WASHINGTON: Donald Trump has taken oath as the 45th president of the United States of America before a crowd comprising of lakhs of people, including many protesters.
Trump, 70, was sworn in outside the domed US Capitol by Chief Justice John Roberts, using two books - the Bible given to him by his mother and the other, the one used by Abraham Lincoln to take oath 156 years ago, in 1861.
With Donald Trump's swearing-in, Republicans now have control of both the White House and Congress for the first time since 2006. However, in a sign of deep divisions that Donald Trump sowed during his combative campaign, dozens of Democratic lawmakers boycotted the swearing-in ceremony on Capitol Hill.
Mr Trump, the wealthy New York businessman and former reality TV star, is now delivering his inaugural address as the new US President from the steps of the Capitol. Following are the highlights of Mr Trump's address:
Chief Justice Roberts, Presidents Carter, Clinton, Bush, Obama.. Fellow Americans and people of the world, thank you.
We the citizens of US are now joined to restore our country.
Together we will determine the course of our country and the world for many many years.
For years, Washington flourished but people suffered. The established protected itself but not the citizens. Their victories have not been your victories. Jobs and factories left.
The forgotten men and women of our country will be forgotten no longer
Today, we are transferring power from Washington DC and giving it to you, the people.
January 20th, 2017, will be remembered as the day the people became the rulers of this nation again
A nation exists to serve its citizens.
We share one heart, one home, and one glorious destiny.
The Oath of Office I take today is an oath of allegiance to all Americans
We have defended other nations' borders while refusing to defend our own
We are looking only to the future.
From this day forward it's only going to be 'America First'
