welcome to bbc news, broadcasting to viewers in north america and around the globe. our top stories: president donald trump signs his first executive order in the oval office after taking the oath earlier in the day. to defend the constitution of the united states, so help me god. tens of thousands gather to watch as mr trump vows to give power to them — to the people. a new vision will glove on our land. from this day forward its going to be only america first. america first. i'm laura trevelyan in washington where we are awaiting president trump's arrival at the three inaugural balls he is attending tonight. there's violence before

and after the inauguration. donald trump is now the 45th president of the united states. he was sworn in before several 100 thousand people on the steps of capitol hill in washington. in his inaugural speech he said that from this day forward, "it's going to be america first". that means buying american and hiring american — ending what he called the scourge of abandoned factories and rampant crime. our north america editorjon sopel looks back on mr trump's big day. announcer: ladies and gentlemen, the president—elect of the united states, donald trump. a scenario few scarcely thought possible, the billionaire reality tv host about to become commander—in—chief of the most powerful nation on earth. # america # it's a ceremony going back over 200 years that has

changed little in that time. i, donald john trump, do 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. with those 35 words the formality was complete but after that an inaugural address that was anything but a continuation of tradition. the 45th president had won a mandate to be a disrupter to politics as normal. today we are not merely transferring power from one administration to another, orfrom one party to another,

but we are transferring power from washington dc and giving it back to you, the people. if the vips on the podium were starting to feel uncomfortable, president trump was just getting started. he painted a hellish picture of america, a very different picture to the one that barack obama had said he was leaving behind. for too many of our citizens, a different reality exists. mothers and children trapped in poverty in our inner cities. rusted—out factories scattered like tombstones across the landscape of our nation. and an education system flush with cash but which leaves our young and beautiful students deprived of all knowledge. and the crime and the gangs and the drugs that have stolen too many lives and robbed our country of so much unrealised potential. this american carnage stops right here and stops right now.

and then a message to the rest of the world — don't look to us to bail you out, we have different priorities now. we assembled here today, are issuing a new decree to be heard in every city in every foreign capital and in every hall of power. from this day forward a new vision will govern our land. from this day forward it's going to be only america first. america first. economic nationalism would be the order of the day. we will follow two simple rules. buy american and hire american. and then an appeal for unity couched in these terms. it's time to remember that old wisdom our soldiers will never

forget that whether we are black or brown or white we all bleed the same red blood of patriots. but surely if there is one takeout from this inaugural, it is that president trump fully intends to govern as he campaigned, uncompromisingly. together we make america strong again. we will make america wealthy again. we will make america proud again. we will make america safe again. and, yes, together we will make america great again. thank you, god bless you, and god bless america. thank you. the crowds weren't enormous, certainly nothing like they were 8 years ago for barack obama's inauguration. but for those who had come, this was a day to remember. for others a day to forget.

how painful this must have been for hillary clinton who polled three million more votes than donald trump, yet lost the electoral college. later, the new president would salute the person he vanquished. let me tell you. there is something i wanted to say because i was very honoured, very, very honoured when i heard that president bill clinton and secretary hillary clinton was coming today. i think it is appropriate to say and i'd like you to stand up. i'd like you to stand up. applause after the inauguration ceremony, the final act for the obamas. power had passed, they are now private citizens. a us marine helicopter standing by to ferry them out of the city to start their new life. earlier this morning one final act in the white house for the outgoing president. a handwritten letter to his successor.

and then the formal welcome. barack obama and michelle greeting the new occupants of the house, donald and melania trump, and a gift to the outgoing first lady from her successor. and then the pose for posterity, the 44th and 45th presidents together. the ceremonial is over and the gladhanding for the moment is done. now donald trump is making his way along pennsylvania avenue back to the white house and the awesome responsibility of being president of the united states of america. and now the real work begins. the parade is another central piece of the pageant on inauguration day with military bands marching through the streets. but this being donald trump there had to be one surprise, and it came as he was approaching the white house. he got out of the car near the fbi building, but more importantly right across the road from the trump international hotel. donald trump the businessman,

and donald trump the president seemed to be going hand—in—hand. the day after his surprise election victory, barack obama said the world would keep on spinning, the sun would continue to rise. he's right, it has. but this morning, washington, america, and the rest of the world has woken to an uncertain new dawn. jon sopel, bbc news, washington. we would like to take you live now to one of the three balls that the president is due to attend tonight. this is michael flatley‘s lord of the dance at the liberty ball and they are expecting donald trump and his wife to arrive there shortly and they will be expected to dance

there. you are watching pictures of michael flatley‘s lord of the dance. of course, as soon as the new president and his wife are ready to ta ke president and his wife are ready to take the floor we will bring you those pictures. our correspondent laura trevelyan is in washington. laura, i'd like to take you back to the package we were just watching a moment ago where we saw donald trump's speech organisation. he was clear, america first. it's actually a phrase that was used many years ago by an american nationalists and one that has been revived now. what does it mean in practice? i think president trump means that it will mean no unfair trade deals as he sees it. he also means that america

will only engage in trade deals which are in its interests. america will not enter into alliance s with other countries that do not serve its interests. that is an unease throughout nato and korea, it is unsure what that means for them. for the supporters of donald trump who are there today lining the parade route, it was exactly what they want to hear. a message they believe will bring back lost manufacturing jobs and will prevent unfair trade from china undercutting american jobs and wages. whether that will be as simple to achieve as his supporters are hoping it will be remains to be seen. president trump has already gotten seen. president trump has already gotte n to seen. president trump has already gotten to work, signing an executive order tonight and ordering federal agencies to ease the burden of the healthcare law and he has advised his chief of staff to send out a

directive reducing regulation on business. no details on either of those you but the president is keen to show he is getting to work. interestingly, he is almost one hour late now in arriving at these inaugural balls where he is awaited. who knows what the reason may be, perhaps something has already come up perhaps something has already come up in the situation room. he has been handed the levers of power and he is keen to get on with the job. we will have to leave it there for a moment. we arejoined by we will have to leave it there for a moment. we are joined by the communications director for the california campaign of donald trump. he is now working on the transition tea m he is now working on the transition team and he hasjust he is now working on the transition team and he has just stepped team and he hasjust stepped out from the freedom ball to speak to us. from the freedom ball to speak to us. thank you forjoining us. many people did not think your candidate would make it. what does it feel like to be there at the ball tonight knowing that your candidate is the president? thank you for having me. it isa president? thank you for having me. it is a tremendous feeling. mr

trump's campaign, president trump's campaign has been aspirationalfrom the very beginning. he was speaking toa group the very beginning. he was speaking to a group of americans who had been ignored and not spoken to by what many feel are the elite of the country. and it's just many feel are the elite of the country. and it'sjust a great feeling. many people did not think that mr trump could do this and accomplish this and there were many doubters and i think the american people showed some will and it is a very exciting time in america. you spoke there about how the president reached out to working class votes. you are businessmen, he is a businessman. aren't some of those interests at odds? i don't think so. i think his message has been very, very consistent about focusing on jobs and doing things that, quite frankly, a lot of americans have thought have been ignored over the yea rs thought have been ignored over the years for may be cheap products over

time but at the cost of american jobs. no—one really did anything or spoke for those people. one of the most powerful lines in his speech todayit most powerful lines in his speech today it was about that and about how government is going to be returning to people and how it is going to be helping them protect theirjobs and help drive a better life in america. another focus that he touched on in his speech was bringing america together again. it does seem like that will be a difficult job, does seem like that will be a difficultjob, doesn't it? does seem like that will be a difficult job, doesn't it? there are some people who are still feeling the election. there is no doubt about it. we have to recognise that and be sensitive to it. but i think if you listen carefully to president trump, over the last 18 months, even, his message has been one of inclusion and it is about bringing

people together. there has been a lot of spin that has created a counterargument but i think when you see the actions that he takes and the focus he has an running government in the way that a business is run, smart and efficient, it is about doing things faster, better and smarter. that is what we need in government and that is why we are excited. you mention the excitement. this really has shaken the existing political establishment and upset the apple ca rt. establishment and upset the apple cart. i don't think that is an understatement. what is the feeling in the room that you guys made it that, you know, the candidate that nobody, that many people did not think would make it is now the guy you are waiting for. to be honest, the switch from the election to actually getting in action and working in the transition was seamless. it seemed like we were very, very pleased about the

election outcome but the focus immediately came on the transition and getting people lined up. if you followed some of the interviews, the numerous interviews, over 200,000 applications into the website for people wanting to participate in this government. the activity was overwhelming. it was tremendous. and, to me, i did not see a change, i saw, really, and, to me, i did not see a change, isaw, really, a and, to me, i did not see a change, i saw, really, a focus on now let's get to business. i think you see that in some of the preparation for the inauguration. it was not about a big show, it was about the condition of bringing people together in the transition of power. that was clearly pa rt transition of power. that was clearly part of it. but it is now time to get ready for business and to do business. we have been looking at pictures on our screens of the party that is going on there. we appreciate your time. we will let

you get back to enjoying the rest of the ball. stay with us. still to come. a divided country. a divided capital. we here from both sides of the donald trump debate. for all of you who have just done amazing, remarkable work, i promise you i will be right there with you. god bless you. this is bbc news. i'm lebo diseko. the latest headlines: president donald trump has signed his first executive order in the oval office. tens of thousands of people watched his swearing—in ceremony in front of the us capitol. but there've also been clashes in washington between police and people opposed to mr trump's presidency. that was along hill and pennsylvania

avenue. # every little thing is gonna be all right # when american presidents are sworn in, it's usually a time at least to talk about healing divisions, but few have had such divided states to try to reunite. on one side is team trump and hundreds of thousands of them turned out from across the land. once people see, give him a year, they'll see they have more money in their pockets and be like, whoa, this is a good deal, you know? we don't need anybody else talking, blah, blah, blah. i feel it's like asking president trump or wishing that he fails is like being on a plane he's piloting and hoping it crashes. you know? he's president, so you've got to hope for the best now. an underground movement

of the disillusioned and dispossessed rallied around the trump campaign. today, they came from parts of the country many feel have been forgotten. emerging to the dawning of a very different day in america. i think it's going to bring a new era of hope and prosperity for our country. the thing i like about donald trump is he's an alpha male. as opposed to our previous president commander—in—chief. he is an alpha male, he's a shaker and a mover. he has no other agenda than to do the right thing, basically. which is pretty much the opposite of what today's protesters think as they swarmed past a car of trump supporters. who are you? bbc news. i am a trump supporter. london. awesome. i can see the mask. we are conservative, and love america. this is ridiculous. you don't think they have a right to object and protest? at the right time, not this, there's no class in this. usa!

there was anger on the streets of the capital today, but even more striking was the sense of fear about what the next four years will bring. hundreds of people have converged in washington dc to protest the inauguration of donald trump. this is a real expression of the anger felt across america by many people. some of them are objecting to the policies that donald trump plans to introduce. others question the very legitimacy of the 45th president. not my president! they may have lost the election but don't expect divisions to heal any time soon. ifeel a little bit afraid, mostly for my communities. you said you feel scared. what are you apprehensive about? i think there's a lot of people who are vulnerable in our country who are going to suffer under this presidency.

from anger to violence. some businesses were attacked by a small group of protesters. dozens were arrested. it seems donald trump will have to work hard to be president of a united states of america. ian pannell, bbc news, washington. we will just we willjust go back to the live pictures from the liberty ball, one of three he is going to tonight. you are seeing the united states navy band playing at the moment. let's go back to laura trevelyan in washington. we heard in a previous

interview that this is about getting back to business and donald trump wa nts to back to business and donald trump wants to get to work as soon as possible. he is certainly going to less balls than those before him. there are three tonight. he is behind schedule already. we are hearing that they are on their way to the first of three inaugural balls tonight. he is keen to get down to work straightaway. already tonight, president trump has signed an executive order ordering the easing of the burden of obamacare, which this predecessor introduced. what that means, we do not know. he has told his chief of staff to tell all federal agencies to ease regulations. we do not know what those regulations are, whether they pertain to business or the

environment, we do not know. this is a signalfor the environment, we do not know. this is a signal for the new environment, we do not know. this is a signalfor the new president environment, we do not know. this is a signal for the new president to his supporters that he is getting down to business and not wasting time. on the question of those inaugural balls, president obama was invited to ten of them in 2013. there is a debate about how many you need to go to and what the purpose of them is and whether it is a good use of the president's time. he will go to three. the first two, tickets we re go to three. the first two, tickets were $50, open to anyone. the other is different. two different types of events. i think we are going to go to somebody who is at one of those balls, drgina. a to somebody who is at one of those balls, dr gina. aformer to somebody who is at one of those balls, dr gina. a former media surrogates for donald trump. a

delegate at the national convention. shejoins us from delegate at the national convention. she joins us from the liberty ball in washington. thank you for stepping out for us. give us a sense of the evening. thank you for having me. it is my pleasure. the mood is electric. everyone is happy and feels like it was a great day. everyone is excited. donald trump cannot wait to start working. he is already working. he has some appointments today. an exciting day for all of us. what does the rest of the day mean for you? for me personally, this is the culmination of my entire adult life as an activist. my husband is a former state senator. i have been working in politics for a long time. i have

never before felt like we had a candidate that was willing to stand up candidate that was willing to stand up to the elite. both the republican and democrat sides. this is the first time this has happened. i thought it was impossible. i am pinching myself constantly. i have so pinching myself constantly. i have so much excitement. it sounds like it was quite an emotional day for you. completely. it is funny. i am not a super emotional person. but when vice president pence took the stage, it was so hard to believe it happened. even those in media like myself, for those people, it is amazing to believe this day happened. 0k. 0k. doctor, we will

have to leave it there. we will leave it there with sights and sounds of the day donald trump became president of the united states. # oh, say can you see # by the dawn's early light, # what so proudly we hailed # at the twilights last gleaming? # who's broad striped and bright stars # through the perilous fight # please, raise your right hand and repeat after me. i will faithfully execute the office of president of the united states. congratulations, mr president. fanfare # o'er the land

of the free... from this day forward it is going to be only america first, america first. # and the home of the brave.# hello. many of us have enjoyed quite a settled spell of weather over recent days, but that's not to say that we're all enjoying the same sorts of conditions. the weather watcher pictures again tell the tale. cold and frosty starts in the south of britain. converting to gloriously sunny days in many spots. and here is the variety that i was talking about. because in the flow of high—pressure we have had in the weather front, it has produced cloudy and murky conditions for many at times. initially across wales, the midlands, and at times, it has gone a little bit

further north and east, such that it will be a real player in the east of the british isles on saturday. cloud in parts of devon and cornwall. keeping the frost at bay for some here. but then underneath those clear skies, i don't doubt somebody in the countryside on the borders between england and wales will be recording temperatures on the first part of saturday at —5, —6, something of that order. it will be a bright start across a good part of scotland. but as a consequence, a frosty one. as i was saying, the cloud from that old weather front still lurking with intent out in the north sea. and as the day progresses, it mayjust come into play a little bit further into central parts of england. may be getting into the scottish borders too. if you're underneath that, you may well find the odd spot of rain, and over higher ground maybe a fleck of snow.

that will not be an issue for the fourth round of the scottish cup. some cloud further south into england for the premier league. and then it's something of a hit and miss with regard to the night—time frost that take you out of saturday into sunday. the north of scotland should see some frost. so should the southern counties of england. here we are into sunday. just watch out for the odd patch of fog around. as i said, it's something of a patchwork. we have an area of cloud producing showers outbursts of rain here. may be a patch of ice or two here. showers in the eastern shores. temperatures, again, not overly spectacular for this time of year. we will take you live now to the

liberty ball, one of three balls donald trump will be attending tonight. we understand that he is in the building. we have been waiting for him to arrive for a little while and our correspondent is there with us and our correspondent is there with us in washington. laura, there has been some controversy about who would play at the inauguration and that these balls. it certainly seems as if they have pulled off quite a show. they certainly have. the us networks are reporting that the trumps have arrived at the washington convention centre where they will attend two of the three balls tonight. they will attend the liberty ball and the freedom ball. these were $50 tickets so they were open to supporters who had come here to washington to see their president sworn in. later, the president and first lady will go to an invite only set armed services ball.