Itamar Sharon is a news editor at The Times of Israel
The Times of Israel live-blogged Friday’s inauguration of Donald Trump as it unfolded.
US President-elect Donald Trump started off his jam-packed inauguration day with a prayer service just hours before he takes the oath of office.
Trump, his wife Melania and his adult children arrived at St. John’s Church near the White House for what was expected to be an hour-long service before he heads for morning tea with outgoing President Barack Obama.
The Obamas and the Trumps will then travel the 2.5 miles down Pennsylvania Avenue to the swearing-in ceremony on the steps of the Capitol.
–AFP
The official White House YouTube page will be livestreaming the inauguration starting at 11 a.m. EST (6 p.m. in Israel). You can watch it all here:
Why should Inauguration Day be any different for Donald Trump? The president-elect was up and tweeting early today.
It all begins today! I will see you at 11:00 A.M. for the swearing-in. THE MOVEMENT CONTINUES – THE WORK BEGINS!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 20, 2017
–AP
About 100 protesters are attempting to block a gate near the inaugural parade route in Washington.
They’re calling for a response to climate change and they’re holding signs that say “Resist Trump, climate justice now.”
There are also chants of “This is what democracy looks like!”
Protesters in D.C. chant "not my president" before the start of the #inauguration https://t.co/6d0GJYGLxS pic.twitter.com/D6HRYTRQBv
— POLITICO (@politico) January 20, 2017
But police are out in force, and they’re allowing ticketholders to make their way through the gate. On the other side of the Capitol, things are quiet and orderly at a second gate.
–AP
Outgoing US President Barack Obama has left the Oval Office for the last time, as he prepares for the inauguration of his successor Donald Trump.
Obama walked into the Oval Office holding a letter, which he placed on the Resolute desk — a 19th century desk used by many presidents.
US President Barack Obama departs the Oval Office for the last time as president, at the White House in Washington, DC January 20, 2017. (AFP PHOTO / JIM WATSON)
It is customary for the outgoing president to leave a personal note for his successor. Obama was to have morning tea with Trump before they make their way to the Capitol for the inauguration ceremony.
Nigel Farage – the leader behind the effort to pull Britain from the European Union – has toasted Donald Trump at a reception on the top floor of a hotel overlooking the White House.
Farage notes that in 2016, British voters chose to leave the EU and that American voters picked Trump. He calls it a year that will be remembered as a pivot point in history.
In this Saturday, Nov. 12, 2016, file photo, U.K. Independence Party leader Nigel Farage smiles as he arrives at Trump Tower, in New York. (AP Photo/ Evan Vucci, File)
Farage jokes that Trump is “the only person I’ve ever met in my life who makes me feel like an introvert.”
–AP
Here’s a short clip from Politico of the meeting that occurred moments ago in Washington DC. The outgoing and incoming presidents have just entered the White House for a short meeting.
The Obamas greet the Trumps at the White House https://t.co/blxsZDgzci pic.twitter.com/wlIZPqiF7Q
— POLITICO (@politico) January 20, 2017
Moscow is hoping for better ties with the United States, and Russian officials and lawmakers are welcoming Donald Trump’s inauguration as the start of a potential new chapter.
In Moscow and other Russian cities, people have gathered at parties to celebrate Trump’s impending ascension to power.
Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev (Alexander Astafiev/AFP)
Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev says that while Trump’s policy toward Russia is unclear yet, “we are hoping that reason will prevail.”
Medvedev says on Facebook: “We are ready to do our share of the work in order to improve the relationship.”
–AP
President Barack Obama is bidding farewell on Twitter.
Here’s what it says on the official presidential account:
It's been the honor of my life to serve you. You made me a better leader and a better man.
— President Obama (@POTUS44) January 20, 2017
The president has been striking an optimistic tone in the final days of his administration. He tells followers that he’s “still asking you to believe — not in my ability to bring about change, but in yours.”
The president is also asking people to share their thoughts about the focus of his new foundation’s work. He says: “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.”
— AP
Melania Trump’s look today has won rave reviews online and earned comparisons with Jacqueline Kennedy, wife of Democratic president John F. Kennedy considered one of America’s most stylish first ladies.
Melania is wearing an elegant powder blue suit made by iconic US fashion designer Ralph Lauren. The soft and elegant cashmere dress falls to her knee, paired with a cross-over round neck jacket cut to the waist and matching suede gloves. In a break from the past, Melania is wearing her hair swept up with diamond stud earrings.
US President-elect Donald Trump and his wife Melania leave St. John’s Episcopal Church on January 20, 2017, before Trump’s inauguration. (AFP PHOTO / Nicholas Kamm)
Trump, a former fashion model originally from Slovenia, is American’s first foreign-born first lady since England’s Louisa Adams, wife of John Quincy Adams, who was president from 1825 to 1829.
–AFP
Wall Street stocks opened higher today amid expectations of pro-growth economic policies from the new administration.
Trump’s election in November, coupled with the Republican sweep of Congress, have raised expectations for business-friendly policies, including tax cuts and regulatory rollbacks. US stocks bulldozed to multiple records in November and December, although the market has been choppy in recent weeks.
“The axiom that has made the rounds in recent weeks is that you ‘buy the election and sell the inauguration,’ which is to impart the view that upside will likely be harder to come by following the inauguration since a lot of hope wrapped up in potential policy actions has already been priced in,” said Briefing.com analyst Patrick O’Hare.
–AFP
Hillary Clinton and her husband, former president Bill Clinton, have arrived at the Capitol to attend Trump’s inauguration.
.@HillaryClinton and @billclinton arrive at the United States Capitol for @realDonaldTrump's #inauguration pic.twitter.com/wsRfwX6AAE
— POLITICO (@politico) January 20, 2017
The White House says members of the residence staff have presented President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama with two American flags that were flown atop the building.
One of the flags was flown on the first day of Obama’s presidency. The other was flown on his final morning as president.
–AP
The National Mall is already rather full as dignitaries stream in to witness the inauguration.
Spectators fill the National Mall in front of the U.S. Capitol on January 20, 2017 in Washington, DC. (Scott Olson/Getty Images/AFP)
Less than two hours before the swearing-in, there are still wide swaths of empty space in the National Mall.
There are strong suggestions that the crowds will not match President Barack Obama’s first inaugural eight years ago.
Some people were prevented by security barriers from getting closer to the Capitol despite having plenty of space in front of them.
The grass on the Mall was protected by white plastic and there were some muddy spots amid intermittent rain.
–AP
Barack Obama has left the White House for the last time as president. He and Trump are headed to the Capitol for the inauguration.
The limousine carrying President Barack Obama and President-elect Donald Trump drives towards the U.S. Capitol on January 20, 2017 in Washington, DC. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images/AFP)
Also on their way are Vice President Joe Biden, first lady Michelle Obama and Trump’s wife, Melania.
Hillary Clinton, attending the celebrations on Capitol Hill, tweets that she has come to ‘honor our democracy.’
I'm here today to honor our democracy & its enduring values. I will never stop believing in our country & its future. #Inauguration
— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) January 20, 2017
Protests elsewhere in Washington have become violent, with some demonstrators clashing with police.
Police fired gas to disperse protesters after stones were thrown and windows broken.
As Trump’s supporters and dignitaries gathered on the National Mall for the ceremony, opponents marched in nearby streets and were confronted by a heavy police presence.
A video posted to Twitter shows the smashed windows of a Starbucks coffee shop.
BreakingNLive: #URGENT; Scene of a starbucks which was attacked by protesters in #Washington amid #Trump #Inaugura… pic.twitter.com/RABHg1roKh
— Lloyd Ziel (@LloydZiel) January 20, 2017
–AFP contributed to this report
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says he wants relations with the United States to be “stronger than ever” after Donald Trump becomes president.
Netanyahu congratulates his “friend” Trump in a tweet before his inauguration, saying he is looking forward “to working closely with you to make the alliance between Israel and the USA stronger than ever.”
מזל טוב לידידי הנשיא טראמפ. אני מצפה לעבוד איתך בשיתוף פעולה הדוק כדי שהברית בין ישראל וארה"ב תהיה חזקה מתמיד. שבת שלום 🇮🇱🇺🇸
— Benjamin Netanyahu (@netanyahu) January 20, 2017
Meanwhile, Israel’s Haaretz newspaper reports that security services have presented Netanyahu with a series of scenarios about potential Palestinian violence if Trump follows through on his promise to move the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.
–AFP
Barack Obama and Joe Biden enter the stage, as ‘Hail to the Chief’ plays one final time for Obama. Everyone’s waiting for Trump now.
Donald Trump has entered the inauguration platform to be sworn in as the 45th President of the United States. He gives a thumbs-up to the audience as he walks forward.
President-elect @realDonaldTrump arrives for his #inauguration ceremony https://t.co/wjulawnBJq pic.twitter.com/FAm0MzOsCg
— POLITICO (@politico) January 20, 2017
Chairman of the congressional inauguration committee, Missouri senator Roy Blunt, is now speaking.
Donald Trump said his inauguration would have “an unbelievable, perhaps record-setting turnout.”
But the New York Times’ Binyamin Appelbaum would beg to differ.
Compare the crowds: 2009 inauguration at left, 2017 inauguration at right.#Inauguration pic.twitter.com/y7RhIR2nfC
— Binyamin Appelbaum (@BCAppelbaum) January 20, 2017
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, now speaking, says that despite the many challenges facing the country — challenges which have led to times in which “faith in our government, our institutions, and even our country can erode” — the American people keep him confident.
Mike Pence is officially the 48th Vice President of the United States. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas just swore him in.
Mike Pence is sworn in as the 48th Vice President of the United Sates on January 20th, 2017 (YouTube screenshot)
Trump was sworn in moments ago as the 45th President of the United States by Chief Justice John Roberts.
“Congratulations Mr President,” Roberts says.
Trump is seeking to paint his inauguration as a momentous occasion, different from any that have come before it.
“We are transferring power from Washington DC and giving it back to you, the people,” he says.
US President-elect Donald Trump is sworn in as President on January 20, 2017 at the US Capitol in Washington, DC. (AFP PHOTO / Mark RALSTON)
January 20th, 2017, Trump says, will be remembered as “the day the people became the rulers of this nation again.”
The establishment, he says, has “protected itself but not the citizens of our country. Their victories have not been your victories. Their triumphs have not been your triumphs.
“That all changes, right here, starting right now. Because this moment is your moment. It belongs to you.”
Trump says his presidency will set a new course for America and the world “for many years” to come.
“From this day forward it’s going to be only America first,” he says, to cheers.
Here’s a video from Trump’s swearing-in, which took place a few minutes ago.
President Donald Trump promises crowds at his inauguration that his administration will eradicate “radical Islamic terror…completely from the face of the earth.”
.@realDonaldTrump: "We will unite the civilized world against radical Islamic terrorism, which we will eradicate completely" pic.twitter.com/R8dYstBtEr
— POLITICO (@politico) January 20, 2017
President Donald Trump says change starts “right here and right now.”
The new president is using his inaugural address to say it doesn’t matter which party controls the government. He says that what matters is “whether our government is controlled by the people.”
Trump says the forgotten men and women of the country “will be forgotten no longer.”
–AP
It began to rain in Washington just in as Trump started speaking.
A pastor who came up to the podium to bless him just now expressed hope that the drizzle was an omen from God, a sign that he blesses the new administration.
It’s over folks. The national anthem has been sung and Donald J. Trump is officially the president of the United States. The new commander in chief has left the inauguration platform and the balcony outside the Capitol is slowly beginning to empty.
Also blessing Trump’s fresh presidency was Rabbi Marvin Hier, founder of Simon Wiesenthal Center.
Hier said recently that he was shocked by the invitation to take part in the ceremony, but that he accepted immediately and that he was “proud to do it.”
Rabbi Marvin Hier speaking at the Simon Wiesenthal Center’s 2015 National Tribute Dinner in Beverly Hills, Calif., March 24, 2015. (JTA/Imeh Akpanudosen/Getty Images)
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