Donald Trump has taken oath of office to serve as the 45th president of the United States a few minutes ago, on the steps of Capitol Hill in Washington DC.
The inauguration began earlier in the day on January 20, 2017 with a visit to a Washington DC church.
The chief justice of the United States, John Roberts administered the oath of office to the real estate billionaire. Standing by his side was his wife, Melania Trump.
Trump’s running mate during the 2016 campaigns, Mike Spence, former governor of Indiana took the oath of office as the 48th Vice President of the United States of America. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas administered the oath to Pence.
Present at the inauguration were out-going President Barack Obama and first lady, Michelle Obama. Former Presidents Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, and Jimmy Carter are present at the ceremony which is still on-going.
Former First Lady Hillary Clinton, who ran against the US president was also present at the ceremony.
Republican Donald Trump, a billionaire real estate developer and a reality TV show star, defeated Democratic Hillary Clinton in a bitter race, winning over 280 electoral college votes to Clinton’s 228.
Clinton won the majority votes by close to 3 million votes in the November 8 poll but failed to clinch the 270 electoral college votes needed to win the presidency.
The Obamas Receive Donald Trump and Wife At The White House
About two hours earlier, out-going President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama greeted President-elect Donald Trump and his wife, Melania Trump, on the steps of the White House ahead of Trump’s inauguration.
Trump, Vice President-elect Mike Pence and their families were to have coffee and tea with the Obamas. Obama will leave the White House for the last time as President, accompanying the Trumps to Capitol Hill for the swearing-in ceremony.
The White House reception came after Obama tweeted a goodbye.
“It’s been the honor of my life to serve you. You made me a better leader and a better man,” the tweet read. “I won’t stop; I’ll be right there with you as a citizen, inspired by your voices of truth and justice, good humor, and love.”
Mr Trump begun his inauguration day with a visit to a church in Washington, and emerged from Blair House, a government guest house next to the White House, with Melania just after 1.30pm UK time.
