TRANSCRIPT
A golden age for the United States.
That is the vision of its 47th Commander in Chief.
Donald Trump used his first address on his second round as president to outline a broad political agenda, including hopes to prevent World War Three and to send astronauts to land on Mars.
"And we will pursue our manifest destiny into the stars, launching American astronauts to plant the stars and stripes on the planet Mars."
That news was met with joy by a grinning Elon Musk.
The tech billionaire and SpaceX CEO is expected to co-lead an advisory group to slash public sector costs and jobs, called the Department of Government Efficiency.
He joined Mr Trump on stage at the inauguration, addressing the crowd with excitement.
“I mean, can you imagine how awesome it will be to have American astronauts plant the flag on another planet for the first time? Yeah! Yeah!"
On this planet, the United States is to leave the Paris Climate Agreement, abandoning its environmental commitments as a signatory to the multi-nation deal.
From today, President Trump says, the United States Government will also only recognise the female and male genders.
"I will also end the government policy of trying to socially engineer race and gender into every aspect of public and private life."
US presidential inaugurations are always momentous occasions, but this was particularly noteworthy.
Mr Trump is a convicted felon returning as US president after four years - and what is widely regarded as the most controversial political exit in modern American history.
And the legacy of the Capitol Hill Riots loomed over his plans as president.
He has said he will pardon those charged over their alleged involvement in the attack on January 6, 2021.
"I was going to talk about the J6 hostages, but you'll be happy because you know it is action not words that count. And you are going to see a lot of action."
Meanwhile, his predecessor - Jo Biden - had already acted.
He gave eleventh-hour protections to several prominent enemies of Donald Trump, with pre-emptive presidential pardons to former Chief Medical Advisor, Dr Anthony Fauci, the former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Mark Milley, and former Republican congresswoman Liz Cheney.
As he left his post, Mr Biden urged Democratic voters to be resilient.
"My dad taught me the measure of a person – you heard me say it before - is how quickly they get back up when they get knocked out. That's what we have to do right now. We've always done our best as Americans. We never, never, never give up, ever. We're leaving office. We're not leaving the fight."
But Mr Trump says the future is bright.
"We are at the start of a thrilling new era of national success. A tide of change is sweeping the country and sunlight is pouring over the entire world."
Not everyone is as optimistic.
Newly arrived migrants in El Paso, Texas, are anxious about the president's declaration of an emergency at the US southern border.
Mr Trump says he will oversee the mass deportation of millions of illegal immigrants.
Gabriela Suarez is from Colombia and has been waiting to become a US resident.
"I think that this government that is being sworn in today, he (Trump) has made it clear that he doesn't want immigrants. My only fear would be, since I just recently crossed the border, that he wouldn't allow me to submit any paperwork or do whatever is possible to stay in the US legally."
In Chicago, thousands of protesters took to the streets.
"No Trump, no racist USA. Our communities are under attack, what do we do!"
They are rallying against elements of the new administration's plan they say will stoke division and boost inequality.
"It is like they are taking all the resentment that they have and they are turning pain into a virtue."
"The American empire is falling, and they are trying to maintain a system of inequity."
"Being surrounded by people who are also fired up to fight the climate crisis, you know end war."
Australian exports could be significantly affected by the proposed US tariffs on foreign products.
Foreign Minister Penny Wong is in Washington DC and is expected to meet Marco Rubio, who is waiting to be officially confirmed as US Secretary of State.
Ms Wong says she will use the time to advocate for Australia as an important trade partner.
"When it comes to Australia-US economic relations, in terms of trade, the US has had a surplus with Australia since President Truman, about two to one. And, in fact, even of those exports from Australia that go to the US, about half of them go into US supply chains. So, in terms of adding value to the American economy, Australia certainly does. And that will be my message on behalf of Australia."
