Pres. Donald Trump moves swiftly to implement his new agenda after inauguration

Donald Trump took the presidential oath for a second time at the Capitol.

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Last updated: Tuesday, January 21, 2025 5:03AM GMT
Trump returns to power in historic inauguration
Dignitaries from across Washington and around the world gathered into the U.S. Capitol Rotunda to watch power transfer peacefully from Democratic former President Joe Biden to his Republican successor, Donald Trump.

WASHINGTON -- President Donald Trump returned from a campaign-style rally at a Washington, D.C., arena to the White House to sign more executive orders, including a sweeping one that pardoned those convicted of storming the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.

Earlier after taking the oath of office and events at the Capitol, Trump spoke to a roaring crowd at Capital One Arena, where he also signed several executive orders.

Now that he's finished signing the orders, Trump is attending several inaugural balls.

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Jan 20, 2025, 10:40 AM

Photos show inauguration events, preps, protests

From events for the inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump to excitement from eager attendees and outrage from protesters, here's a look at the most recent photos.

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President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump attend the Commander-In-Chief inaugural ball in Washington, DC, on January 20, 2025.
JIM WATSON/AFP via Getty Images

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ByMichelle Stoddart ABCNews logo
2 hours and 44 minutes ago

Trump sets record with 42 executive orders, memoranda, proclamations

The White House is touting a "historic" first day in office for President Donald Trump, saying that he enacted 42 executive orders, memoranda and proclamation actions.

Additionally, the freshly inaugurated president signed "115 personnel actions," and more than "200 executive actions."

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2 hours and 44 minutes ago

Crowds gather at a DC detention facility to await release of Jan. 6 rioters

After President Donald Trump signed sweeping pardons for over 1,500 convicted Jan. 6 rioters on Monday, crowds began to gather at the Central Detention Facility in Washington, D.C., to celebrate their release.

Those gathered include family members of some of the pardoned inmates.

Those who are expected to be released tonight include Proud Boys leader Enrique Tarrio - who was sentenced to 22 years in prison - and Oath Keepers leader Stewart Rhodes, who was sentenced to 18 years.

"This is more than the J6 Committee thought was possible," said an advocate for the rioters, who had been working directly with the Trump transition team for weeks in advance of anticipated pardons and commutations on Day 1.

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1:56 AM GMT

Trump withdraws US from World Health Organization

President Donald Trump on Monday signed an executive order withdrawing the United States from the World Health Organization, which is a United Nations agency that works with government entities and other partners to improve the health of people and communities worldwide. As of Jan. 19, it had 124 member states, including the U.S.

President Donald Trump signs an executive order withdrawing the U.S. from the World Health Organization in the Oval Office of the White House on Jan. 20, 2025, in Washington.
President Donald Trump signs an executive order withdrawing the U.S. from the World Health Organization in the Oval Office of the White House on Jan. 20, 2025, in Washington.

The United States originally joined WHO in 1948. Trump withdrew the nation's participation during his first term, in 2020, and it was reinstated by former President Joe Biden in 2021.

On the WHO's website, as of Monday evening, it says, "The United States of America plays a crucial role in supporting WHO to protect and improve the health of Americans and people around the world."

Trump suggested that the cost of involvement was too high for the U.S., saying that it had paid $500 million to support the organization, while China only pays $39 million.

"China pays 39 million, and we pay 500 million, and China's a bigger country," he said, adding that it seemed "a little unfair."

Implying that further negotiations might be possible, Trump said, "They wanted us back so badly, so we'll see what happens."

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1:55 AM GMT

Trump informally takes questions between signing orders

While signing the executive orders in the Oval Office, Trump casually took questions from reporters on topics ranging from the war between Russia and Ukraine -- saying he plans to talk with President Vladimir Putin "soon" -- to TikTok to Biden's last-minute pardons for the former president's family members.

"I guess now I have precedent to do it," Trump said. "I wouldn't want to do that. No, I think it makes you look very guilty."

At one point he asked if Biden ever did news conferences like this.

"None, zero," Trump said.