The Press and Journal (Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire)
‘Power to the people’
Trump sworn in as 45th US president: leader takes oath on Scottish mother’s Bible and pledges to put America first
Donald Trump pledged to hand power back to the people as he was sworn in as the 45th president of the United States.
The former reality TV star also promised to fight for Americans “with every breath in my body" and never let them down.
And he told them: “You will never be ignored again.”
Mr Trump took the oath of office on the West Front of the US Capitol building in Washington DC.
It was administered by US chief justice John Roberts – using the Bible given to Mr Trump by his Scottish mother Mary Anne MacLeod as well as the one President Abraham Lincoln placed his hand upon at his first inauguration.
The new commander-inchief then addressed the gathered crowds, before making his way along Pennsylvania Avenue to the White House.
Immediately beforehand, Mike Pence was sworn in as vice-president.
Presidents past were introduced to the crowds, including George W Bush and the outgoing commander in chief, Barack Obama. Bill and Hillary Clinton received a less than enthusiastic reception as they walked out, with many booing.
In his inaugural address, President Trump said: “We are transferring power from Washington DC and giving it back to you, the people.
“For too long in our nation's capital politicians prospered, but the jobs left and the factories closed.
“The establishment protected itself but not the citizens of our country.
“The victories have not been your victories, the triumphs have not been your triumphs. But this moment is your moment. It belongs to you.
“This is your day, this is your celebration and this the USA is your country.
“We share one heart, one home and one glorious destiny.”
It began to rain as the billionaire started his speech.
He said that for too long America had defended other countries' borders but neglected its own.
And he issued a “new decree" that “from this day forward a new vision will govern".
He added: “From this day forward it is going to be America first.
“I will fight for you with every breath in my body. I will never ever let you down.
“America will start winning again, winning like never before.
“We will bring back our jobs, our wealth, our dreams. We will shine for everyone to follow.”
He said America would henceforth subscribe to two simple rules – buy American and hire American.
He also pledged to secure old alliances and build new ones and vowed to “eradicate radical Islamic terrorism completely from the face of the Earth".
“It's time to remember that whether we are black or brown or white, we all bleed the same red blood of patriots,” the new president added.
He concluded by telling people they would “never be ignored again" and repeating his now famous election promise to “make America great again".
Hundreds of thousands of well-wishers, but also protesters, lined the streets along the inaugural parade route.
About 28,000 law enforcement officers were in place, along with 13,000 members of the military.
Among those attending
“From this day it is going to be America first. We will bring back our jobs, our wealth”
the inauguration was Mary Mertes, 19, from Kansas City in Missouri.
The economics student, who voted for the first time in November, backed the Republican nominee.
Ms Mertes said: “I wanted to come because this was the first presidential election I was able to vote in.
“I voted for Donald Trump because of the two candidates who ended up being the front runners he was the candidate that was most likely to support Supreme Court justices that he would nominate that look at the constitution the way I think the constitution should be looked at.”
She added: “Everyone has to be hopeful. I think no matter who you voted for we should all be hopeful he has a successful presidency because that will mean success for our country.”
Miryam Brunson, 39, a US military officer who works at the Pentagon, was also at the ceremony.
She said she wanted to see the transfer of power first hand.
She added: “It's not often you witness such a historical event. We thought it was very important to be here.”
Elizabeth Wojciechowski was at the inauguration with her husband Michael. The pair had travelled from Vermont to be there.
The 46-year-old nurse said it felt like going to the Super Bowl.
She said: “There's so much excitement and so many like-minded people.
“I feel like we have been stifled and not been free to express we didn't agree with what Obama was doing.
“Most people who voted for Trump feel like it was a breath of fresh air.”
The first inauguration took place in New York when George Washington was sworn in as US president in 1789.
Taking the oath, he declared: “I do solemnly swear that I will faithfully execute the office of the president of the United States and will, to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the constitution of the United States.”
He then added the words: “So help me God”, a custom followed by every president since.
Thomas Jefferson – America’s third president – was the first to take the oath in Washington DC in 1801. His decision to ride on horseback after his second inauguration grew into today’s inaugural parade.
The last time we saw Donald Trump in the north-east, he was surveying his kingdom from the dunes of his golf resort near Aberdeen – now he is the leader of the free world following his inauguration as 45th US president.
He was railing against offshore wind turbines spoiling the view for golfers, but is now eyeing up Russia, China, IS and furious dissent on the home front.
His “power to the people” message again underlined his fundamental crusade about the political classes serving the people, and not their own interests.
President Trump’s defiant “America first” call was interpreted as a more withdrawn approach to world affairs.
Many fear it is the end of the world as they know it, of course. A prominent US writer lamented yesterday that America had lurched towards fascism, and it was a “dark day”.
Protests on both sides of the Atlantic provided a backdrop to his big day. Campaign debacles over women and Muslims, among others, will cling to him in the White House.
The “fascism” jibe resonates with many, but the US is not a fascist dictatorship – it is one of the world’s oldest democracies. The fact that vociferous public and media protest burns as bright as ever attests to that.
Many swing voters switched to him during the campaign after previously voting Democrat. They can switch back just as easily to unseat him if he gets it wrong.
President Trump exerts awesome power and can scrap previous legislation almost at the stroke of a pen, but there are checks and balances.
Congress and the Supreme Court are major brakes to presidential power trips, even when dominated by Republicans: they don’t toe the party line at all times and some have no love for President Trump.
There is potential vulnerability in any future contentious legislation over its precise drafting and wording – leaving President Trump open to powerful legal challenges. President Reagan once tried to rescind legal requirements for seatbelts and airbags, but was defeated in a federal appeal court.
Like him or loathe him, the UK Government must build bridges with the president.
Much has been made of where the UK stands over lucrative trade deals with the US in the wake of Brexit. We have gone from the “back of the queue”, a warning from Barack Obama during the Brexit campaign, to “front of the queue” from pro-British President Trump. We must see the colour of his money quickly, irrespective of what we think about him.
President Trump has a reputation for bulldozing through obstacles in business; this could be refreshing in a sense of getting things done that are positive and worthwhile politically, but diplomacy and fair play have to be honed, too.
With high public office comes huge responsibility. President Trump pledged to unify his country, which will be probably his toughest challenge. There is one thing he must also remember every day when he wakes up – that all of our lives are in his hands now.
“This could be refreshing in a sense of getting things done that are positive and worthwhile”