @realDonaldTrump, for your tenure as 47th President of the United States. The EU looks forward to working closely with you to tackle global challenges. Together, our societies can achieve greater prosperity and strengthen their common security. This is the enduring strength of the transatlantic partnership.”
KING CHARLES:
The king has sent a personal message of congratulations to President Trump on his inauguration, reflecting on the enduring special relationship between the UK and U.S., according to Buckingham Palace.
AHMED AHMED AL-SHARAA, SYRIA’S DE FACTO LEADER:
“The past decade has brought immense suffering to Syria, with the conflict devastating our nation and destabilizing the region. We are confident that he is the leader to bring peace to the Middle East and restore stability to the region,” he said in a statement Monday afternoon.
12:51 p.m.
Trump pledges immediate ‘overhaul’ of American trade system
In his inaugural address, President Donald Trump pledged an immediate “overhaul of our trade system to protect American workers and families.”
He reiterated a commitment to create an External Revenue Service, pledging the collecting of massive amounts of money.
“Instead of taxing our citizens to enrich other countries, we will tariff and tax foreign countries to enrich our citizens,” he said.
Mr. Trump had vowed to impose 25-per-cent tariffs on all Canadian goods after he took office, but the new President reportedly won’t immediately levy duties against any countries on his first day. He will instead order an evaluation of U.S. trade relationships with China, Canada and Mexico, the Wall Street Journal and Reuters reported Monday, citing an official with the incoming Trump administration.
However, his comments on Monday suggest he will impose tariffs at some point.
12:45 p.m.
Opinion: Trump’s inaugural speech promises to end green policies and ‘drill baby drill’
U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during inauguration ceremonies in the Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol.Chip Somodevilla/Reuters
Oh to be a cell on the wall of Joe Biden’s and Kamala Harris’s brains during that Donald Trump speech. Imagine what was going through their heads as they had to sit there within reach of Mr. Trump as the new President derided the country as it has been under their leadership. “The golden age of America begins right now,” he began. Ms. Harris’s face, in particular, was stone. He spoke of Monday as being “Liberation Day.”
Mr. Trump’s speech both invoked the L.A. fires, promised to end green policies and “drill baby drill.” No consciousness of irony detected.
The very white room applauded his promise to “forge a society that is colour-blind and merit-based.” And then his declaration that there are only two genders, male and female, received a standing ovation.
Mr. Biden and Ms. Harris did applaud and stand when Mr. Trump spoke about the Israeli hostages being released on Sunday. They applauded again when he spoke of planting the U.S. flag on Mars. Elon Musk grinned and clapped.
What a day.
12:34 p.m.
Trump’s inaugural speech promises ‘the golden age of America begins right now’
Attendees cheer as President Donald Trump speaks after taking the oath of office.Kenny Holston/The Associated Press
Moments after he was inaugurated as the 47th president of the United States, Donald Trump claimed a mandate “to completely and totally reverse” what he called a “horrible betrayal” of the American people.
But far from offering the olive branches of unity that have often marked inaugural addresses, Mr. Trump’s comments Monday frequently took a dark turn. He decried “a government that cannot manage even a simple crisis at home, while at the same time stumbling into a continuing catalogue of catastrophic events abroad.”
He promised that “the golden age of America begins right now” and that American “sovereignty will be reclaimed.”
“Our safety will be restored. The scales of justice will be rebalanced. The vicious violence and unfair weaponization of the Justice Department and our government will end, Mr. Trump said.
He pledged that the U.S. would, under his presidency, “be the envy of every nation, and we will not allow ourselves to be taken advantage of any longer.”
He claimed that no other American president has been his equal in the tribulations they have experienced.
“Those who wish to stop our cause have tried to take my freedom and, indeed, to take my life,” he said. But, he added, “I was saved by God to make America great again.”
President Donald Trump announced in his inauguration that “millions and millions of criminal aliens” will be sent back to their home countries, the military will be sent to the Mexico border and foreign gangs and criminal networks will be “eliminated.”
12:30 p.m.
Opinion: J.D. Vance’s youth and millennial statuses on display
J.D. Vance is sworn in as U.S. vice president as his wife Usha Vance and family and President Donald Trump look on in the U.S. Capitol Rotunda.Pool/Getty Images
Age was a huge issue in this election campaign – one that ultimately felled Joe Biden’s re-election bid and elevated Kamala Harris in his place. Advanced years and competency registered with voters as much more of a liability for Mr. Biden than Donald Trump, though there are only four years between them in age and Mr. Trump is 78 on inauguration day.
In contrast, Vice-President J.D. Vance is just 40 years old, making him the third-youngest person in American history to hold that title. (Richard Nixon was 40 when he started serving under Dwight Eisenhower in 1953, and John Breckinridge was 36 when he assumed office under James Buchanan in 1857.)
Mr. Vance’s youth and millennial statuses were on display as he was sworn in on Monday, with his wife, Usha, holding their preschool-aged daughter, Mirabel, while his young sons Ewan and Vivek stood at his side, one of them too small to even be seen behind the lectern.
12:21 p.m.
Proud Boys seen marching on Washington streets
Members of the far-right Proud Boys gather on the inauguration day of Donald Trump’s second presidential term in Washington.Marko Djurica/Reuters
– The Associated Press
A group of Proud Boys carrying pro-Trump signs and anti-antifa marched on the streets in Washington as Trump prepared for the swearing-in ceremony at the Capitol Rotunda.
The extremist group was known for street fights with anti-fascist activists when Trump infamously told them to “stand back and stand by” during his first debate in 2020 with Biden.
Dozens of Proud Boys leaders, members and associates have been convicted and sentenced to prison in the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol. It’s unclear whether any might receive pardons promised by Trump.
12:18 p.m.
Trump takes office with a list of renewed pledges
President Donald Trump is taking office with renewed pledges to make sweeping changes to immigration, pull the U.S. out of the Paris Climate Accord, freeze most federal hiring and order a two-gender policy for the country.
In a document released by the new White House administration, Mr. Trump listed a set of priorities. The document reiterates many of the promises he made on the campaign trail, including “ending asylum for illegal border crossers, cracking down on criminal sanctuaries, and enhancing vetting and screening of aliens.”
It also makes a series of additional commitments:
- The President is suspending refugee resettlement, after communities were forced to house large and unsustainable populations of migrants, straining community safety and resources.
- The President will declare an energy emergency and use all necessary resources to build critical infrastructure.
- The President will establish male and female as biological reality and protect women from radical gender ideology.
12:16 p.m.
The prayer ahead of Trump’s oath of office
Rev. Franklin Graham delivers the invocation during inauguration ceremonies in the Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol on January 20, 2025 in Washington, DC.Chip Somodevilla/Reuters
In his prayer ahead of the Oath of Office, Rev. Franklin Graham referred to dark days leading up to this point, Donald Trump’s inauguration. “Look what God has done. Praise Him and give Him glory.” He thanked God for saving Mr. Trump’s life with His “mighty hand,” seemingly referring to the two assassination attempts the incoming president survived months apart. Ahead of Brett Kavanaugh (who has been accused of sexual assault) issuing the Oath of Office to incoming vice-president J.D. Vance, Rev. Graham concluded: “We know that America can never be great again if we turn our backs on You.”
12:03 p.m.
Trump sworn in as U.S. president
Donald Trump is sworn in as the 47th US President in the US Capitol Rotunda in Washington, DC, on January 20, 2025.SAUL LOEB/Reuters
– Reuters
Donald Trump was sworn in as U.S. president, ushering in another turbulent four-year term with promises to push the limits of executive power, deport millions of immigrants, secure retribution against his political enemies and transform the role of the U.S. on the world stage.
Trump stood with his hand on a Bible inside the U.S. Capitol just before noon ET and took the oath of office to “preserve, protect and defend” the U.S. Constitution, administered by Chief Justice John Roberts. His vice president, JD Vance, was sworn in just before him.
Biden and outgoing Vice President Kamala Harris, who lost to Trump in November, were on hand inside the Capitol’s Rotunda, along with former presidents Barack Obama, George W. Bush and Bill Clinton. Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who lost to Trump in 2016, arrived with her husband Bill, but Obama’s wife, Michelle, chose not to attend.
Numerous tech executives who have sought to curry favor with the incoming administration – including the three richest men in the world, Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg – had prominent seats on stage, next to cabinet nominees and members of Trump’s family.
12 p.m.
Opinion: A fine speech from Senator Amy Klobuchar
Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., speaks during the 60th Presidential Inauguration in the Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Monday, Jan. 20, 2025. (Kenny Holston/The New York Times via AP, Pool)Kenny Holston/The Associated Press
A fine speech from Senator Amy Klobuchar, who chairs the committee in charge of the inauguration. She called the theme of today’s inauguration “enduring democracy.” (Let’s hope.) Ms. Klobuchar spoke of the need for finding common ground in this era of division. She reminded those listening that the event takes place at the Capitol and not a “gilded palace” because the Capitol is the people’s house. Hard not to think of outgoing President Joe Biden’s warnings of an incoming oligarchy as she made those remarks. Ms. Klobuchar urged those listening to remember “that the power of those in the room comes from the people” – such as construction workers, teachers. She also offered a shout-out to the firefighters in Los Angeles. “Our democracy’s strength and grit must match theirs,” she said.
11:46 a.m.
Where Trump’s ceremony is taking place
U.S. President Joe Biden and U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris arrive to the inauguration.Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
The inauguration ceremony was moved inside due to cold weather (though it’s -3 Celsius in Washington at the moment, so you have permission to snicker a little in Canadian). This means it’s taking place in the Capitol Rotunda, where it’s impossible to escape the visual ghosts of Jan. 6, 2021, when then-president Donald Trump’s supporters stormed through the building in an attempt to stop the certification of Joe Biden’s victory over Mr. Trump in the 2020 presidential election. Of course, if Monday’s ceremony had gone ahead outdoors as usual, you would still have heard the echo of his supporters swarming over the Capitol steps on their way into the building.
11:42 a.m.
Opinion: This all feels quite Shakespearean
Lauren Sanchez, Founder of Amazon and Blue Origin Jeff Bezos, CEO of Google Sundar Pichai and Tesla, SpaceX and X CEO Elon Musk attend the inauguration of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump in the Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol.Chip Somodevilla/Reuters
This all feels quite Shakespearean. Former vice-president Mike Pence is at the inauguration without his wife, Karen. Former president Barack Obama is there without his wife, Michelle. The women, who have great distaste for Donald Trump, have stayed away.
Even the seating arrangement speaks volumes: Tech company CEOs have been given better seats at the Capitol than proposed members of his cabinet. There are many people who are there who hoped to never see this day. What is going through Jill Biden’s head? Doug Emhoff’s? Hillary Clinton’s? Melania Trump gave a snarl, rather than a smile, as she walked through the building on her way to the ceremony. And this is just the beginning, again …
11:32 a.m.
Schedule of events for Trump’s swearing-in ceremony
(L-R) Former US President Bill Clinton, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, former President George W. Bush, former First Lady Laura Bush and former President Barack Obama attend the inauguration ceremony before Donald Trump is sworn in as the 47th U.S. President.SAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty Images
A look at the lineup of official inaugural events surrounding Donald Trump’s swearing-in ceremony inside the U.S. Capitol Rotunda.
- Musical Prelude by The University of Nebraska–Lincoln Combined Choirs
- Prelude: “The President’s Own,” by the United States Marine Band
- Call to order by Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minnesota
- Invocation by Cardinal Timothy Dolan, archbishop of New York, and the Rev. Franklin Graham of Samaritan’s Purse and The Billy Graham Evangelistic Association
- “Oh, America!” by opera singer Christopher D. Macchio
- The vice presidential oath of office administered by U.S. Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh
- “America the Beautiful,” by Carrie Underwood, the Armed Forced Chorus and the United States Naval Academy Glee Club
- The presidential oath of office administered by Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts
- “The Battle Hymn of the Republic,” performed by the U.S. Naval Academy Glee Club
- Trump’s inaugural address
- Benediction from Yeshiva University’s President Rabbi Dr. Ari Berman, Imam Husham Al-Husainy of the Karbalaa Islamic Center, Senior Pastor Lorenzo Sewell of 180 Church Detroit and the Rev. Fr. Frank Mann of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn
- “The Star-Spangled Banner,” by Christopher Macchio
11:18 a.m.
Trump’s threats to make Canada 51st state unpopular among Americans, too
Donald Trump’s threats to make Canada a 51st state have not proven popular north of the border. “Not a snowball’s chance in hell,” Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said earlier this month. “Give your head a shake!” former prime minister Jean Chrétien wrote in The Globe and Mail. Polls suggest less than a fifth of Canadians are warm to the idea.
But among Americans, too, it’s not a particularly popular prospect. A DailyMail.com/J.L. Partners poll found that just under a third of Americans like the idea. It hasn’t generated much enthusiasm under Mr. Trump’s more ardent supporters either.
Khuram Shahzad, a Pakistani-American who was among those gathered in the cold for Mr. Trump’s inauguration Monday said the incoming president’s comments are political posturing, he said.
It’s “to build a case that if we can take Canada, we can take anybody in the world,” he said. He described Canada and the U.S. as family. “It’s like two brothers are having arguments. It doesn’t mean that they’re going to kill each other,” he said.
“There’s too many Democrats up there. We don’t want them to have their own electoral votes,” added Hal McWilliams, a property and business owner from Buffalo, N.Y. “We’re here to take care of the United States of America, and that’s our first and foremost priority.”
Kerry O’Connor, a Chicago woman, got married in Banff – but she has no desire to see the Canadian Rockies fall under the stars and stripes. “It’s not going to happen,” she said, adding Mr. Trump “was just trolling.”
But a U.S. takeover of Greenland, she said, “has to happen.” She worries that without such a territorial expansion China will find new ways to encroach on the U.S. “We have to get control of our hemisphere,” she said.
11:18 a.m.
The last White House selfie from the Bidens
– Bianca Bharti
Jill Biden posted a selfie with President Joe Biden to her Instagram page on Monday morning, with the White House in the background and the caption “One final photo.”
The Bidens gave a warm welcome to incoming president Donald Trump and soon-to-be First Lady Melania Trump as they arrived at the U.S. Capitol. The outgoing President could be heard saying, “welcome home” as they walked up the steps to be greeted.
Donald and Melania Trump arrived at the White House Monday morning for a preinaugural tea, restoring the traditions around a peaceful transfer of power. President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden greeted the Trumps at the White House North Portico.
The Associated Press
11:10 a.m.
Trump to use one of his first executive orders to create DOGE, Semafor reports
– Reuters
One of the first executive orders U.S. president-elect Donald Trump plans to sign as president will be aimed at establishing the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), Semafor reported on Monday citing a fact sheet.
The department’s work will include updating federal software systems to private-sector standards with an initial focus on modernizing information technology across the government, Semafor said.
Tech billionaire Elon Musk and former Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy have been charged with leading the department. Ramaswamy, however, will not be part of DOGE as he intends to run for governor of Ohio, Politico said on Monday, according to a person close to him. On Sunday, Politico said he intends to formally announce his bid by the last week in January.
The department will “oversee a substantial reduction in the size and scope of government” and operate within the U.S. government, Semafor reported, citing the fact sheet.
“DOGE will work with the Office of Management and Budget and all agencies to shrink the federal workforce, federal spending, and federal regulatory burdens,” Semafor added.
11:06 a.m.
Loonie gains ground against U.S. dollar on reports of no immediate tariffs
The Canadian dollar rose sharply against the U.S. dollar on Monday morning, following reports in U.S. media that Donald Trump will not impose tariffs on Canada and other countries on his first day in office.
The loonie jumped more than 1 per cent against the greenback, briefly trading above US$0.70 for the first time since mid-December. It dropped back into the high US$0.69 range in morning trading, but remains stronger than in recent weeks.
The exchange-rate move was driven mostly by a decline in the U.S. dollar, which depreciated against a basket of major currencies on Monday morning.
The U.S. dollar has been notably strong since Mr. Trump’s election, as financial markets have priced in expectations of tariffs and tax cuts, which would fuel inflation and push up interest rates. Tariffs also cause a target-country’s exchange rate to depreciate as demand from foreign buyers for the country’s currency decreases.
10:51 a.m.
Trump arrives at U.S. Capitol for inauguration
U.S. President Joe Biden (R) and U.S. President-elect Donald Trump depart the White House ahead of the inauguration.Andrew Harnik/Getty Images
– The Associated Press
Trump has arrived at U.S. Capitol for the inauguration ceremony, sharing a limo with Biden.
Both men shared the same vehicle, along with Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar, chair of the bipartisan Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies. They left the White House after spending about 35 minutes in a private meeting.
Biden and Trump have been the bitterest of rivals for years. But the outgoing and incoming president taking the same vehicle to the inauguration ceremony keeps with political traditions.
10:51 a.m.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford directs LCBO to remove all American alcohol from shelves if Trump imposes tariffs
Ontario Premier Doug Ford, wearing a “Canada Is Not For Sale” hat, speaks as he arrives for a first ministers meeting in Ottawa on Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2025.Justin Tang/The Canadian Press
Ontario Premier Doug Ford says he has issued a directive to the LCBO to take all American alcohol off liquor-store shelves in the province if incoming U.S. president Donald Trump imposes 25-per-cent tariffs on Canadian goods.
Speaking at a Rural Ontario Municipal Association event Monday morning, Mr. Ford said he will suggest other premiers make similar moves. Mr. Ford noted that Canada had targeted U.S. bourbon in its retaliatory tariffs after Mr. Trump put tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum during his first term in office.
“Let’s start promoting more Ontario-made wines, and the vodkas and spirits. That’s what we need to do,” he said.
Mr. Ford pointed to figures showing Ontario’s agri-food sector alone was responsible for $45-billion in annual two-way trade with the U.S. and nine million Americans are employed making products for export to the province.
10:45 a.m.
‘We’re devastated by the election outcome’: Protestors rally against Trump
People attend the “People’s March on Washington” ahead of the presidential inauguration of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, in Washington, U.S., Jan. 18, 2025.Jon Cherry/Reuters
Sharon Staccio and Kathleen Laux were among the swell of people who descended on Washington this weekend, driving 500 kilometres from their homes in Stone Ridge, N.Y..
But unlike those who came to celebrate the beginning of Donald Trump’s second term, Ms. Laux, 41, and Ms. Staccio, 55, had already left by Monday.
“We’re devastated by the election outcome,” Ms. Staccio said.
Saturday marked the first time Ms. Laux had participated in a political rally, joining those who gathered to protest Mr. Trump’s election at the People’s March. Their presence brought a flourish of witty signs to Washington – “We are not ovary acting,” one said – but also a particularly vivid demonstration of how much has changed. When Mr. Trump began his first term, hundreds of thousands of women marched through the capital in protest. Eight years later, the numbers amounted to a small fraction of that.
“There is a little bit of – we’ve been defeated, and what can we really do about it?” Ms. Laux said.
She came nonetheless, in hopes that at the very least her own nine-year-old daughter would take note.
“It’s very important for me to show her to stand up for what you believe in,” Ms. Laux said.
10:40 a.m.
What the world thinks of Trump, in polls
– Globe staff
A poll commissioned by the European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR) and conducted by YouGov/Datapraxis/Gallup found varying attitudes toward Donald Trump across the globe.
In terms of whether Trump as U.S. president is good or bad for American citizens, India led the polls, with 85 per cent believing he’d be positive for the country, while Britain came in last, with 24.4 per cent agreeing he’d be good. Canadians were not polled as part of this survey.
When it came to people’s attitudes about whether or not Trump as president would be good for their own country, 84.2 per cent of Indians polled thought he’d be good, while only 10.5 per cent of South Koreans agreed with the sentiment.
10:33 a.m.
Supporters on Trump’s expected executive orders to remake immigration policies
Donald Trump is returning to office in much the same way he campaigned: with bold promises. “I will act with historic speed and strength and fix every single crisis facing our country,” Mr. Trump said on Sunday at his final rally in Washington, before returning to the White House. Expectations are high that he will deliver a raft of executive orders, overturning mandates from Joe Biden, imposing tariffs and issuing pardons for people who participated in the violent insurrection at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.
But for many, the greatest hope is that Mr. Trump will summarily evict from the country some of the large number of migrants who entered in recent years. Kristina Viskup, 24, came to the inauguration from New York, where she has lived in fear of the scale of new arrivals.
“I carry pepper spray on me all the time, like, in my pocket with my thumb on the trigger, ready to go. That’s how terrified I am,” she said. She described clusters of migrants in city parks with “their children and backpacks. They’re trying to sell things. They don’t look very friendly.”
“It’s just terrible,” said her friend, Jennifer Bell. The 31-year-old served in the army, and has chafed at the federal funds spent to support new arrivals.
“I’m a veteran, and even they get more benefits than I do,” she said.
Ms. Viskup and Ms. Bell had little concern for migrant families that could be ripped from the country if Mr. Trump’s new administration delivers on promised deportations.
“The people that are telling you it’s immoral to separate families are the same people that kept you away from your grandmother who was dying in the hospital during COVID,” Ms. Viskup said.
10:20 a.m.
Bidens host Donald and Melania Trump for tea ahead of inauguration
President Joe Biden, right, and first lady Jill Biden walk to greet President-elect Donald Trump and Melania Trump upon arriving at the White House, Jan. 20, 2025, in Washington.Evan Vucci/The Associated Press
Arch enemies are playing nice on Monday: outgoing President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden are hosting Donald and Melania Trump for tea ahead of the inauguration.
On an icy day in Washington, rumoured frictions have been set aside – Ms. Biden and Kamala Harris gave each other a big public hug in front of the White House this morning; Mr. and Ms. Trump have been holding hands. That said, former first lady Michelle Obama has opted to stay away from the inauguration.
The tech bros, on the other hand, are there in full force, fully on board with Mr. Trump and conscious of the power he wields. That power extends far beyond U.S. borders.
Canada is watching with knots in its stomach, wary of his threatened 25-per-cent tariffs, but with some relief at reports that those tariffs will not be imposed immediately.
10:11 a.m.
Trump to lay out trade vision, but won’t impose new tariffs yet, official says
– Reuters
Trump will issue a broad trade memo on Monday that stops short of imposing new tariffs on his first day in office, but rather directs federal agencies to evaluate U.S. trade relationships with China, Canada and Mexico, an incoming Trump administration official said.
The president-elect, who takes office on Monday, has pledged tariffs of 10 per cent on global imports, 60 per cent on Chinese goods and a 25 per cent import surcharge on Canadian and Mexican products, duties that may upend trade flows, raise costs and draw retaliation.
The official, confirming a Wall Street Journal report, said Trump will direct agencies to investigate and remedy persistent trade deficits and address unfair trade and currency policies by other nations.
The memo will single out China, Canada and Mexico for scrutiny but will not announce new tariffs, the official said. It will direct agencies to assess Beijing’s compliance with its 2020 trade deal with the U.S., as well as the status of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement, or USMCA, the official said.
10:07 a.m.
Supporters queue in cold to watch indoor inauguration ceremony at Capital One Arena
The ball caps have from the beginning been Donald Trump’s favourite political message-bearers: bright red, bold text, all-caps. He has worn them as a kind of candidate uniform and turned them into a source of revenue. At least 10 different editions are currently available for sale on the official merchandise store, from Dark MAGA to MAGA Camo.
But Monday, a novel version hit the streets of Washington, one that sought to capture his return to the presidency: AMERICA IS GREAT AGAIN, they said.
“Trump is back. He’s my guy,” said Abel Garcia, who came from New York City with some 20 dozen of the custom-made hats, which he was selling outside the Capital One Arena, where supporters of Mr. Trump queued in the cold to watch the indoor inauguration ceremony later in the day.
The ball caps have from the beginning been Donald Trump’s favourite political message-bearers: bright red, bold text, all-caps. But on Monday, a novel version hit the streets of Washington, D.C., one that sought to capture his return to the presidency: AMERICA IS GREAT AGAIN, they said.Nathan VanderKlippe/The Globe and Mail
It marked a moment of triumphant return for Mr. Trump and the tens of millions of Americans who saw in his re-election not merely victory, but comeuppance. Among them was Beth Grohman, from Lexington, Mich., who brought with her a hand-drawn sign.
“Welcome Back, Mr. President,” it said. She signed it from the “Deplorables,” “Garbage” and “Ultra MAGA.”
“You can’t call us names because of who we choose to support,” said Ms. Grohman, a former unionized municipal worker who is now partially retired. She had little good to say about the Democratic leaders who issued those epithets.
“They’re losers, you know?”
9:59 a.m.
Trump speech to focus on immigration, not trade, sources say
Leaks about Donald Trump’s speech focus on immigration a lot more than trade.
U.S. media is reporting no tariffs will be imposed Monday, citing an incoming Trump administration official. Instead, Mr. Trump is planning an executive order to look into unfair trade practices by other nations, Canada included.
If that is true, that’s good news. It suggests more thought is being given to any major tariff action and gives Ottawa more time to make its case against such levies.
Will Canada even be mentioned in today’s inaugural address? If precedent is any indication, no. I’m still trying to find an inaugural where this country has been named.
9:44 a.m.
What is Blair House, the residence where Trump stayed this weekend?
The Blair House, where U.S. President-elect Donald Trump stayed before his inauguration, is visible on Pennsylvania Avenue near the White House on Jan. 16, 2025 in Washington, DC.Andrew Harnik/Getty Images
– The Associated Press
Donald Trump spent Saturday and Sunday night at Blair House, a U.S.-government-owned residence northwest of the White House that’s also known as The President’s Guest House. The 1824-built home is where presidents-elect traditionally stay before the inauguration.
Historically, the guest house has also hosted heads of foreign states when they visit Washington. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his family stayed at Blair House during their state visit in 2016.
Mr. Trump reportedly held a breakfast at the residence on Sunday morning, hosting lawmakers and members of the incoming administration, including vice president-elect J.D. Vance, incoming-chief of staff Susie Wiles, Sens. Rand Paul, Lindsey Graham, Tim Scott, and Ted Cruz, according to ABC News.
9:28 a.m.
Trump will issue a series of executive orders to remake immigration policies
– The Associated Press
Trump is going to issue a series of orders aimed at remaking America’s immigration policies, ending asylum access, sending troops to the southern border and ending birthright citizenship, an incoming White House official said.
But it’s unclear how Trump would carry out some of his executive orders, including ending automatic citizenship for everyone born in the country, while others were expected to be immediately challenged in the courts.
The official spoke on the condition of anonymity to preview some of the orders expected later Monday.
The official previewed a sweeping update of what was to come as the Trump administration gears up to make due on a campaign promise to crack down on illegal immigration and carry out mass deportations. The measures seemed designed to bolster border security including sending an undetermined amount of troops to the southern border.
One of the key announcements is the effort to end birthright citizenship — one of Trump’s most sweeping immigration efforts yet to redefine what it means to be American.
Birthright citizenship means anyone born in the United States automatically becomes an American citizen. It’s been in place for over a century and applies to children born to someone in the country illegally or in the U.S. on a tourist or student visa who plans to return to their home country. Trump’s effort to end it is certain to face legal challenges.
9:18 a.m.
Trump to declare national emergency at the border, Trump official says
– Reuters
Trump will declare a national emergency at the U.S. southern border with Mexico on Monday and announce plans to send additional armed forces to help secure the border, an incoming Trump administration official said.
The official, briefing reporters on condition of anonymity ahead of Trump’s inauguration as president, said Trump would also designate criminal cartels as designated global terrorists.
9:00 a.m.
Trump kicks off Inauguration Day with morning church service
U.S. President-elect Donald Trump and his wife Melania Trump arrive for a service at St. John’s Church on Inauguration Day of Donald Trump’s second presidential term in Washington, U.S. January 20, 2025. REUTERS/Jeenah MoonJeenah Moon/Reuters
– The Associated Press
Trump will begin Monday with a prayer service at St. John’s Episcopal Church. Elon Musk and several of the president-elect’s cabinet picks are already in the pews awaiting his arrival and the start of the service at the historic church on Lafayette Square.
Among the other guests are Secretary of State-designate Marco Rubio, Argentina President Javier Milei and the president’s daughter Ivanka Trump.
Jan. 20, 2025, 7:30 a.m.
Trump to be sworn in as 47th U.S. president
WASHINGTON, DC – JANUARY 20: Staff prepare for the inauguration of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump in the U.S. Capitol Rotunda on January 20, 2025 in Washington, DC. Donald Trump takes office for his second term as the 47th president of the United States. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
– The Associated Press
Donald Trump, who overcame impeachments, criminal indictments and a pair of assassination attempts to win another term in the White House, will be sworn in as the 47th president on Monday, taking charge as Republicans assume unified control of Washington and set out to reshape the country’s institutions.
Trump will act swiftly after the ceremony, with executive orders already prepared for his signature to jumpstart deportations, increase fossil fuel development and reduce civil service protections for government workers, promising that his term will bring about “a brand new day of American strength and prosperity, dignity and pride.”
He plans to try to strike a hopeful tone and call for unity, according to excerpts of his prepared speech provided by a Trump official, who insisted on anonymity to preview the speech.
“I return to the presidency confident and optimistic that we are at the start of a thrilling new era of national success,” the excerpts say. “A tide of change is sweeping the country.”
Read more here: Trump to be sworn in as 47th U.S. president, emboldened to reshape American institutions
Jan. 19, 2025
Trump supporters rally pre-inauguration
– Reuters
Thousands of Donald Trump’s supporters packed a Washington arena on Sunday to celebrate his victory, a day before the president-elect returns to power with plans to aggressively reshape U.S. immigration and trade policy.
Throngs of fans danced to musician Kid Rock’s performance as they awaited Trump’s arrival at a “Make America Great Again Victory Rally” at Capital One Arena, an indoor hockey and basketball arena and the venue for some of Monday’s inauguration festivities after forecasts of bitter cold prompted officials to cancel the planned outdoor festivities.
Stephen Miller, a top Trump adviser, told the audience that Trump would issue an executive order on Monday “ending the border invasion, sending the illegals home and taking America back,” drawing cheers.
Supporters gather ahead of a rally for U.S. President-elect Donald Trump the day before he is scheduled to be inaugurated for a second term, in Washington, U.S., January 19, 2025.Marko Djurica/Reuters
Ahead of the rally, his fans, many dressed in Trump’s trademark red jackets and MAGA hats, waited in a cold, driving rain along several downtown Washington blocks, some chanting “USA! USA!”
Jan. 19, 2025
Tariff anxieties rev up
– Eric Atkins and Adam Radwanski
Decades of North American free trade deals that built a heavily integrated auto supply chain across Canada, the U.S. and Mexico are under threat of crumbling. Canadian companies in the sector are bracing for devastating impacts should Trump make good on his promise to impose 25-per-cent tariffs on all exports from neighbouring countries.
Vehicles are Canada’s second-most valuable export, worth $51-billion in 2023. About 93 per cent are sent to the United States, the an industry organization says. Canadian plants made 1.5 million passenger vehicles in 2023, and employed 128,000 people manufacturing autos and parts.
The Trump tariffs would drive up car prices for U.S. consumers, reducing demand and North American auto production and the ability to compete with China, which is “flooding” global markets with electric vehicles, said the president of the industry organization.
Read more: How Trump’s tariff threats are impacting parts suppliers and the auto industry as a whole
Jan. 19, 2025
How to watch the inauguration in Canada
Donald Trump was last sworn in as U.S. president in 2017.Andrew Harnik/The Associated Press
– Moira Wyton
At least two major Canadian news networks will air the inauguration ceremony live on TV and stream their coverage online:
- CBC’s live coverage will start at 10 a.m. ET and will also be available to stream on its website and on CBC Gem
- CBC Radio One will air a live special from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. ET
- CTV’s special inauguration coverage will begin at 9 a.m. ET and also be streamed on the outlet’s website
Below are U.S. news networks with Inauguration Day coverage that also broadcast in Canada. Depending on your cable package, you can check out:
- CNN
- MSNBC
- Fox News
- ABC News
You can also watch the inauguration on the White House’s livestream. Many major Canadian and U.S. networks will be broadcasting from the roof of Canada’s Embassy in the United States, which has a clear view of the U.S. Capitol building from its location along the iconic Pennsylvania Avenue.
Jan. 19, 2025
When does the inauguration start, who is attending and other questions, answered
Conductor for the U.S. Army Herald Trumpets Major Aaron Morris during rehearsals for the inauguration on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 12, 2025 in Washington, D.C.Kayla Bartkowski/Getty Images
– Moira Wyton
When does the inauguration start?
Opening remarks are expected at 11:30 a.m. ET. Mr. Trump will take the oath of office, likely administered by U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts, at 12 p.m. ET inside the rotunda of the U.S. Capitol, just after incoming vice-president J.D. Vance is sworn in. That is the same building more than two thousand of Trump supporters entered on Jan. 6, 2021 in an attempt to overturn his 2020 election loss to Democratic President Joe Biden.
Mr. Trump will then deliver his inaugural address to supporters gathered on the National Mall. In interviews, he has said he intends it to be uplifting and unifying. That would mark a departure from his 16-minute inaugural speech in 2017, which detailed a broken country he described as “American carnage.”
Who will be attending the inauguration?
Mr. Biden and outgoing first lady Jill Biden plan to attend the ceremony and witness the transfer of power, a courtesy Mr. Trump did not afford him four years earlier. The Bidens will also host Mr. Trump and his wife, Melania Trump, at the White House for tea in the morning before the ceremony.
Ex-presidents Barack Obama, George W. Bush and Bill Clinton will attend, along with former first ladies Laura Bush and onetime secretary of state Hillary Clinton. Outgoing Vice-President Kamala Harris, who lost to Mr. Trump in November’s election, and her husband, Doug Emhoff, will also be there, along with members of Congress and Supreme Court justices.
Who is performing?
Country music star Carrie Underwood will perform America the Beautiful shortly before Trump takes the oath of office at 12 p.m. ET, according to the inaugural program.
Country music singer Lee Greenwood will sing as Mr. Trump walks out to take the oath, according to the inaugural committee, while classical artist Christopher Macchio has been selected to perform the national anthem at the end of the ceremony. Both are among Mr. Trump’s favourite musicians.
The invocation is scheduled to be delivered by Franklin Graham, son of the late pastor Billy Graham, and New York Cardinal Timothy Dolan.
Read more: How to watch Trump’s inauguration, and what to look for