Trump went through the doors to the corridors of power together with his wife Melania, his son Barron, and his father-in-law.
In the Oval Office, he then signed a flurry of presidential orders. He pardoned over 1,500 people who have been convicted or are awaiting trial in connection with the storming of the Capitol on January 6, 2021.
These are hostages, said Trump, and emphasized that he hopes to see them released already the same evening.
Democrat Nancy Pelosi, former Speaker of the House of Representatives, calls the decision "an outrageous insult to our justice system".
Terror classification of drug cartels
Trump then signed, as promised, a declaration of emergency at the US southern border and the decision to classify foreign drug cartels as terrorists.
He simultaneously answered journalists' questions while signing his many documents.
It can happen very soon, Trump replied to the question of when he will talk to Russian President Vladimir Putin about the war of aggression against Ukraine.
He cannot be happy, it's not going well for him. I think it would be very good for him to end the war, said Trump about Putin, and added that he hopes Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky also wants to reach a settlement.
Trump also decided to initiate the process of withdrawing the USA from the World Health Organization (WHO). The USA pays too much in comparison to China, according to Trump, who made a similar decision during his previous term but which Joe Biden withdrew.
Trump also gave the app TikTok, which is facing threats of shutdown, a 75-day deadline to find an American buyer.
Big show
The President made a big show of his first day in power, signing his first decisions in front of a cheering audience in the giant arena Capitol One in Washington DC.
Could you imagine Biden doing something like this? I don't think so, said Trump.
In his first order, he revoked 78 decisions made by Joe Biden as President.
Trump also signed, as expected, to withdraw the USA from the Paris Agreement, the global agreement to combat climate change. He did the same during his first term, but Biden re-joined.
The President then continued the celebrations with a ball and dance with his wife Melania.
We will make our military so strong that we won't need to use it, said Trump to guests working in the military.
