President Donald Trump is slated to hold a rally in Michigan next week in celebration of the first 100 days of his second term in office, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt noted in a post on X.
"President Trump is excited to return to the great state of Michigan next Tuesday, where he will rally in Macomb County to celebrate the FIRST 100 DAYS!" Leavitt declared in the tweet.
Trump, who was sworn in on Jan. 20, is the second U.S. president elected to two non-consecutive terms — the first was President Grover Cleveland in the 19th century.
Trump won the state of Michigan in 2016 and 2024, but lost it in 2020.
His 2016 win in the state snapped a lengthy Republican losing streak — the last time Michigan had gone to a Republican in a presidential contest was in 1988.
"There is no better place to celebrate Day 100 than Macomb County," House GOP conference chair Rep. Lisa McClain, R-Mich., declared in a post on X, adding, "Welcome, @POTUS!
Rep. John James, R-Mich., said in a tweet, "Macomb County is honored to welcome President @realDonaldTrump back to MICHIGAN to celebrate the first 100 days of America’s New Golden Age. Together, we will Make Michigan Great Again."
President Donald Trump is back in the White House and moving at warp speed to push through his agenda with dozens of executive orders, surveying damaged areas in North Carolina and California, and rallying behind his Cabinet nominees amid Senate confirmation showdowns.
In his inauguration address on Monday, the new president vowed that things across the country would "change starting today, and it will change very quickly."
And moments later, White House deputy chief of staff Taylor Budowich took to social media to tease, "Now, comes SHOCK AND AWE."
They weren't kidding. Trump signed an avalanche of executive orders and actions in his first eight hours in office, which not only fulfilled some of his major campaign trail promises, but also allowed the returning president to flex his executive muscles as well as settle some longstanding grievances.
The president immediately cracked down on immigration; moved towards a trade war with top allies and adversaries; and reversed many policies implemented by former President Joe Biden, including scrapping much of the previous administration's federal diversity actions and energy and climate provisions.
He also sparked a major controversy by pardoning or commuting the sentences of roughly 1,500 supporters who took part in the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol in an unsuccessful attempt to upend congressional certification of Biden's 2020 election victory. Among those whose sentences were commuted included some who violently assaulted police officers on one of America's darkest days.
Trump also fired some top government officials; made a high-profile, half-trillion dollar tech investment announcement; held unscripted and wide-ranging, informal and impromptu news conferences during his first two days back at the White House; and even renamed the Gulf of Mexico the "Gulf of America."
The frenetic pace kept up throughout the week, with more executive orders signed and actions taken by Trump and his new administration during the first 100 hours in office, which quickly put his stamp on the federal government.
Amid the fast-paced environment of the first week of the Trump White House, Senate Republicans and the president's allies rallied behind his Cabinet nominees and pushed them towards confirmation. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and CIA Director John Ratcliffe were easily confirmed by the Senate earlier this week, and several other nominees are expected to be confirmed between the weekend and next week.
On Friday, the president took to the skies, flying to hurricane-ravaged western North Carolina and then on to Los Angeles, where horrific wildfires this month have left a wide path of destruction.
Trump floated an overhaul, or the outright elimination, of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, which is better known by its acronym FEMA.
"I’ll also be signing an executive order to begin the process of fundamentally reforming and overhauling FEMA, or maybe getting rid of FEMA. I think, frankly, FEMA is not good," the president said on Friday.
Later that night, the Senate confirmed Trump's defense secretary nominee and former Fox News host, Pete Hegseth. All 100 senators voted, which ended in a 50-50 tie with Vice President J.D. Vance serving as the tie-breaking vote. Trump's Department of Homeland Security nominee Kristi Noem was confirmed early Saturday afternoon by the Senate with a 59-34 vote.
"I think it’s brilliant how they’ve been handling it, to immediately meet the moment with action. It’s exactly what he needs to do and it's exactly what the people voted for," veteran Republican strategist Kristin Davison told Fox News.
"Americans vote for decisive, fast action, and true leadership. And Trump understands that more than anyone. I think he and his team knew how important it was out of the gate to show that they heard what the people wanted and are answering with leadership," she argued.
Longtime Republican consultant Alex Castellanos agreed.
"He's flooding the zone. He's making a case for action. He's demonstrating action. He is rallying a wave of American support for a massive transformation of government," Castellanos, a veteran of numerous GOP presidential campaigns, told Fox News.
Seasoned Democratic strategist Joe Caiazzo didn't dispute Trump's frenetic actions.
"The pace of this shouldn’t be surprising to anyone. Trump made it abundantly clear he was going to act quickly, he was going to act boldly, and he was going to do exactly what he told voters he would do," he said.
But Caiazzo argued that "the things he is doing is going to directly negatively impact working families from coast to coast. It’s also a signal he has no respect for the rule of law."
Asked if Trump's actions were what Americans voted for this past autumn, Caiazzo replied, "Of course not. What Americans voted for was cheaper groceries. What Donald Trump is going to give us is a litany of policies that work to deteriorate our institutions, that work to enrich the wealthy and solidify his standing among the oligarchy in this country."
There's another reason for Trump's fast pace — even though he's the new president, he's also a term-limited and lame-duck president. And by Labor Day, much of the political world will start looking ahead to the 2026 midterm elections.
"This is his second term. He’s got to move quickly," Davison emphasized.
Trump's show of force in the opening days of his second administration is also in contrast to eight years ago, when he first entered the White House.
The president and his team are much more seasoned the second time around, and the supporting cast is intensely loyal to Trump.
"In the past administration, there would be logjams and bottlenecks because there were people who didn’t agree with him," a senior White House source told Fox News. "Now we have a whole infrastructure and staff that’s built around him, in support of him. When he says something, it’s getting done. It’s testament to him and the team that he built."
Credit is also being given to White House chief of staff Susie Wiles, who, as co-campaign manager of Trump's 2024 presidential bid, kept the trains on the tracks.
"What Susie has done is look at the totality of Trump and found the best players and put them in the best positions to support the president. Trump is surrounded by Trump people who’ve all proven themselves over the years not just to be loyal but ultra-competent operators," added an adviser, who asked for anonymity to speak more freely.
An Atelier dress designer and supporter of President Donald Trump shocked partygoers and social media users once again with a silhouette unlike anything he'd handcrafted before.
Andre Soriano, a shop owner in Occoquan, Virginia, and originally from the Philippines, designed a green "Make America Healthy Again" dress for recently crowned Miss America Abbie Stockard.
"She’s the sweetest," Soriano told Fox News Digital of Stockard. "She’s the best representation of America. She’s going to be a great example for all the kids."
Stockard, who represented Alabama and was crowned Miss America Jan. 5, wore the custom gown to the MAHA inaugural ball, held for a night in celebration of Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., Trump’s pick for secretary of Health and Human Services Jan. 20.
She has since shared photographs from the event opposite RFK Jr. and his wife, Cheryl Hines, among others.
"I’m truly, truly honored and grateful to be part of her dressing up," Soriano said.
The controversial designer is well known for the infamous "Make America Great Again" ensemble he crafted for singer-songwriter Joy Villa, which she wore to the 2017 Grammy Awards.
"She came the next day," Soriano said. "I did the fitting, and it fit her like a glove. I've worked with a lot of women, and I really nailed it down to the T."
January was hectic for Soriano because eight to 10 dresses were commissioned by him in preparation for Inauguration Day.
"The whole month of January I was flooded," he said. "I’m so glad that America finally made that decision."
Fox News host Sean Hannity revealed he told President Donald Trump after the 2020 election loss that a return to the White House four years after the Biden administration would be "bigger" than a consecutive win, comparing it to Winston Churchill's return as prime minister following World War II.
"Maybe I shouldn't disclose this, but I will, and it was after the 2020 election, and you asked me a question. And we've known each other for 30 years, so we have a friendship and we have a professional relationship," Hannity said in his exclusive interview with Trump on Wednesday.
"And the question you asked me, ‘maybe in the end, it will be better that if I came back in four years.’ And we talked about history. After World War Two, Winston Churchill was thrown out, but they brought him back. Grover Cleveland, the only other American president that did not serve consecutive terms," he continued.
Churchill served as prime minister twice, from 1940-1945 and again from 1951 to 1955. Trump is the second U.S. president to serve two, non-consecutive terms behind President Grover Cleveland, the nation's 22nd and 24th president.
Hannity explained that he believed "it would be bigger if you came back." Trump agreed that it's already shaping up that way after three days in office.
"It's turning out to be bigger. And I think one thing is happening is people are learning that they can't govern and that their policies are terrible. I mean, they don't want to see a woman get pummeled by a man in a boxing ring?" he said.
"They don't want to see men in women's sports … They don't want to have transgender for everyone. They don't want a child leave home as a boy and come back two days later as a girl. A parent doesn't want to see that, and there are states where that can happen. They don't want to see taxes go through the roof like this," he continued.
Kai Madison Trump, daughter of Donald Trump Jr., garnered nearly 27 million combined views on TikTok and YouTube after posting a vlog of her grandfather's historic Inauguration Day.
In the 14-minute YouTube video, the 17-year-old is seen getting ready for the day with a hair and makeup team, before heading to a church service.
The family then traveled by car to the U.S. Capitol, where President Donald Trump was inaugurated.
Kai snacked on Red Bull and cookies that she picked up inside the Capitol building, while joking with her father ahead of the ceremony.
Although she was not allowed to film the event, she included a number of clips.
The family got ready for the Liberty Inauguration Ball, where Kai stunned in a silver sequined Sherri Hill gown.
"My favorite part of this dress is the corset part because it just makes it look really flattering," she said while spinning for the camera. "I also love all the diamonds and silver stuff. I think it looks really nice on my skin tone."
The dress designer is linked in the teen's video description, but it is unclear if they have a business relationship. Fox News Digital requested comment.
Kai and her family then dropped by the White House to see President Trump, entering through a side door.
Framed photos in White House hallways featured art of the newly-sworn in president.
The family took pictures in front of the fireplace in the iconic Diplomatic Reception Room.
She then showed her 806,000 subscribers the Green, Blue and Red rooms - a set of three parlors named for their color schemes.
"By the way, welcome to the White House," she told viewers.
They arrived at the ball where she expressed anxiety about dancing with her father in front of a crowd. Nerves seemed to wear off as the family made a number of other appearances.
She arrived at her hotel around 1 a.m., ready to get some rest before heading out of the nation's capital the next morning.
In less than a day, the video amassed nearly 1.5 million views and 83,000 likes on YouTube.
"When we play golf together, if I’m not on his team, he’ll try to get inside of my head," she said. "He is always surprised that I don’t let him get to me, but I have to remind him I’m a Trump too."
Kai committed in August to play collegiate golf at the University of Miami.
Kai's production/representation, AKA Collective, did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment.
AKA Collective lists one of its clients as pro golfer Bryson DeChambeau, who posted a viral YouTube video in July playing a round with Trump.
President Donald Trump's swearing-in ceremony Monday featured the largest, most complex security footprint of any inauguration in U.S. history.
The nation's capital was transformed seemingly overnight from a pedestrian-friendly city into a daunting and impenetrable fortress – the result of a multi-agency task force that erected 30 miles of anti-scale fencing, coordinated aerial surveillance and drones, and saw the deployment of tens of thousands of law enforcement, military personnel, undercover agents, and national guard trucks across D.C.
The impressive, whole-of-government security effort on Inauguration Day was unprecedented, and not without reason: Trump was the victim of two assassination attempts during the 2024 campaign — including a shooter who came so close to him as to nick his ear — and a domestic threat landscape that was heightened further by the terrorist-inspired attack in New Orleans and the execution-style killing of United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson in Midtown Manhattan late last year.
It's notable, then, that this year’s sprawling security footprint did not expressly include one key component considered fundamental to U.S. tradition: The naming of a designated survivor.
In D.C., the tightly coordinated federal protection efforts were carefully planned long ahead of Trump's inauguration ceremony by the Secret Service and many other federal agencies.
It's both a nod to recent security concerns, and more largely an effort to protect the U.S. body politic, foreign dignitaries, donors, and thousands of attendees from any mass catastrophe or threat.
The designated survivor, who in a catastrophic event would bear the responsibility of leading the U.S. in the aftermath of a crisis, is typically a Cabinet officer when major security events put elected officials all in one spot, such as inaugurations and State of the Union addresses.
Previous designated survivors have included former DHS secretary Jeh Johnson, former Energy Secretary Rick Perry, and former Defense Secretary Robert Gates, who was tapped for the role during President Barack Obama's inauguration in 2009.
Gates, a George W. Bush appointee, was kept on by Obama and served in his Pentagon role until July 2011, according to his official Defense Department biography.
The survivor's location, and sometimes identity, remains confidential until after the event disperses and its attendees have safely returned home. In high-profile events, a broader contingency plan is in place.
As Garrett Graff reported in 2016, Gates's role as designated survivor during Obama's inauguration also included the support of another government heavyweight — James Clapper, then the undersecretary of intelligence — who stowed away during the ceremony deep in an underground government bunker in Pennsylvania, a backup to the backup, if you will, and a nod at the detailed succession plan carefully crafted by a group defense, intelligence, and other federal agencies over the span of some 40-plus years.
So it was notable that no designated survivor was named during the 47th presidential inauguration.
It's also possible the event, which was held indoors and thus restricted to the public and to members of the news media, was limited enough as not to warrant the designated survivor.
Ahead of the event, FBI and Secret Service personnel stressed the stringent security measures in place and the tight vetting of any ticketed attendees.
David Sundberg of the FBI's Washington Field Office told Fox News earlier this week that the bureau was not tracking "any specific or credible threats" for Inauguration Day.
"All attendees will undergo screening," said Matt McCool, special agent in charge of the Secret Service's Washington Field Office.
These individuals told Fox News that the fencing alone is more than any other designated National Special Security Event in the past.
"Designated checkpoints will be set up for members of the public interested in attending the inauguration," McCool said ahead of the inauguration — a protocol also applied to attendees of the modified Capital One festivities, which were moved inside due to frigid temperatures.
Neither the White House, DHS nor the FBI immediately responded to Fox News Digital's request for comment on the absence of a designated survivor.
Fox News Digital's Elizabeth Elkind contributed to this report.
Democratic Connecticut Sen. Chris Murphy pressed New York Rep. Elise Stefanik on claims Elon Musk gave a Nazi salute at President Donald Trump's inaugural parade when she appeared before Senate lawmakers as part of her confirmation process to serve as ambassador to the U.N.
"What do you think of Elon Musk, perhaps the president's most visible adviser, doing two heil Hitler salutes last night at the president's televised rally?" Murphy asked Stefanik on Tuesday morning as she appeared before the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations.
"No, Elon Musk did not do those salutes," Stefanik said. "I was not at the rally, but I can tell you, I've been at many rallies with Elon Musk, who loves to cheer when President Trump says, ‘We need to send, you know, our U.S. space program to Mars,’ Elon Musk is a visionary. I'm looking forward to his work in DOGE," the Department of Government Efficiency.
Musk attended Trump's inaugural parade on Monday, where he spoke to supporters and was accused of giving a Hitler-style salute to the crowds.
Musk has since brushed off the accusations as a tired attack from the left, saying on X that "they need better dirty tricks."
The New York Republican continued in her response, "American people are smart. They see through it, they support Elon Musk. We are proud to be the country of such successful entrepreneurs. That is one of our greatest strengths as Americans."
Murphy continued pressing Stefanik on the matter, rattling off a list of "White supremacist groups and neo-Nazi groups" who had described and celebrated Musk's gesture as a Hitler salute.
"Over and over last night, White supremacist groups and neo-Nazi groups in this country rallied around that visual," Murphy said. "Does it concern you that those elements of the neo-Nazi and White supremacist element in the United States believe that what they saw last night was a neo-Nazi salute?"
"What concerns me is this is… these are the questions you believe are most important to ask to the U.N. ambassador," she said. "I have a very strong record when it comes to combating antisemitism. We just had a historic election where President Trump earned historic support from American voters because of his strong leadership combating antisemitism, which has been a scourge across the country, skyrocketing since Oct. 7. So I intend to bring moral clarity to this position and continue to speak out as a voice, as a beacon of light condemning antisemitism at the United Nations, which is representative of President Trump's record and President Trump's promises that he made on the campaign trail."
Murphy explained that he asked about Musk's gesture "because I think that your work and the administration's work on antisemitism only comes with real impact and credibility if it holds both right and left accountable."
"I simply don't believe that if a member of the Squad made that same gesture last night, that there wouldn't be commentary from you and others," he said. "So I want to make sure that our work has credibility and credibility comes with calling antisemitism and antisemitism behavior out when it comes from both the right and the left."
President Donald Trump's youngest son, Barron Trump, is garnering praise online for shaking hands with former President Joe Biden and former Vice President Kamala Harris at his father's inauguration on Monday.
"Barron Trump just shook hands with Joe Biden and Kamala Harris. This kid will be our President one day. Bet on it," conservative personality Nick Sotor posted to X of the exchange.
The youngest first son shook Biden's and Harris' hands shortly after his father took the oath of office as the 47th president of the United States. The 18-year-old New York University freshman participated in a handful of inaugural festivities on Monday, including attending a church service at St. John's that morning with his family, as well as the inaugural parade later in the day.
Conservatives and other social media commenters praised Barron Trump on X, formerly Twitter, and TikTok for the handshakes, speculating he could one day launch a political career, while others pondered what the first son said to Biden during the quick exchange.
Others joked on social media that Barron whispered "you forgot to pardon yourself" when shaking Biden's hand.
Barron Trump also attended the inaugural parade later that day, where he received applause from Trump supporters when the first son was broadcast on the Capital One Arena's jumbotron.
"And then I have a very tall son named Barron. Has anyone ever heard of him?" President Trump said to the crowd as the arena's camera panned to Barron.
The youngest Trump child waved to the crowd as supporters broke out into applause and cheers, before raising his fist like his father after his first assassination attempt in July. Barron also egged on the crowd for more applause before his dad praised him for his efforts to rally the youth vote while on the campaign trail.
"He knew the youth vote. You know we won the youth vote by 36 points," Trump said, lauding him for encouraging him to join podcasts while on the campaign trail in order to reach younger voters.
Trump kicked off his first day in office by signing at least 42 executive orders, memoranda or proclamations, delivered three separate speeches and fielded roughly an hour of media questions.
Inauguration festivities were moved indoors this year, as frigid temperatures gripped the nation's capital. Trump's inauguration was held in the Capitol Rotunda, and the inaugural parade at the Capital One Arena.
President Donald Trump pulled the security clearances of more than 50 national security officials who said Hunter Biden’s laptop had "all the classic earmarks of a Russian information operation."
A total of 51 former national security officials released a public letter in 2020 claiming that even though the laptop did not have "any evidence of Russian involvement," it looked like a "Russian information operation."
The letter came after the New York Post reported they had emails showing Hunter Biden coordinated for Joe Biden to meet with a top executive at Ukrainian energy company Burisma months before pressuring Ukrainian officials to oust a prosecutor investigating the company.
Included on the list are former director of National Intelligence James Clapper Jr., former directors of the Central Intelligence Agency Michael Hayden, John Brennan, former Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta, and former National Security Advisor John Bolton.
Fox News Digital previously reported that federal investigators with the Department of Justice were aware that Hunter Biden’s laptop was not manipulated and contained "reliable evidence."
Republican lawmakers including Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina have previously suggested withdrawing the security clearances of these officials.
The order was one of more than 200 executive orders Trump approved on Inauguration Day, joining directives like withdrawing the U.S. from the Paris Climate Agreement that the U.S. initially entered under former President Barack Obama’s administration in 2015.
Trump previously withdrew the U.S. from the agreement during his first term in 2020.
Other executive orders Trump signed on day one include rescinding nearly 80 executive orders and memoranda issued under Biden, issuing a regulatory and hiring freeze upon the federal government, preventing "government censorship" of free speech, and directing every department and agency to address the cost of living crisis.
Donald Trump supporters who attended the president's inauguration parade at Capital One Arena in downtown D.C. on Monday shared their experiences braving the cold in the nation's capital.
Trump supporters told Fox News Digital they arrived as early as 4:30 a.m. Monday and stood for hours in the cold weather to secure a seat at the arena for the inaugural parade, noting that the line to get in had already formed by the time they arrived bright and early. Reports indicated that supporters had begun lining up as early as the night before. The parade got moved indoors amid concerns about the cold weather, but one supporter noted that it wasn't as cold as she had expected.
"This morning we got up at 4. We got on the train at 5 [in the morning] and got here, and already the line was forming," a supporter who traveled from Texas said. "We stayed in the cold weather for five hours."
"We got here [Sunday] night, but we stayed closer to the airport just to not fight traffic," added Kaitlin Rogers, who traveled from Delaware. "Ubered in, got here at what? 6:30 [in the morning]? Stood in line for four and a half hours."
Gina Raper, a Trump fan from North Carolina, said she arrived as early as Friday to attend Trump's Sunday rally ahead of the formal swearing-in ceremony and "stood out all day in the rain" to secure a seat there as well.
"We were there 5 o'clock yesterday morning and stood out all day in the rain. We got in, it was awesome," said Raper. "Then we were there at, like, 4:30 or 5 this morning, all day."
When asked if their experience was worth braving the cold, the answer was a resounding yes.
"We're so thankful," Raper said after gaining entrance to Capital One Arena on Saturday.
"It wasn't as cold as we thought it was going to be. It was definitely worth the wait," added Andrea Rogers, who was traveling with Kaitlin from Delaware. "We are so happy to be here."
When asked what they hope to see out of the new Trump administration, the supporters who spoke to Fox News Digital highlighted Trump's plans to secure the border and "rebuild" the military. One supporter said he was hoping to see the new Trump administration challenge the pharmaceutical and food industries, which are priorities of Trump's nominee for Health and Human Services secretary, Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
"Good leaders train good leaders, and he's got the best team I have ever – well, everybody would agree, everybody in America – this is the best team," said Raper.
Jake Paul and Mike Tyson were once enemies in the ring, but on Monday night, they appeared to be best friends as they celebrated President Trump’s inauguration.
A video from the Starlight Ball showed Tyson on Paul’s shoulders at one point during the festivities. Both boxers were seemingly having a great time with other revelers as Trump was inaugurated as the 47th president of the United States.
Paul was a major supporter of Trump throughout his election campaign. He was seen at the inauguration earlier in the day at the Capitol Rotunda in Washington. He was with his brother, Logan, and UFC star Conor McGregor as they took a bus over to the event.
"Today is about togetherness in every way. Fists down, unity up. Honored to be here. God Bless America," Paul wrote.
"Any American who isn’t in support of Trump after this speech simply hates America and doesn’t want what’s best for this country and the world," he added.
Tyson supported Trump during his 2016 campaign. Their relationship dated back to when Trump had casinos in Atlantic City, New Jersey, and Tyson was at the height of his boxing career.
Paul and Tyson fought in a Netflix spectacle back in November. Paul won via unanimous decision.
Fox News' Kelley Kramer contributed to this report.
President Trump was inaugurated for a second time on Monday.
The inauguration kicked off the day on a historic note, with the ceremony moved indoors due to freezing temperatures. Notable moments played out throughout the day, including Trump's fiery speech shortly after being sworn in, to an audio mishap that inadvertently turned into a collaborative singing effort.
Here are the top five moments from Trump's second inauguration.
"The golden Age of America begins right now," Trump said shortly after being sworn in. "From this day forward, our country will flourish and be respected again all over the world."
Trump started out his first speech officially as president by saying the U.S. would now be "the envy of every nation, and we will not allow ourselves to be taken advantage of any longer."
The president assailed the Biden-Harris administration as the former president and vice president looked on. Trump specifically slammed the "vicious, violent, and unfair weaponization of the Justice Department and our government" and said the country has been operating under "a radical and corrupt establishment."
"While the pillars of our society lay broken and seemingly in complete disrepair, we now have a government that cannot manage even a simple crisis at home," Trump said.
Trump criticized the Biden administration's handling of various national disasters, including hurricane damage in North Carolina and recent wildfires in California.
"Jan. 20th, 2025, is Liberation Day," Trump said. "It is my hope that our recent presidential election will be remembered as the greatest and most consequential election in the history of our country."
Trump and his wife, first lady Melania Trump, did their first dance together as POTUS and FLOTUS Monday night at the Commander-in-Chief Inaugural Ball at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C. The dance featured a nifty spin move by the president.
Melania Trump donned a white, strapless gown with black detailing following a full day of inauguration festivities. She coupled the dress with a black choker.
Vice President J.D. Vance and his wife, Usha, also joined Trump and Melania onstage for a quick dance, before they exchanged partners with military service members.
Trump appeared at two other balls as well: the Liberty Ball and Starlight Ball.
First lady Melania Trump donned a weather-appropriate outfit for her husband's second inaugural ceremony. Melania was pictured wearing a custom Adam Lippes double-breasted navy coat with a matching boater hat designed by Eric Javits while on her way to a service at St. John's Church on Inauguration Day, according to Page Six.
Social media users flocked to X, formerly Twitter, to post compliments on the first lady's inaugural getup, with many saying she looked "elegant" and "classy."
Pennsylvania Sen. John Fetterman, on the other hand, had a slightly more warmer-weather-style outfit for the inauguration ceremony. Fetterman was seen sporting gray gym shorts, a dark hoodie and sneakers as he arrived at Capitol Hill.
The senator's attire also drew attention given the chilly temperatures on Monday. Trump's second inauguration notably marked the coldest presidential inauguration ceremony in more than 40 years.
Trump tried to kiss Melania shortly before his swearing-in after initially entering the Capitol Rotunda, leading to an awkward air-kiss encounter.
Trump and Melania were surrounded by former presidents and their wives along with Cabinet nominees, foreign dignitaries and other high-profile guests upon entering the building. Trump leaned in to give Melania a kiss on the cheek when Melania's hat got in the way.
They ultimately settled on an air kiss.
Country singer Carrie Underwood showed she was a true professional during her rendition of "America the Beautiful" after a hiccup with the music.
Underwood was welcomed with a round of applause as she was introduced. Once on stage, Underwood patiently waited for the instrumentals to start, which ultimately never came.
President Trump, immediately upon taking office, flexed his presidential powers as he followed through on some of the major pledges he made on the campaign trail.
"Today I will sign a series of historic executive orders. With these actions, we will begin the complete restoration of America and the revolution of commonsense," the nation's 47th president vowed during his inauguration address Monday at the U.S. Capitol.
Hours later, Trump followed through, with an avalanche of executive order signings at Washington's Capitol One Arena, in front of thousands of supporters - a first in the nation's history - and later in the more traditional Oval Office setting at the White House.
"It's just pure Trump. He's the first president in a new connected world in which you have to govern from the outside in. You have to mount support and bring the people with you," veteran Republican strategist Alex Castellanos told Fox News Digital.
Trump's immigration promises were a centerpiece of his successful presidential campaign to win back the White House.
"On Day One, I will launch the largest deportation program of criminals in the history of America," the then-Republican presidential nominee vowed during a late October rally at New York City's Madison Square Garden.
And Trump took immediate action during his first hours back in office.
The new president declared a national emergency along the southern border with Mexico and ordered the deployment of U.S. troops to help support immigration agents. Trump also ordered the restart of a policy from his first administration that forced asylum seekers to wait over the border in Mexico. But it's unclear if Mexico would accept migrants again.
Trump also directed the federal government to resume border wall construction, begun during his first term but halted by President Biden.
And Trump signed an order ending birthright citizenship for children of illegal migrants. But with birthright citizenship enshrined in the U.S. Constitution, Trump's executive order immediately faced legal challenges in court from civil rights groups and immigration activists.
"I will declare a national emergency at our southern border. All illegal entry will immediately be halted. And we will begin the process of returning millions and millions of criminal aliens back to the places from which they came. We will reinstate my remain in Mexico policy. I will end the practice of catch and release. And I will send troops to the southern border to repel the disastrous invasion of our country," Trump emphasized in his inauguration address.
And the president also announced that "we will also be designating the cartels as foreign terrorist organizations. And by invoking the Alien Enemies Act of 1798, I will direct our government to use the full and immense power of federal and state law enforcement to eliminate the presence of all foreign gangs and criminal networks."
During his two-year run to return to the White House, Trump repeatedly vowed to "drill, baby, drill," and pledged to end the Biden administration's electric vehicle mandate.
On Monday, Trump followed through, as he tied his energy executive orders to his efforts to keep inflation in check.
"I will direct all members of my cabinet to marshal the vast powers at their disposal to defeat what was record inflation, and rapidly bring down costs and prices. The inflation crisis was caused by massive overspending and escalating energy prices," Trump argued.
And he said "that is why today I will also declare a national energy emergency. We will drill, baby, drill. America will be a manufacturing nation once again, and we have something that no other manufacturing nation will ever have. The largest amount of oil and gas of any country on earth."
During the 2024 cycle, Trump and Republicans repeatedly targeted Democrats up and down the ballot over the Biden administration's protections for transgender students
"We’re going to end it on Day One," Trump vowed last May. "Don’t forget, that was done as an order from the president. That came down as an executive order. And we’re going to change it — on Day One, it’s going to be changed."
Trump followed through, taking executive action from what the president's advisers said would "defend women from gender, ideology, extremism and restoring biological truth to the federal government."
"As of today, it will henceforth be the official policy of the United States government that there are only two genders, male and female," the president said.
The president also signed orders terminating diversity, equity and inclusion programs - best known by their acronym DEI - within the federal government. The orders direct the White House to identify and end the programs within the government.
Another promise from the campaign trail - pardoning the defendants and commuting the sentences of many of those convicted of charges from the Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol by Trump supporters who unsuccessfully tried to halt congressional certification of President Biden's 2020 election victory.
Trump didn't mention the pardons in his inauguration address, but minutes later as he spoke to supporters gathered in an overflow room in the U.S. Capitol, he reiterated his longstanding unproven claim that the 2020 presidential election "was totally rigged."
A couple of hours later, in front of cheering supporters packed into Washington DC's downtown arena, Trump touted that he would be "signing pardons for a lot of people…to get them out" immediately.
He wasn't kidding.
The president, back at the White House, ended up pardoning around 1,500 people - including some convicted of attacking police officers - obliterating the Justice Department's effort to punish those who stormed the Capitol on one of America's darkest days.
"These people have been destroyed," Trump argued as he signed the pardons. "What they’ve done to these people has been outrageous."
Trump also took action on something that didn't come up on the campaign trail.
"A short time from now, we are going to be changing the name of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America," Trump declared in his inauguration address.
And pointing to Alaska's Mount Denali, which is North America's tallest peak, the president said "we will restore the name of a great president, William McKinley, to Mount McKinley, where it should be and where it belongs."
"He's flooding the zone. He's making a case for action. He's demonstrating action. He is rallying a wave of American support for a massive transformation of government," Castellanos, a veteran of numerous GOP presidential campaigns, told Fox News. "I think it's overwhelming and Democrats just don't know what's hitting them."
"Could you imagine Biden doing this. I don't think so," the president said, as he signed executive orders in front of thousands of his supporters.
But Trump didn't follow through on all of his campaign promises.
One of his most prominent vows he didn't act on during his first day in office involved immediately ending a deadly war in Eastern Europe.
Trump repeatedly touted on the campaign trail that he would end the nearly three-year-long war between Russia and Ukraine "in one day."
"They’re dying, Russians and Ukrainians. I want them to stop dying. And I’ll have that done — I’ll have that done in 24 hours," Trump vowed during a May 2023 town hall.
And in September, during his single debate with Vice President Kamala Harris, Trump vowed "I will get it settled before I even become president."
That, obviously, didn't happen.
And earlier this month, retired Gen. Keith Kellog, Trump's special envoy to Ukraine, offered a longer timetable.
"I would like to set a goal on a personal level, professional level, I would say let’s set it at 100 days," he said in a Fox News Channel interview.
Speaking with reporters Monday night in the Oval Office, when asked about his day one pledge to end the fighting, Trump would only say "we're going to try and get it done as quickly as possible."
President Donald Trump's second inaugural address was a policy-oriented message "of hope and unity," experts said.
Kevin Roberts, president of the conservative Heritage Foundation think tank, called Trump's address "substantive" when it came to outlining the president's agenda for the next four years.
"Trump was policy-specific from beginning to end," Roberts said. "And I think that that's something that's going to be remembered as a distinguishing characteristic of the speech, because people, Americans waking up tomorrow watching the news, reading the news, will remember that Trump articulated a playbook."
"The golden Age of America begins right now," Trump said as he delivered his inaugural address on Capitol Hill Monday.
"From this day forward, our country will flourish and be respected again all over the world," he continued. "We will be the envy of every nation, and we will not allow ourselves to be taken advantage of any longer. During every single day of the Trump administration, I will very simply put America first."
Trump notably bashed "the vicious, violent and unfair weaponization of the Justice Department" as well as the Biden-Harris administration's handling of both foreign and domestic issues while both the former president and vice president looked on. Trump specifically noted the North Carolina hurricane disasters and the recent wildfires ravaging Southern California.
"We have a government that has given unlimited funding to the defense of foreign borders but refuses to defend American borders or, more importantly, its own people," Trump said.
Trump's policy-specific speech was "very important right now because of all of the policy failures of the Biden-Harris regime," Roberts told Fox News Digital on Monday. "And I know from the kind of work that Heritage does, not just in D.C. but in states around the country, that Trump's base and a lot of the independent voters who voted for him this time around [were] looking for a policy plan, and he articulated it."
"President Trump has officially kicked off a new chapter for America," Jessica Anderson, president of the conservative super PAC Sentinel Action Fund, told Fox News Digital on Monday. "His speech was one of hope and unity as he set the tone for the next four years of prosperity, security and strength."
Both Roberts and Anderson noted that Trump's address also was a turning point in definitively announcing that a new administration was taking over the White House.
"As President Trump made clear, he is not going to waste any time getting to work for the American people, and he has already teed up dozens of executive orders on everything from securing the border to properly defining gender," Anderson said.
"It was not gratuitous in his criticism of his political opponents," Roberts said. "But you didn't have to do much reading between the lines to understand that the sheriff is back in town. He's going to take this country back."
Trump's speech also emphasized his top priority in making America "a nation that is proud, prosperous and free," echoing sentiments of the New Frontier theme.
"We are one people, one family and one glorious nation under God," Trump said. "So to every parent who dreams for their child and every child who dreams for their future, I am with you. I will fight for you and I will win for you. We are going to win like never before."
Roberts said, "I think Trump put his finger on something that's, right now, going to be an underappreciated part of his legacy, and that is a president of American innovation."
"In other words, making America great again is bringing American manufacturing and economic vitality back to a level where the innovation is so tremendous you can't even comprehend as you sit here what it's going to be."
Roberts said such an invocation of the "real spirit of America" in Trump's speech indicated "bringing American manufacturing and economic vitality back" during his second administration, which was a theme that Roberts said both Ronald Reagan and John F. Kennedy incorporated into their own inaugural addresses.
President Donald Trump pulled the security clearances of more than 50 national security officials who said Hunter Biden’s laptop had "all the classic earmarks of a Russian information operation."
A total of 51 former national security officials released a public letter in 2020 claiming that even though the laptop did not have "any evidence of Russian involvement," it looked like a "Russian information operation."
The letter came after the New York Post reported they had emails showing Hunter Biden coordinated for Joe Biden to meet with a top executive at Ukrainian energy company Burisma months before pressuring Ukrainian officials to oust a prosecutor investigating the company.
Included on the list are former director of National Intelligence James Clapper Jr., former directors of the Central Intelligence Agency Michael Hayden, John Brennan, former Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta, and former National Security Advisor John Bolton.
Fox News Digital previously reported that federal investigators with the Department of Justice were aware that Hunter Biden’s laptop was not manipulated and contained "reliable evidence."
Republican lawmakers including Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina have previously suggested withdrawing the security clearances of these officials.
The order was one of more than 200 executive orders Trump approved on Inauguration Day, joining directives like withdrawing the U.S. from the Paris Climate Agreement that the U.S. initially entered under former President Barack Obama’s administration in 2015.
Trump previously withdrew the U.S. from the agreement during his first term in 2020.
Other executive orders Trump signed on day one include rescinding nearly 80 executive orders and memoranda issued under Biden, issuing a regulatory and hiring freeze upon the federal government, preventing "government censorship" of free speech, and directing every department and agency to address the cost of living crisis.
WASHINGTON, DC— Several hundred protesters gathered in Washington, D.C. as President Trump was being sworn into office on Monday and several told Fox News Digital they braved the frigid temperatures to speak out against "colonialism" and "fascism" they believe is coming under Trump’s term.
"I’m coming out because I think it's important to make a stand against the country's slide towards fascism and against war and genocide and to just show that people are going to keep fighting no matter what attacks come down, and we know that they're going to happen," Gregory, who said he traveled from New Orleans to attend the We Fight Back rally at Meridian Hill Park in Washington, D.C., told Fox News Digital.
"We know the conditions are going to keep getting worse. We've just got to keep fighting."
Maxwell, who traveled to the inauguration protest from Baltimore, told Fox News Digital, "I'm here to make a stand to say that we're not going away and that the dangers of poverty and wealth inequality, misogyny, discrimination against the LGBTQ community and immigrants who make up the people of our nation deserve to have a voice and deserve to have people stand up for them domestically and also to end imperialism and colonialism and, you know, to discontinue that oppression enacted by the United States government and that's why we're here today."
Many of the protesters brought signs and props, including one man who rolled a large guillotine replica, which he told Fox News Digital was an "art piece" that is "open to interpretation."
"I want people to know that they have the power to make themselves heard, to voice their anger and to say, you know, to send a message to the people that are above us, people that are ruling us, that, you know, we are here, we're powerful, and they better, you know, tread lightly. You know, it's just a sculpture, but it should be a little scary."
An inscription beneath the guillotine said, "come get sum."
Mara, who identifies as transgender, told Fox News Digital that Trump is a "fascist."
"It’s important for me to be here. First of all, Donald Trump, with his extreme right wing agenda, has, among other things, to label trans people as pedophiles and then execute them," Mara said. "So as a trans person, that's kind of alarming. In addition to that, he has been said not just by left-wing people, but by his own conservative generals, he's been called a fascist. So I'm out here to reject fascism and say it has no place in our America."
The signs in the crowd contained phrases that included "socialism beats fascism" and "fight Trump's agenda."
After the speeches wrapped up, many of which included rallying cries to "Free Palestine" and end Israel's "genocide" in Gaza, the group walked out of the park and marched down the local streets.
Counter-protesters showed up as the march got underway, and several individuals engaged in shouting matches.
Protests against Trump's inauguration were far more subdued than the protests that took place at the start of his first term in office and do not appear to have been violent, which it was eight years ago when hundreds of protesters were arrested.
Trump was sworn in as the 47th president of the United States on Monday, marking his return to the Oval Office with a pledge to restore America to a "golden age."
Trump addressed the nation after taking the oath of office for the second time and used his inaugural address remarks to call for a "revolution of common sense."
"I return to the presidency confident and optimistic that we are at the start of a thrilling new era of national success. A tide of change is sweeping the country," Trump said. "My message to Americans today is that it is time for us to once again act with courage, vigor, and the vitality of history’s greatest civilization."
Fox News Digital's Brooke Singman contributed to this report
Spirits were high in the streets of Washington, D.C., this Monday as Americans from across the country converged on the nation’s capital to celebrate the second inauguration of President Donald Trump.
Fox News Digital spoke to many Trump supporters, who, despite frigid temperatures and a biting wind chill, expressed optimism and hope for the future of America under the new Trump administration.
"It’s a happy day," said a group of women from South Georgia, who were wearing huge star-spangled hats and "Make America Great Again" scarves and were standing by the Capitol building.
"It’s amazing to have freedom again," said one of the women named Tanya Garrett.
"Today is a day of freedom," chimed in another woman named Angela Anderson.
Anderson said she believes the Trump administration will bring "the respect of America back."
"I think that’s one of the greatest things," she said. "We’re going to have respect from other countries, and we’re going to prosper and bring safety on our borders and the respect for the people that there should be."
Most of the Trump supporters who spoke with Fox News Digital said that the most important thing the new president could do is move quickly to undo the damage done during the the Biden administration by securing the border, restoring the economy and American energy and projecting American strength against the nation’s enemies.
"I am very, very excited," said Rachel Quy, who traveled from Atlanta and was standing outside Union Station. "I’m Vietnamese American and I do not like communists and a lot of us who are anti-communist we hope that Trump can stop that or at least make them weaker so we can make America stronger."
In a pub just blocks away from the Capitol, the celebrations began as early as ten in the morning. As televisions showed Trump emerging from St. John’s Episcopal Church after morning services, crowds in the bar broke into cheers and applause.
"A lot of changes are going to happen," said Jeff, a Trump fan sitting by the bar who traveled for the inauguration from Alaska. "We’re going to make immigration a big deal, bringing things back to America, businesses. It’s a new era, I’m looking forward to it."
Another Trump supporter named Will, who was sitting nearby, chimed in saying he had never felt the same type of energy for another president.
"We’re from Oregon, so it’s a blue state, so it's nice to be around like-minded people," he said.
Outside, supporters lined Pennsylvania Avenue where Trump and his motorcade were expected to pass through on their way to Capital One Arena.
"We were doing much better under Trump, so we’re excited for another four years," said Philip Swinson, a construction business owner from Southern California. Standing by Swinson was his father and business partner, Brad Swinson.
"I’m almost 72 and I’m going to remember [Biden] as the worst president of my lifetime by far," said Brad. "We’re big on freedom, the Constitution, free enterprise, all the things that they seem to be pushing against, at least the Democrats [and] the deep state and I think people can see through that."
Some said that they have noticed a shift in energy in their communities, with more and more people willing to openly agree with and support Trump and his agenda.
"Anything is better than what we’ve had for the last four years," said Levi, a young man from Wisconsin. "People that were my friends that were liberals, hard-core lefties, now they’re like: ‘You know what? We’ve got to change something here.’"
"It’s been embarrassing for the last four years. We have not had anybody in charge, anybody running the show," said Deanna, from Illinois. "America has got somebody in charge now."
With President Biden now in political retirement, California Gov. Gavin Newsom is quickly becoming one of President Trump's top targets.
And Trump, minutes into his second term as president, used his inauguration address inside the U.S. Capitol to take aim at the Democratic governor of the nation's most populous state.
"Our country can no longer deliver basic services in times of emergency," Trump argued. And he pointed to "Los Angeles, where we are watching fires still tragically burned from weeks ago without even a token of defense."
Trump this month has repeatedly criticized Newsom's handling of the horrific wildfires that have razed parts of metropolitan Los Angeles, killing nearly 30 people and forcing tens of thousands to flee their homes.
The governor's press office quickly pushed back, posting on social media four photos of firefighters tackling the blazes.
Trump will head to California on Friday to get a firsthand view of the firefighting and recovery efforts.
"I’m going to go out there on Friday to see it and to get it moving back," Trump said at an inaugural eve rally in the nation's capital. "We’re going to get some of the best builders in the world. We’ll get it moving back."
Newsom, who over a week ago invited Trump to California, said in a statement on Monday following the inauguration ceremony, "I look forward to President Trump’s visit to Los Angeles and his mobilization of the full weight of the federal government to help our fellow Americans recover and rebuild."
And he emphasized "finding common ground and striving toward shared goals" with the Trump administration.
"In the face of one of the worst natural disasters in America’s history, this moment underscores the critical need for partnership, a shared commitment to facts, and mutual respect – values that enable civil discourse, effective governance, and meaningful action," the governor said.
Newsom added that "where our shared principles are aligned, my administration stands ready to work with the Trump-Vance administration to deliver solutions and serve the nearly 40 million Californians we jointly represent."
Newsom was a top surrogate on the 2024 campaign trail for Biden and later former Vice President Kamala Harris, who replaced Biden last summer as the Democrats' nominee.
The governor, who is term-limited and likely has national ambitions in 2028, was a vocal Trump critic on the 2024 campaign trail and has taken a lead in leading the Democratic Party's resistance in the wake of Trump's presidential election victory.
The men who held the nation’s highest office before President Trump have all remained mum on his taking the presidency on Monday.
All four living former presidents – Bill Clinton, George Bush, Barack Obama and Joe Biden – attended the inauguration ceremony, and sat behind Trump as he gave a politically charged speech about his vision for the future of the country.
None had any public well-wishes for the incoming president after the swearing-in ceremony. Asked whether they planned to put out a statement on it, none of their offices responded at press time.
Biden only addressed his supporters and staffers in remarks before boarding a government helicopter to be whisked away from Washington, D.C.
"We're leaving office, we're not leaving the fight," he told them.
Former first ladies Hillary Clinton, Laura Bush and Jill Biden all attended the ceremony alongside their husbands. Michelle Obama did not attend.
Sources reportedly close to Michelle Obama told People magazine that the former first lady intended to skip Trump's inauguration because she cannot contain her disdain for the Republican president-elect.
Hillary Clinton chuckled when Trump suggested renaming the Gulf of Mexico the Gulf of America. Bill Clinton told CNN of his reaction to the speech: "I think you can figure it out for yourself." The Clintons did not stay for the inaugural luncheon.
Trump and former first lady Melania Trump did not attend President Biden's inauguration in 2021. At the late President Jimmy Carter’s funeral, Obama and Trump were seen chatting and laughing like old friends despite the history of political animosity between the former Democratic president and the returning Republican.
Trump, in his address, took shots at Biden without addressing him by name.
"My recent election is a mandate to completely and totally reverse a horrible betrayal, and all of these many betrayals that have taken place, and to give the people back their faith, their wealth, their democracy and indeed, their freedom," Trump said.
In a follow-up speech to supporters, Trump called out Biden’s last-minute moves as president.
"You're going to see a lot of action on the J6 hostages," he said.
"And I was going to talk about the things Joe did today with the pardons of people that were very, very guilty of very bad crimes, like the UnSelect Committee of political thugs," he went on.
In an 11th hour move, Biden preemptively pardoned the members of the January 6th House Select Committee that investigated the role of Trump and his acolytes in the 2021 Capitol riot, along with Dr. Anthony Fauci and former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Mark Milley.
And just moments before leaving the White House, Biden preemptively shielded his siblings and their spouses from any prosecution.
Congressional Democrats are balancing efforts to stand tough against President Trump while also pledging to work with him where possible after the Republican commander in chief took office.
It comes as moderate Democrats and Democrats in vulnerable seats have made overtures toward Republicans in areas like border security and transgender youth after the GOP’s commanding victories in the 2024 elections – which the right has widely interpreted as a mandate for a more conservative America.
"My job is to fight to make life better for Texas families, and I will work with anyone, Democrat or Republican, who is interested in lowering costs, securing our border, and keeping our communities safe," freshman Rep. Julie Johnson, D-Texas, who attended the inauguration, said in a statement.
"But make no mistake, I will always stand up to President Trump, his administration, division, and far-right extremism when any of those individuals or entities threaten our way of life."
Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto, D-Nev., who ran tight races in 2016 and 2022 and is expected to do so again in 2028, said in a statement, "I look forward to working with the incoming administration to lower prices, create jobs, and keep our communities safe. But make no mistake, if President Trump uses his position to hurt hardworking Nevadans, I will always stand strong to protect them."
Rep. Jimmy Panetta, D-Calif., took a similar conciliatory tone.
"There is progress to be made on housing, environmental stewardship, public safety, immigration reform, national security, and more. I will work with anybody and any administration to pursue areas of agreement and aggressively deliver for the people I serve," he said.
"I also firmly believe that our diversity is our strength and our unity is the power to endure and succeed no matter the many challenges that we face. Law-abiding immigrants, the LGBTQ+ community, women, and families recovering from devastating natural disasters are understandably worried by the rhetoric from the campaign trail and potential policies from the Trump Administration."
Other Democrats were more guarded in their statements, like Rep. Chris Deluzio, D-Pa., who said on X, "Today, and always, I root hard for this country of ours, and I wish [President Trump] well as he takes on the responsibility of leading America."
Progressive Rep. Becca Balint, D-Vt., however, made clear that she would take a more hard-line approach against Trump.
"Day 1 under Trump. We must face these challenges and attacks with courage and clarity. I’m ready for the work ahead to defend our Constitution and will be working tirelessly to address the urgent needs of Vermonters and working people across America," she wrote on X.
Trump was sworn into office for his second term in an inauguration ceremony inside the U.S. Capitol.
