it seems like the most improbable unlikely rise, but this is the culmination now of his incredible journey to the white i'm philippa thomas here with the bbc special programme as donald trump becomes the 45th president of the united states. he has now taken pa rt the united states. he has now taken part in the official parade after taking the oath of office. he is now beginning hisjourney from taking the oath of office. he is now beginning his journey from capitol hill to the white house which has been vacating by the obama family. it will be donald trump and his new first lady melania trump taking

residence. cheering crowds there along pennsylvania avenue. they might even go past the new trump hotel. you can see the capitol building behind that picture. it was on the steps of that building that donald trump took the oath and delivered his speech. we will bring you his speech later in the hour but he was speaking about transferring power from washington, he was speaking about transferring powerfrom washington, dc he was speaking about transferring power from washington, dc to he was speaking about transferring powerfrom washington, dc to bring it back to the people. we can join laura trevelyan among the crowd. can you give is an idea of what it

is like out there. i am joined by a loyal donald trump supporter from alabama. it's the best day of my life. i campaigned for him in alabama. idid life. i campaigned for him in alabama. i did not think this day was going to come. we were so surprised. why were you so surprised. why were you so surprised. we thought that the democrats... we were doubtful. what is your hope for the presidency? we wa nt to is your hope for the presidency? we want to get america back. we felt like it was going in the wrong direction under obama. what did you think specifically was going wrong that you think donald trump can

stop? he is a businessman and he is going to do what he has campaigned to do. the speech today was very hopeful. in alabama, what are you seeing? a state suffering from not having too many jobs? yes, we are. we are seeing people not having jobs. our neighbours not having jobs. our neighbours not having jobs. he really campaigned a lot in alabama. the right behind us, we can see the parade is making its way towards us. what does it mean to you towards us. what does it mean to you to witness this? to see it here is overwhelming. the crowd here are so happy. it's almost like a religious experience. the people here are overjoyed. there's really not that many people who are against him. i know there was going to be a lot of

people here against him but there's not really been that many people here who have been doing bad things that i've been able to see. there are some protesters here. how'd you hope that donald trump can unite the country hope that donald trump can unite the cou ntry after hope that donald trump can unite the country after a bruising election campaign? he seems like he really has the attitude of being able to do what he says he's going to do. that is the spirit. i think the speech he gave today was so uplifting. i know the crowd there was just really excited. that's what i feel. the spirit was overwhelming. everybody around kept talking about how excited they were. he did paint quite a bleak vision of america. he spoke about stopping the carnage. it's been a bleak picture. everybody has been really sad about our country and the flag and the soldiers. a lot of soldiers have

been sad about it. i heard some soldiers that were around us. they we re very soldiers that were around us. they were very excited to have a president that supported them. they did not feel like obama supported them. what about the people who are fea rful what about the people who are fearful about what will happen? do you feel for them? i think so. we wa nt you feel for them? i think so. we want to support both sides. you know. we definitely want to support both sides. i want to support both parties but i don't want anybody to be hurt. so... we want everybody to unite. and how will you personally judge whether donald trump has succeeded? i think the biggest thing

is bringing the jobs back. and the economy. phyllis, thank you so much for joining economy. phyllis, thank you so much forjoining us on bbc news. that is the view from a loyal donald trump supporter. just as we see the inaugural parade begins to come here down pennsylvania avenue, as president trump processes from capitol building to his new home, the white house. we will of course keep watching, especially for that moment when the crowds hope the car will stop and donald and melania trump will get out and walk a little down pennsylvania avenue which is really pa rt down pennsylvania avenue which is really part of the big tradition. down pennsylvania avenue which is really part of the big traditionm absolutely is. we'll donald trump get out and walk past his hotel which isjust behind me? the big building with the clock tower. will

the showman in him be able to resist. or will he wait as presidents normally do. they normally just walk that final block oi’ normally just walk that final block or two which is passed me, heading towards the white house. it's fascinating to see the change of tone with this parade. there's much more of an emphasis with links to the military. donald trump has spoken about rebuilding the military. there are many more groups from rural america in this parade. under barack obama, there were many more marching bands from the cities, less of an emphasis on the military. you can see one of the marching bands there. that is the united states army band. so, the crowd here just loving this. this is the kind of symbolic patriotism that they associate with donald trump. they

are thrilled to see it. they can't wait to see the president himself. are thrilled to see it. they can't wait to see the president himselflj know wait to see the president himself.” know we were both in washington for the obama inauguration is. it was absolutely packed, especially on them more. —— the mall. the crowd is not so densely packed today. no, the crowds not anything like that obama inauguration in 2009. being an the mall for the inauguration in 2013, the crowds seem to be a bit thinner than they were. certainly, one of the parade stands next to as wasn't full early on and we were told it would be opened up to mems of the public. it wasn't a ticketed event. this was such a brutal and divisive

campaign and the opinion polls suggesting that donald trump comes in with a very low approval rating. there are a number of protesters here. nevertheless, for those loyal fa ns here. nevertheless, for those loyal fans that it is a very special moment indeed. laura, stay with us. i know you can't go anywhere. tell as if mrtrump i know you can't go anywhere. tell as if mr trump publicises his hotel on pennsylvania avenue. robert singh is with me. you're a professor of politics at birkbeck university, and just this summer you published a book — it's called after obama. well, we are here. from the inaugural speech that you heard, what time does it set for you for american leadership? really, really worrying. it's very difficult to think in living memory that we've seen such a stridently nationalist, parochial, insular and threatening, frankly, speech, as far as the rest

of the world is concerned. he's really double down on his campaign rhetoric and anybody who thought he wasn't serious, i think, this is a message, he was serious and the rest of the world better brace themselves. we heard a young woman from alabama talking of it like a religious experience. he's going to bring jobs back. absolutely. it was striking, the poses he struck, it was like a rugby captain at twickenham rather than a solemn moment of an american president taking power. he has doubled down. he even spoke saying protection brings prosperity. that is not what the historical record suggests at all. for his supposed to as ——

supporters this is a huge moment, religious or not, for the rest of as this is deeply, deeply troubling. let's bring in laura again. we are looking at pictures of crowds, with banners saying make america to gain —— make america great again. we should say that there have been protests. lots of people anguished and angry at what has taken place. absolutely. there is a divided america here. there are protesters who feel that this election was stolen from them that hillary clinton won the popular vote and that somehow the russians have intervened in this election and that had an incalculable effect. tomorrow, there will be a big protest here in washington, a women's march and marches in major cities across america. for many who

have come here, this is a special moment. elisabeth, welcome to the bbc. what does it mean to you to be here today? it's the most exciting event i've been to in my whole life. it's a turning point for this country and it was really important for me to come today. i did everything in my power to help him get elected. i did everything in my power. where did you campaign for donald trump? i did a lot of blogging for him, phone calling, cold calling. what are you hoping that america can be changed by donald trump? it's important to unite right now. with a very tough election, we need a healing process and he's trying to unite this country. he didn't sound very unifying note in his inaugural address. what did you think he did?

i believe he did. ithink address. what did you think he did? i believe he did. i think he did a really good job. you felt his showing. you felt his love. i think thatis showing. you felt his love. i think that is going to do a whole lot of good. when you talk about the need for him to unite the country, we can see there are protesters here behind us. what do you want donald trump to attribute to unite the country? reach out to the democrats and to the people that are protesting. i think it might take time but they'll see his compassion for this country. he has a big compassion. it's compal into the point he won. donald trump has got out of his car so he is walking down pennsylvania avenue behind us. what kind of moment is that for you? to know that the 45th president of the united states is right here now. this is such a huge deal. it is the first elected

president of the united states that has won an election and he has not held office. he is a citizen like me, like you. he wasjust weary of whatever do direction this country... he decided to run and he was elected. itjust country... he decided to run and he was elected. it just amazes country... he decided to run and he was elected. itjust amazes me. country... he decided to run and he was elected. itjust amazes mem is an extraordinary story. elizabeth who campaign for donald trump. thank you forjoining us. one of many loyal donald trump supporters who are thrilled to learn that he is an pennsylvania avenue behind us and has got out of his car and is welcoming the crowds. as we look at this picture of donald and melania trump greeting the crowds walking down the avenue. he looks like he owns the world. he said, he's a citizen like me and you. she was pleased he hadn't held elected office and could appear to her like

one of the people. completely thrilled, philippa. that's absolutely something i heard over and over again across this campaign and over again across this campaign and across this nation. because congress has been so deadlocked for the last eight years obama was in the last eight years obama was in the white house. initially, the democrats had control and then they didn'tand democrats had control and then they didn't and the two sides were against each other. donald trump's successful appeal is that he is a successful appeal is that he is a successful businessman, someone who hasn't had a political career, someone who gets things done, as he likes to say, on time and under budget. that's his mantra. his critics would say that he has gone bankrupt, writing off big debts, in a sense, that has been so powerful that people have responded to him and when he says i will bring back jobs, people in the rust belt where manufacturing jobs have gone feel like this is someone who knows what he is talking about. he's a

businessman, an employer, he knows how to create jobs. he's talking about cutting regulation. even those who had reservations about his and his experience, it was that simple economic message of, i will bring back yourjob and i will protect yourjob from back yourjob and i will protect your job from those back yourjob and i will protect yourjob from those countries that wa nt to yourjob from those countries that want to undermine it, that was so powerful. that's what people responded to, philippa. laura, thank you. as donald trump gets back into the car, after their short walk. it was donald and melania trump and their young son barron trump. very difficult for a young boy to know what to do in the middle of the crowd. i saw melania trump put her arms around him to usher him back into the car. i want to ask robert singh from birkbeck university, we heard from another support of their talking about this is going to be a

healing president, he can unite is, because he is one of us. whatever you think of that, he certainly played that part really well. that's why he was swept into office? let's be careful. he was swept into office. he wasn't swept into office. hillary clinton won the popular vote by3 hillary clinton won the popular vote by 3 million. the i meant to say that was the essence of his appeal. he adopted a populist pose of being a man of the people despite being a sub —— celebrity millionaire. the speech was clearly targeted at his base. the rhetoric and symbolism is all about the people. ordinary folks, i am your voice. against this

establishment. this is just folks, i am your voice. against this establishment. this isjust carrying on. in which case, it is in his interest to say and his supporters believe it to be true that factories are scattered like tombstones across america, families trapped in poverty, crime, american carnage. his vocabulary, trapped, bleeding, desperate, there's chaos with obama sitting behind him. yes. it was really embarrassing. far more embarrassing than eight years ago when obama was talking about no conflict between our values and security when george w bush was sitting behind him. this was a condemnation of 30 or a0 years of the united states, including other republican presidents. the two bushes, ronald reagan. it's very difficult to think of such an

inaugural speech that has painted such a dystopian speech that paints america as in crisis and decline and only he can save it. we've never seen anything as demagogic as this from an incoming president before. we'll talk about the facts behind that. the real economy in america. i just want to remind people that, of course, this is a historic day, there have been many historic moments, we want to show you one of those. the moment that donald trump took the oath of office.” those. the moment that donald trump took the oath of office. i donald john tromp solemnly swear that i will faithfully execute the office of president of the united states and will to the best of my ability preserve, protect and defend the constitution of the united states.

so help me god. congratulations, mr president. let's talk about how donald trump might affect the rest of the world because america first foreign policy is the new heading on the white house website as of a few hours ago with pledges to rebuild the american military and destroy islamic terror groups. the german vice chancellor said in a television interview... the president of taiwan, richard at mrtrump. couple of different reactions. to discuss foreign policy and the impact across the world, we can talk

to our correspondent in mexico city will grant and steve rosenberg in moscow. he promised to build a wall and make mexico pay for it. do people think this will happen? people here are furious that the suggestion that they would have to pay for a wall that they don't want thatis pay for a wall that they don't want that is designed to keep them out and stop their families living together, people being able to work in the united states, this whole foreign policy, that you mention, america first. if it's going to affect anywhere it will be mexico first and foremost. the lines," from here on in, it will be higher american and buy american". that's going to affect mexicans. if you export to the united states, it's going to affect you if you are

working in a car plant for a us car firm based here in mexico. a lot of people are very frightened about what this will mean to individual families. i went to san luis potosi which has been affected by ford pulling out of a £1.73 been affected by ford pulling out of a £1.3 billion investment in a car assembly plant. people are genuinely frightened about what will be coming. president trump made it clearer that he will be focusing on americanjobs at clearer that he will be focusing on american jobs at the cost, if need be with his relationship with mexico. the inaugural speech was largely domestic. we know that donald trump as a more positive outlook towards russia. is this where we get the russian reset?” think it's possible. there's been a very positive reaction here in russia to donald trump's speech. two

senior russian senators, head of the foreign affairs committee in the upper house, he said that the speech was impressive, not a bad start, room for discussion. and we heard from another senator who said it was powerful, a speech of a new age. i think it is a positive reaction because there was a lot in that speech that would have been music to moscow's is. for example, donald trump's pledge that the us wouldn't impose its lifestyle on anyone else. a pledge to defend its own borders not anywhere else. in other words, his message was that america should focus now on america. that is what russia has been saying for a long time. the russians have been criticising us administrations for interfering, or meddling as they put

it, in other parts of the world, including in russia's backyard, an area that moscow considers to be its sphere of influence, countries like georgia and ukraine. i think it's highly likely that if donald trump is determined to focus on america, the russians will see it as an opportunity to increase their influence in this post—soviet space. thank you. i want to come back to you to talk about immigration. donald trump mayfield a need to live up donald trump mayfield a need to live up to his pledges to his base because there is a lot of anger at what is perceived to be for example mexicans taking jobs. that's right. what will be happening today is that other countries are looking at what's happening with mexico and using that as a litmus test for themselves. the discussion of the war affects all of the countries in central america, particularly

honduras and el salvador. the vast majority of central american migrants from those countries. we wonder what will happen with the thaw with cuba that was a key part of president obama's legacy. we'll donald trump try to unpick that and change further the rules of engagement with cuba? questions of engagement with cuba? questions of engagement with cuba? questions of engagement with colombia which is an important regional ally. plenty to be picked in terms of trade but, as you say, particularly in terms of immigration. so many latin americans have family existing already in the united states and they see, particularly in mexico, a seasonal movement of working in the united states but coming back to mexico to use those dollars to prop up their families back here. thank you very much. much more injust a minute's time. do stay with us. good evening. temperatures are

already falling but it has been a smashing day for many. this was sent in by alan from a little town in the foothills of snowdonia. in contrast, still the cloud and week whether front in east lothian. that will prevent frost for northern parts of england and scotland and northern ireland where we have the cloud. further south, temperatures will fall quite markedly. very little wind is so potentialfor a bit of freezing fog. for northern england, possibly northern ireland, a few spots. quite widely a frost overnight and quite a sharp frost.

colder this time for northern england and scotland. scotland will enjoy the sunshine again tomorrow. some sunshine but it will be cold, cold i night and chile by day. it will take a while for temperatures to lift and the fog to drift away. for scotland, after very little sunshine in the south all week, much sunnierfor the likes sunshine in the south all week, much sunnier for the likes of glasgow and edinburgh. northern ireland should see a few more breaks in the cloud compared to today. a weather front bringing a future be bits of rain and a few snow flurries over the pennines. more cloud across south—western parts of england and possibly wales. not as sunny as it has been. cold, even with the sunshine. lower than it has been this week. saturday night, another

cold one under the clear skies. a bit more cloud than the coming night so not as widely sharp frosts but it still will be called first thing. with some freezing fog. sunday looks like the cloudy day of the two this weekend but still a lot of bright weather. it's this high—pressure keeping things calm and weather from south bay. it stays into the beginning of next week. hello, i'm philippa thomas with a special programme on bbc news on the day donald trump is inaugurated as the a5th president of the united states. donald trump said he would make america a great again, pledging to

end the "american carnage", as he put it, of social and economic woes. he described the country he inherits as ravaged by rusted—out factories, crime, gangs and drugs. in his inaugural address he addressed thousands