Trump takes charge, assertive but untested 45th US president
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| President Donald Trump smiles with his son Barron as they view the 58th Presidential Inauguration parade for President Donald Trump in Washington. Friday, Jan. 20, 2017 |
WASHINGTON
(AP) -- Pledging emphatically to empower America's "forgotten men
and women," Donald Trump was sworn in as the 45th president of the
United States Friday, taking command of a riven nation facing an
unpredictable era under his assertive but untested leadership.
Under
cloudy, threatening skies at the West Front of the U.S. Capitol, Trump
painted a bleak picture of the America he now leads, declaring as he had
throughout the election campaign that it is beset by crime, poverty and
a lack of bold action. The billionaire businessman and reality
television star - the first president to have never held political
office or high military rank - promised to stir a "new national pride"
and protect America from the "ravages" of countries he says have stolen
U.S. jobs.
"This American carnage stops right
here," Trump declared. In a warning to the world, he said, "From this
day forward, a new vision will govern our land. From this moment on,
it's going to be America first."
The crowd
that spread out before him on the National Mall was notably smaller than
at past inaugurals, reflecting both the divisiveness of last year's
campaign and the unpopularity of the incoming president compared to
modern predecessors.
Demonstrations unfolded
at various security checkpoints near the Capitol as police helped
ticket-holders get through. After the swearing-in, more protesters
registered their rage in the streets of Washington. Police in riot gear
deployed pepper spray after protesters smashed the windows of downtown
businesses, denouncing capitalism and the new president.
Police reported more than 200 arrests by evening and said six officers had been hurt. At least one vehicle was set afire.
Short
and pointed, Trump's 16-minute address in the heart of Washington was a
blistering rebuke of many who listened from privileged seats only feet
away. Surrounded by men and women who have long filled the government's
corridors of power, the new president said that for too long, "a small
group in our nation's
capital has reaped the rewards of government while
the people have borne the cost."
His
predecessor, President Barack Obama, sat stoically as Trump pledged to
push the country in a dramatically different direction.
Trump's
victory gives Republicans control of both the White House and Congress -
and all but ensures conservatives can quickly pick up a seat on the
closely divided Supreme Court. Despite entering a time of Republican
dominance, Trump made little mention of the party's bedrock principles:
small government, social conservationism and robust American leadership
around the world.
He left no doubt he considers himself the product of a movement - not a party.
Trump
declared his moment a fulfillment of his campaign pledge to take a
sledgehammer to Washington's traditional ways, and he spoke directly to
the alienated and disaffected.
"What truly
matters is not which party controls our government, but whether our
government is controlled by the people," he said. "To all Americans in
every city near and far, small and large from mountain to mountain, from
ocean to ocean, hear these words: You will never be ignored again."
But the speech offered scant outreach to the millions who did not line up behind his candidacy.
Trump's
call for restrictive immigration measures, religious screening of
immigrants and his caustic campaign rhetoric about women and minorities
angered millions. He did not directly address that opposition, instead
offering a call to "speak our minds openly, debate our disagreements
honestly, but always pursue solidarity."
While
Trump did not detail policy proposals Friday, he did set a high bar for
his presidency. The speech was full of the onetime showman's lofty
promises to bring back jobs, "completely" eradicate Islamic terrorism,
and build new roads, bridges and airports.
Despite
Trump's ominous portrait of America, he is taking the helm of a growing
economy. Jobs have increased for a record 75 straight months, and the
unemployment rate was 4.7 percent in December, close to a 9-year low.
Yet
Trump's victory underscored that for many Americans, the recovery from
the Great Recession has come slowly or not at all. His campaign tapped
into seething anger in working class communities, particularly in the
Midwest, that have watched factories shuttered and the certainty of a
middle class life wiped away.
Trump's journey
to the inauguration was as unlikely as any in recent U.S. history. He
defied his party's establishment and befuddled the news media. He used
social media to dominate the national conversation and challenge
conventions about political discourse. After years of Democratic control
of the White House and deadlock in Washington, his was a blast of fresh
air for millions.
At 70, Trump is the oldest
person to be sworn in as president, marking a generational step backward
after two terms for Obama, one of the youngest presidents to serve as
commander in chief.
The 44th president, who
will continue to live in Washington, left the city after the swearing-in
ceremony for a family vacation in California. At a farewell celebration
with staff members at Joint Base Andrews, he thanked them for having
"proved the power of hope."
While Trump bucked
convention as a candidate, he embraced the pomp and pageantry of the
inaugural celebrations. He was sworn in by Chief Justice John Roberts,
reciting the 35-word oath with his hand placed upon two Bibles, one used
by his family and another during President Abraham Lincoln's
inauguration.
During an afternoon parade, he stepped outside the armored
presidential limousine with Mrs. Trump and his 10-year-old son, Barron,
to walk two brief stretches of Pennsylvania Avenue.
In
a show of solidarity, all of the living American presidents attended
the inaugural, except for 92-year-old George H.W. Bush, who was
hospitalized this week with pneumonia. His wife, Barbara, was also in
the hospital after falling ill.
But more than
60 House Democrats refused to attend Trump's swearing-in ceremony in the
shadow of the Capitol dome. One Democrat who did sit among the
dignitaries was Hillary Clinton, Trump's vanquished campaign rival who
was widely expected by both parties to be the one taking the oath of
office.
At a post-ceremony luncheon at the
Capitol, Trump declared it was an honor to have her attend, and the
Republicans and Democrats present rose and applauded.
While
most of Trump's first substantive acts as president will wait until
Monday, he signed a series of papers formally launching his
administration, including official nominations for his Cabinet. Sitting
in an ornate room steps from the Senate floor, the president who had
just disparaged the Washington establishment joked with lawmakers,
including House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi, and handed out
presidential pens.
As evening fell, the Senate
approved retired Gen. James Mattis to be Trump's secretary of defense
and John Kelly, another retired general, to oversee the Homeland
Security Department.
