President Donald Trump is back in the White House and moving at warp speed to push through his agenda with dozens of executive orders, surveying damaged areas in North Carolina and California, and rallying behind his Cabinet nominees amid Senate confirmation showdowns.

In his inauguration address on Monday, the new president vowed that things across the country would "change starting today, and it will change very quickly." 

And moments later, White House deputy chief of staff Taylor Budowich took to social media to tease, "Now, comes SHOCK AND AWE."

They weren't kidding. Trump signed an avalanche of executive orders and actions in his first eight hours in office, which not only fulfilled some of his major campaign trail promises, but also allowed the returning president to flex his executive muscles as well as settle some longstanding grievances.

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The president immediately cracked down on immigration; moved towards a trade war with top allies and adversaries; and reversed many policies implemented by former President Joe Biden, including scrapping much of the previous administration's federal diversity actions and energy and climate provisions.

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He also sparked a major controversy by pardoning or commuting the sentences of roughly 1,500 supporters who took part in the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol in an unsuccessful attempt to upend congressional certification of Biden's 2020 election victory. Among those whose sentences were commuted included some who violently assaulted police officers on one of America's darkest days.

Trump also fired some top government officials; made a high-profile, half-trillion dollar tech investment announcement; held unscripted and wide-ranging, informal and impromptu news conferences during his first two days back at the White House; and even renamed the Gulf of Mexico the "Gulf of America."

The frenetic pace kept up throughout the week, with more executive orders signed and actions taken by Trump and his new administration during the first 100 hours in office, which quickly put his stamp on the federal government.

Amid the fast-paced environment of the first week of the Trump White House, Senate Republicans and the president's allies rallied behind his Cabinet nominees and pushed them towards confirmation. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and CIA Director John Ratcliffe were easily confirmed by the Senate earlier this week, and several other nominees are expected to be confirmed between the weekend and next week. 

On Friday, the president took to the skies, flying to hurricane-ravaged western North Carolina and then on to Los Angeles, where horrific wildfires this month have left a wide path of destruction. 

Trump floated an overhaul, or the outright elimination, of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, which is better known by its acronym FEMA.

"I’ll also be signing an executive order to begin the process of fundamentally reforming and overhauling FEMA, or maybe getting rid of FEMA. I think, frankly, FEMA is not good," the president said on Friday.

Later that night, the Senate confirmed Trump's defense secretary nominee and former Fox News host, Pete Hegseth. All 100 senators voted, which ended in a 50-50 tie with Vice President J.D. Vance serving as the tie-breaking vote. Trump's Department of Homeland Security nominee Kristi Noem was confirmed early Saturday afternoon by the Senate with a 59-34 vote.

"I think it’s brilliant how they’ve been handling it, to immediately meet the moment with action. It’s exactly what he needs to do and it's exactly what the people voted for," veteran Republican strategist Kristin Davison told Fox News.

"Americans vote for decisive, fast action, and true leadership. And Trump understands that more than anyone. I think he and his team knew how important it was out of the gate to show that they heard what the people wanted and are answering with leadership," she argued.

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Longtime Republican consultant Alex Castellanos agreed.

"He's flooding the zone. He's making a case for action. He's demonstrating action. He is rallying a wave of American support for a massive transformation of government," Castellanos, a veteran of numerous GOP presidential campaigns, told Fox News. 

Seasoned Democratic strategist Joe Caiazzo didn't dispute Trump's frenetic actions.

"The pace of this shouldn’t be surprising to anyone. Trump made it abundantly clear he was going to act quickly, he was going to act boldly, and he was going to do exactly what he told voters he would do," he said.

But Caiazzo argued that "the things he is doing is going to directly negatively impact working families from coast to coast. It’s also a signal he has no respect for the rule of law." 

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Asked if Trump's actions were what Americans voted for this past autumn, Caiazzo replied, "Of course not. What Americans voted for was cheaper groceries. What Donald Trump is going to give us is a litany of policies that work to deteriorate our institutions, that work to enrich the wealthy and solidify his standing among the oligarchy in this country."

There's another reason for Trump's fast pace — even though he's the new president, he's also a term-limited and lame-duck president. And by Labor Day, much of the political world will start looking ahead to the 2026 midterm elections.

"This is his second term. He’s got to move quickly," Davison emphasized.

Trump's show of force in the opening days of his second administration is also in contrast to eight years ago, when he first entered the White House.

The president and his team are much more seasoned the second time around, and the supporting cast is intensely loyal to Trump.

"In the past administration, there would be logjams and bottlenecks because there were people who didn’t agree with him," a senior White House source told Fox News. "Now we have a whole infrastructure and staff that’s built around him, in support of him. When he says something, it’s getting done. It’s testament to him and the team that he built."

Credit is also being given to White House chief of staff Susie Wiles, who, as co-campaign manager of Trump's 2024 presidential bid, kept the trains on the tracks.

"What Susie has done is look at the totality of Trump and found the best players and put them in the best positions to support the president. Trump is surrounded by Trump people who’ve all proven themselves over the years not just to be loyal but ultra-competent operators," added an adviser, who asked for anonymity to speak more freely.

Marine Staff Sgt. Lexus Martinez described her experience dancing with Vice President JD Vance at the Commander in Chief Ball as a "once-in-a-lifetime" moment, one filled with excitement and a bit of nervousness.

"It was very nerve-wracking," Martinez, 27, shared during an interview on "Fox & Friends" Friday. "I felt a little better when I saw everyone. And he just made me feel better."

Martinez recalled how Vance helped ease her nerves backstage with a lighthearted joke. 

"I was so nervous; I stayed very far away from him, so I didn’t step on his feet," she said. "That’s exactly what he said backstage was ‘I hope you don’t step on my feet’ and I said ‘Well, I hope you teach me how to dance."

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Martinez was chosen from hundreds of applicants for the honor. Her family was stunned when they found out she would take part in the prestigious event.

"Everyone just didn’t think I would have the opportunity," she said. "They all were just really excited. Everyone was tuned in, telling everyone, sharing to everyone how it was for me."

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During the dance, Martinez and Vance bonded over their shared service in the Marine Corps. 

Vance, the first vice president to have served as a Marine, was a combat correspondent from 2003 to 2007, including a tour in Iraq, before transitioning to civilian life and attending Ohio State University.

The Commander in Chief Ball, a traditional part of inauguration celebrations, honors military service members. President Donald Trump, first lady Melania Trump and second lady Usha Vance also danced with service members during the event. 

Trump addressed the audience with gratitude, saying "I've had no higher privilege in life than to serve as your commander in chief, not once but twice." 

He thanked service members for their contributions, noting their role in helping him return to the White House. 

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The president also highlighted the creation of the Space Force during his first term, calling it a significant addition to the military. 

Reflecting on the dance, Martinez said the moment was surreal and deeply meaningful. 

"I’m very proud [to be a Marine] because not a lot of people can do it," she said. "I’m very excited to know that I’m one of the few and the proud to be a United States Marine."

An Atelier dress designer and supporter of President Donald Trump shocked partygoers and social media users once again with a silhouette unlike anything he'd handcrafted before.

Andre Soriano, a shop owner in Occoquan, Virginia, and originally from the Philippines, designed a green "Make America Healthy Again" dress for recently crowned Miss America Abbie Stockard.

"She’s the sweetest," Soriano told Fox News Digital of Stockard. "She’s the best representation of America. She’s going to be a great example for all the kids."

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Stockard, who represented Alabama and was crowned Miss America Jan. 5, wore the custom gown to the MAHA inaugural ball, held for a night in celebration of Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., Trump’s pick for secretary of Health and Human Services Jan. 20.

She has since shared photographs from the event opposite RFK Jr. and his wife, Cheryl Hines, among others.

"I’m truly, truly honored and grateful to be part of her dressing up," Soriano said.

The controversial designer is well known for the infamous "Make America Great Again" ensemble he crafted for singer-songwriter Joy Villa, which she wore to the 2017 Grammy Awards.

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"I’ve been in Hollywood before," Soriano told Fox News Digital. "I’ve been dissected, especially after I made the Trump dress."

Soriano has been the recipient of hateful rhetoric both online and in person for his patriotic tailoring.

"We’re going to tell the,. ‘God bless you, and peace be with you,'" he said of the backlash.

Soriano received the measurements for Stockard just two days before she arrived in Washington, D.C., for the inaugural events.

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He made the dress in eight hours.

"She came the next day," Soriano said. "I did the fitting, and it fit her like a glove. I've worked with a lot of women, and I really nailed it down to the T."

January was hectic for Soriano because eight to 10 dresses were commissioned by him in preparation for Inauguration Day.

"The whole month of January I was flooded," he said. "I’m so glad that America finally made that decision."

Leaders across the globe reacted to Donald Trump’s return to the White House on Monday, offering general good wishes and extending geopolitical olive branches.

While President Trump set the tone in his inaugural address and declared he would "put America first," he also drew attention to specific areas like Mexico, Panama and China – sparking more questions over how new American policies under the 47th president of the United States could take shape.

Neither the China, Mexico nor Panama governments responded to Fox News Digital’s questions following the remarks issued by Trump during his inaugural address, including when he vowed to "take back" the Panama Canal, which the U.S. fully handed over to Panama in 1999.

"China is operating the Panama Canal. And we didn't give it to China. We gave it to Panama," the president said.  "And we're taking it back."

Trump also vowed to rename the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America, and pledged to reinstate his "Remain in Mexico" policies.

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Panama President José Raúl Mulino issued a statement rejecting Trump’s comments and said, "The Canal is and will continue to be Panama's and its administration will continue to be under Panamanian control with respect to its permanent neutrality."

"There is no presence of any nation in the world that interferes with our administration," he added, taking issue with Trump’s suggestion that the U.S. "gave" the canal to Panama.

"Dialogue is always the way to clarify the points mentioned without undermining our right, total sovereignty and ownership of our Canal.," Mulino said. 

Reports suggested that Mexico rejected Trump's plans to implement a "Remain in Mexico" policy and during a Monday morning conference, Juan Ramón de la Fuente, Mexico's secretary for external relations, said, "If they reinstate it, this is something we don’t agree with. We have a different focus. We want to adjust it." 

"The desire is to keep the same policies as now," he added.

China does not appear to have commented publicly following Trump's inaugural address, which was attended by Chinese Vice President Han Zheng.

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Russian President Vladimir Putin congratulated Trump on re-entering the White House and suggested he may be open to peace talks with Ukraine. 

"We see the statements by the newly elected President of the United States and members of his team about the desire to restore direct contacts with Russia," Putin said, according to a Reuters translation.

"We also hear his statement about the need to do everything possible to prevent World War III," he added. "We of course welcome this attitude and congratulate the elected President of the United States of America on taking office."

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy similarly issued his congratulations just ahead of the inauguration ceremony and said, "I congratulate President Trump and the American people on the inauguration of the 47th President of the United States. Today is a day of change and also a day of hope for the resolution of many problems, including global challenges.

"President Trump is always decisive, and the peace through strength policy he announced provides an opportunity to strengthen American leadership and achieve a long-term and just peace, which is the top priority," he added.

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NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte offered his "warm congratulations" and in a post on X said, "With President Trump back in office we will turbo-charge defense spending and production."

European Union chief Ursula von der Leyen also took to X and said the international body "looks forward to working closely with you to tackle global challenges."

"Together, our societies can achieve greater prosperity and strengthen their common security," she added. 

While many nations in Europe, including Norway, Sweden, Finland, Italy, Germany and the United Kingdom, congratulated Trump, with several leaders pronouncing that the U.S. is their closest ally, other nations in Europe were less willing to issue pronounced congratulations.

French President Emmanuel Macron issued a note of warning when giving a speech to the French military on Monday.

Macron said the Trump presidency was an "opportunity for a European strategic wake-up call" and highlighted scenarios that some have feared could affect European security, like a lessening of U.S. military presence in Europe if Washington opts to shift focus toward security concerns in Asia instead. 

Just one day into the long-brokered cease-fire between Israel and Gaza, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu posted a video message on X in which he congratulated Trump and said, "I believe that working together again we will raise the US-Israel alliance to even greater heights."

"The best days of our alliance are yet to come," he added. 

Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri also commented on the inauguration of the 47th president, saying, "We are happy with the departure of Biden, who has the blood of Palestinians on his hand," reported Reuters.  

"We hope for the end of this dark era that harmed the U.S. before anyone and that Trump can build his policies on balanced foundations that can cut the road against Netanyahu's evils that want to drown the region and the world," he added. 

Donald Trump supporters who attended the president's inauguration parade at Capital One Arena in downtown D.C. on Monday shared their experiences braving the cold in the nation's capital.

Trump supporters told Fox News Digital they arrived as early as 4:30 a.m. Monday and stood for hours in the cold weather to secure a seat at the arena for the inaugural parade, noting that the line to get in had already formed by the time they arrived bright and early. Reports indicated that supporters had begun lining up as early as the night before. The parade got moved indoors amid concerns about the cold weather, but one supporter noted that it wasn't as cold as she had expected. 

"This morning we got up at 4. We got on the train at 5 [in the morning] and got here, and already the line was forming," a supporter who traveled from Texas said. "We stayed in the cold weather for five hours."

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"We got here [Sunday] night, but we stayed closer to the airport just to not fight traffic," added Kaitlin Rogers, who traveled from Delaware. "Ubered in, got here at what? 6:30 [in the morning]? Stood in line for four and a half hours."

Gina Raper, a Trump fan from North Carolina, said she arrived as early as Friday to attend Trump's Sunday rally ahead of the formal swearing-in ceremony and "stood out all day in the rain" to secure a seat there as well.     

"We were there 5 o'clock yesterday morning and stood out all day in the rain. We got in, it was awesome," said Raper. "Then we were there at, like, 4:30 or 5 this morning, all day."

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When asked if their experience was worth braving the cold, the answer was a resounding yes. 

"We're so thankful," Raper said after gaining entrance to Capital One Arena on Saturday. 

"It wasn't as cold as we thought it was going to be. It was definitely worth the wait," added Andrea Rogers, who was traveling with Kaitlin from Delaware. "We are so happy to be here."

When asked what they hope to see out of the new Trump administration, the supporters who spoke to Fox News Digital highlighted Trump's plans to secure the border and "rebuild" the military. One supporter said he was hoping to see the new Trump administration challenge the pharmaceutical and food industries, which are priorities of Trump's nominee for Health and Human Services secretary, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. 

"Good leaders train good leaders, and he's got the best team I have ever – well, everybody would agree, everybody in America – this is the best team," said Raper.

"Trump will fix it!" one supporter said.

President Donald Trump pulled the security clearances of more than 50 national security officials who said Hunter Biden’s laptop had "all the classic earmarks of a Russian information operation."

A total of 51 former national security officials released a public letter in 2020 claiming that even though the laptop did not have "any evidence of Russian involvement," it looked like a "Russian information operation."

The letter came after the New York Post reported they had emails showing Hunter Biden coordinated for Joe Biden to meet with a top executive at Ukrainian energy company Burisma months before pressuring Ukrainian officials to oust a prosecutor investigating the company. 

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Included on the list are former director of National Intelligence James Clapper Jr., former directors of the Central Intelligence Agency Michael Hayden, John Brennan, former Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta, and former National Security Advisor John Bolton. 

Fox News Digital previously reported that federal investigators with the Department of Justice were aware that Hunter Biden’s laptop was not manipulated and contained "reliable evidence." 

Republican lawmakers including Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina have previously suggested withdrawing the security clearances of these officials. 

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The order was one of more than 200 executive orders Trump approved on Inauguration Day, joining directives like withdrawing the U.S. from the Paris Climate Agreement that the U.S. initially entered under former President Barack Obama’s administration in 2015. 

Trump previously withdrew the U.S. from the agreement during his first term in 2020. 

Other executive orders Trump signed on day one include rescinding nearly 80 executive orders and memoranda issued under Biden, issuing a regulatory and hiring freeze upon the federal government, preventing "government censorship" of free speech, and directing every department and agency to address the cost of living crisis. 

David Spector contributed to this report. 

CNN presidential historian Timothy Naftali suggested President Trump succeeded in being a "dictator on day one" of his presidency, based on his actions on Inauguration Day.

Naftali reacted to the news the president would sign more than 200 executive orders on his first day, a record-breaking number. 

"He has decided to make good on his promise to be a dictator on day one," Naftali said, referencing a comment Trump made during a 2023 town hall with Fox News' Sean Hannity.

Trump quipped then that he wouldn't be a dictator, "Except for day one. We're closing the border and we're drilling, drilling, drilling. After that, I'm not a dictator."

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Naftali added how Trump invited several international leaders, such as Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Argentine President Javier Milei, who Naftali criticized as "far-right" leaders.

He went on to attack Trump’s past calls to acquire Greenland and regain control over the Panama Canal, suggesting this is capitulating to the "far-right." 

"In a sense, we had the far-right international represented at the inauguration," Naftali said. "And the President of the United States, for the first time since 1901, in an inaugural address, talked about how this country is going to acquire new territory and threatened the sovereignty of another country. 

"That is a signal to the far-right in the world that America is now going to play the game the way the other far-right countries play, which is, ‘What we want, we take.’" 

He continued, "Which means, for the first time since World War II, we are no longer an indispensable nation. If we follow through with the rhetoric in the inauguration, we have become an imperialist nation." 

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Trump promised in his inaugural address that U.S. "sovereignty will be reclaimed, our safety will be restored. The scales of justice will be rebalanced. The vicious, violent and unfair weaponization of the Justice Department and our government will end. And our top priority will be to create a nation that is proud, prosperous and free."

Naftali added, "The kind of rhetoric the president used in his inaugural speech is the kind of rhetoric one associates with imperial great power."

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Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., attacked the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) for defending what she claimed was a "Heil Hitler salute" by X CEO Elon Musk on Monday.

Musk spoke at an inauguration event for President Trump at the Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C. where he excitedly addressed the audience.

"This is what victory feels like! And this was no ordinary victory, this was a fork in the road for human civilization… I just want to say thank you for making it happen, thank you. From my heart to yours," Musk told the roaring crowd of MAGA faithful. The SpaceX CEO placed his hand over his heart, then reached out to the crowd.

Several news outlets and commentators quickly accused Musk of giving a Nazi salute. However, the ADL wrote on X later that it believed it was just an enthusiastic gesture.

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"This is a delicate moment. It’s a new day and yet so many are on edge. Our politics are inflamed, and social media only adds to the anxiety. It seems that @elonmusk made an awkward gesture in a moment of enthusiasm, not a Nazi salute, but again, we appreciate that people are on edge. In this moment, all sides should give one another a bit of grace, perhaps even the benefit of the doubt, and take a breath. This is a new beginning. Let’s hope for healing and work toward unity in the months and years ahead," the ADL wrote.

The ADL's mission is "to stop the defamation of the Jewish people, and secure justice and fair treatment to all."

Ocasio-Cortez didn’t believe the statement and accused the organization of defending a Nazi salute.

"Just to be clear, you are defending a Heil Hitler salute that was performed and repeated for emphasis and clarity. People can officially stop listening to you as any sort of reputable source of information now. You work for them. Thank you for making that crystal clear to all," Ocasio-Cortez wrote.

Fox News Digital reached out to the ADL for a comment.

ADL CEO Jonathan Greenblatt previously criticized Ocasio-Cortez and other "Squad" House members in 2023 for their extreme positions on the Israel-Gaza war.

"I think Rashida Tlaib has been so marginalized in her own district. And like, AOC, I don't even see her in the media anymore. I think these individuals with their radical ideas have marginalized themselves," Greenblatt told Fox News Digital at the time.

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"So, I just think AOC doesn't matter that much. She's one of 430-something people, or Tlaib or Ilhan Omar, and we don't need to assign them any more influence because already you see that their influence has waned and weakened in the last few years as their positions have become more radical, and they've reduced their ability, I think, to reach a wider audience," Greenblatt continued. "There are extreme voices on all sides. Let's leave them on the fringe where they belong."

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President Trump, immediately upon taking office, flexed his presidential powers as he followed through on some of the major pledges he made on the campaign trail.

"Today I will sign a series of historic executive orders. With these actions, we will begin the complete restoration of America and the revolution of commonsense," the nation's 47th president vowed during his inauguration address Monday at the U.S. Capitol.

Hours later, Trump followed through, with an avalanche of executive order signings at Washington's Capitol One Arena, in front of thousands of supporters - a first in the nation's history - and later in the more traditional Oval Office setting at the White House.

"It's just pure Trump. He's the first president in a new connected world in which you have to govern from the outside in. You have to mount support and bring the people with you," veteran Republican strategist Alex Castellanos told Fox News Digital.

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Trump's immigration promises were a centerpiece of his successful presidential campaign to win back the White House.

"On Day One, I will launch the largest deportation program of criminals in the history of America," the then-Republican presidential nominee vowed during a late October rally at New York City's Madison Square Garden.

And Trump took immediate action during his first hours back in office.

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The new president declared a national emergency along the southern border with Mexico and ordered the deployment of U.S. troops to help support immigration agents. Trump also ordered the restart of a policy from his first administration that forced asylum seekers to wait over the border in Mexico. But it's unclear if Mexico would accept migrants again.

Trump also directed the federal government to resume border wall construction, begun during his first term but halted by President Biden. 

And Trump signed an order ending birthright citizenship for children of illegal migrants. But with birthright citizenship enshrined in the U.S. Constitution, Trump's executive order is sure to face immediate legal challenges in court from civil rights groups and immigration activists.

"I will declare a national emergency at our southern border. All illegal entry will immediately be halted. And we will begin the process of returning millions and millions of criminal aliens back to the places from which they came. We will reinstate my remain in Mexico policy. I will end the practice of catch and release. And I will send troops to the southern border to repel the disastrous invasion of our country," Trump emphasized in his inauguration address.

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And the president also announced that "we will also be designating the cartels as foreign terrorist organizations. And by invoking the Alien Enemies Act of 1798, I will direct our government to use the full and immense power of federal and state law enforcement to eliminate the presence of all foreign gangs and criminal networks."

During his two-year run to return to the White House, Trump repeatedly vowed to "drill, baby, drill," and pledged to end the Biden administration's electric vehicle mandate.

On Monday, Trump followed through, as he tied his energy executive orders to his efforts to keep inflation in check.

"I will direct all members of my cabinet to marshal the vast powers at their disposal to defeat what was record inflation, and rapidly bring down costs and prices. The inflation crisis was caused by massive overspending and escalating energy prices," Trump argued. 

And he said "that is why today I will also declare a national energy emergency. We will drill, baby, drill. America will be a manufacturing nation once again, and we have something that no other manufacturing nation will ever have. The largest amount of oil and gas of any country on earth."

During the 2024 cycle, Trump and Republicans repeatedly targeted Democrats up and down the ballot over the Biden administration's protections for transgender students

"We’re going to end it on Day One," Trump vowed last May. "Don’t forget, that was done as an order from the president. That came down as an executive order. And we’re going to change it — on Day One, it’s going to be changed."

Trump followed through, taking executive action from what the president's advisers said would "defend women from gender, ideology, extremism and restoring biological truth to the federal government."

"As of today, it will henceforth be the official policy of the United States government that there are only two genders, male and female," the president said.

The president also signed orders terminating diversity, equity and inclusion programs - best known by their acronym DEI - within the federal government. The orders direct the White House to identify and end the programs within the government.

Another promise from the campaign trail - pardoning the defendants and commuting the sentences of many of those convicted of charges from the Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol by Trump supporters who unsuccessfully tried to halt congressional certification of President Biden's 2020 election victory. 

Trump didn't mention the pardons in his inauguration address, but minutes later as he spoke to supporters gathered in an overflow room in the U.S. Capitol, he reiterated his longstanding unproven claim that the 2020 presidential election "was totally rigged."

A couple of hours later, in front of cheering supporters packed into Washington DC's downtown arena, Trump touted that he would be "signing pardons for a lot of people…to get them out" immediately.

He wasn't kidding.

The president, back at the White House, ended up pardoning around 1,500 people - including some convicted of attacking police officers - obliterating the Justice Department's effort to punish those who stormed the Capitol on one of America's darkest days.

"These people have been destroyed," Trump argued as he signed the pardons. "What they’ve done to these people has been outrageous."

Trump also took action on something that didn't come up on the campaign trail.

"A short time from now, we are going to be changing the name of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America," Trump declared in his inauguration address. 

And pointing to Alaska's Mount Denali, which is North America's tallest peak, the president said "we will restore the name of a great president, William McKinley, to Mount McKinley, where it should be and where it belongs."

"He's flooding the zone. He's making a case for action. He's demonstrating action. He is rallying a wave of American support for a massive transformation of government," Castellanos, a veteran of numerous GOP presidential campaigns, told Fox News. "I think it's overwhelming and Democrats just don't know what's hitting them."

"Could you imagine Biden doing this. I don't think so," the president said, as he signed executive orders in front of thousands of his supporters.

But Trump didn't follow through on all of his campaign promises. 

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One of his most prominent vows he didn't act on during his first day in office involved immediately ending a deadly war in Eastern Europe.

Trump repeatedly touted on the campaign trail that he would end the nearly three-year-long war between Russia and Ukraine "in one day."

"They’re dying, Russians and Ukrainians. I want them to stop dying. And I’ll have that done — I’ll have that done in 24 hours," Trump vowed during a May 2023 town hall.

And in September, during his single debate with Vice President Kamala Harris, Trump vowed "I will get it settled before I even become president."

That, obviously, didn't happen.

And earlier this month, retired Gen. Keith Kellog, Trump's special envoy to Ukraine, offered a longer timetable.

"I would like to set a goal on a personal level, professional level, I would say let’s set it at 100 days," he said in a Fox News Channel interview.

President Trump was inaugurated for a second time on Monday. 

The inauguration kicked off the day on a historic note, with the ceremony moved indoors due to freezing temperatures. Notable moments played out throughout the day, including Trump's fiery speech shortly after being sworn in, to an audio mishap that inadvertently turned into a collaborative singing effort. 

Here are the top five moments from Trump's second inauguration. 

TRUMP'S SECOND INAUGURAL ADDRESS A TRIUMPH FOR HIM, HIS SUPPORTERS

"The golden Age of America begins right now," Trump said shortly after being sworn in. "From this day forward, our country will flourish and be respected again all over the world."

Trump started out his first speech officially as president by saying the U.S. would now be "the envy of every nation, and we will not allow ourselves to be taken advantage of any longer."

The president assailed the Biden-Harris administration as the former president and vice president looked on. Trump specifically slammed the "vicious, violent, and unfair weaponization of the Justice Department and our government" and said the country has been operating under "a radical and corrupt establishment."

"While the pillars of our society lay broken and seemingly in complete disrepair, we now have a government that cannot manage even a simple crisis at home," Trump said.

DEMS PROMISE TO 'STAND UP TO' TRUMP BUT LAUD 'PEACEFUL TRANSFER OF POWER' AFTER SPEECH

Trump criticized the Biden administration's handling of various national disasters, including hurricane damage in North Carolina and recent wildfires in California. 

"Jan. 20th, 2025, is Liberation Day," Trump said. "It is my hope that our recent presidential election will be remembered as the greatest and most consequential election in the history of our country."

President Donald Trump and his wife, First Lady Melania Trump, did their first dance together as POTUS and FLOTUS Monday night at the Commander-in-Chief Inaugural Ball at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C. The dance featured a nifty spin move by the President.

First lady Melania Trump donned a white, strapless gown with black detailing following a full day of inauguration festivities. She coupled the dress with a black choker.

The ball is one of two others that Trump made an appearance in: the Liberty Ball and Starlight Ball.

Vice President J.D. Vance and his wife, Usha, also joined Trump and Melania onstage for a quick dance, before they exchanged partners with military servicemembers.

TRUMP'S INAUGURATION BRINGS OUT SPORTS WORLD'S KEY FIGURES

First lady Melania Trump donned a weather-appropriate outfit for her husband's second inaugural ceremony. Melania was pictured wearing a custom Adam Lippes double-breasted navy coat with a matching boater hat designed by Eric Javits while on her way to a service at St. John's Church on Inauguration Day, according to Page Six. 

Social media users flocked to X, formerly Twitter, to post compliments on the first lady's inaugural getup, with many saying she looked "elegant" and "classy."

TRUMP VOWS 'NEW ERA OF NATIONAL SUCCESS,' SAYS AMERICA'S 'DECLINE IS OVER' IN INAUGURAL ADDRESS

Pennsylvania Sen. John Fetterman, on the other hand, had a slightly more warmer-weather-style outfit for the inauguration ceremony. Fetterman was seen sporting gray gym shorts, a dark hoodie and sneakers as he arrived at Capitol Hill.

The senator's attire also drew attention given the chilly temperatures on Monday. Trump's second inauguration notably marked the coldest presidential inauguration ceremony in more than 40 years.

Trump tried to kiss Melania shortly before his swearing-in after initially entering the Capitol Rotunda, leading to an awkward air-kiss encounter. 

Trump and Melania were surrounded by former presidents and their wives along with Cabinet nominees, foreign dignitaries and other high-profile guests upon entering the building. Trump leaned in to give Melania a kiss on the cheek when Melania's hat got in the way.

They ultimately settled on an air kiss.

Country singer Carrie Underwood showed she was a true professional during her rendition of "America the Beautiful" after a hiccup with the music. 

Underwood was welcomed with a round of applause as she was introduced. Once on stage, Underwood patiently waited for the instrumentals to start, which ultimately never came.

"If you know the words, help me out here," she finally said before launching into an a cappella version of the song.

Members of the audience, including the former president and vice president, joined in singing the song.

Underwood wrapped up her performance by shaking Biden's hand and sharing a moment with Trump and Vice President Vance before leaving the room.

President Donald Trump's second inaugural address was a policy-oriented message "of hope and unity," experts said.  

Kevin Roberts, president of the conservative Heritage Foundation think tank, called Trump's address "substantive" when it came to outlining the president's agenda for the next four years. 

"Trump was policy-specific from beginning to end," Roberts said. "And I think that that's something that's going to be remembered as a distinguishing characteristic of the speech, because people, Americans waking up tomorrow watching the news, reading the news, will remember that Trump articulated a playbook."

"The golden Age of America begins right now," Trump said as he delivered his inaugural address on Capitol Hill Monday.

TRUMP'S SECOND INAUGURAL ADDRESS A TRIUMPH FOR HIM, HIS SUPPORTERS

"From this day forward, our country will flourish and be respected again all over the world," he continued. "We will be the envy of every nation, and we will not allow ourselves to be taken advantage of any longer. During every single day of the Trump administration, I will very simply put America first."

Trump notably bashed "the vicious, violent and unfair weaponization of the Justice Department" as well as the Biden-Harris administration's handling of both foreign and domestic issues while both the former president and vice president looked on. Trump specifically noted the North Carolina hurricane disasters and the recent wildfires ravaging Southern California. 

"We have a government that has given unlimited funding to the defense of foreign borders but refuses to defend American borders or, more importantly, its own people," Trump said.

DEMS PROMISE TO 'STAND UP TO' TRUMP BUT LAUD 'PEACEFUL TRANSFER OF POWER' AFTER SPEECH

Trump's policy-specific speech was "very important right now because of all of the policy failures of the Biden-Harris regime," Roberts told Fox News Digital on Monday. "And I know from the kind of work that Heritage does, not just in D.C. but in states around the country, that Trump's base and a lot of the independent voters who voted for him this time around [were] looking for a policy plan, and he articulated it."

"President Trump has officially kicked off a new chapter for America," Jessica Anderson, president of the conservative super PAC Sentinel Action Fund, told Fox News Digital on Monday. "His speech was one of hope and unity as he set the tone for the next four years of prosperity, security and strength."

Both Roberts and Anderson noted that Trump's address also was a turning point in definitively announcing that a new administration was taking over the White House. 

"As President Trump made clear, he is not going to waste any time getting to work for the American people, and he has already teed up dozens of executive orders on everything from securing the border to properly defining gender," Anderson said. 

TRUMP VOWS 'NEW ERA OF NATIONAL SUCCESS,' SAYS AMERICA'S 'DECLINE IS OVER' IN INAUGURAL ADDRESS

"It was not gratuitous in his criticism of his political opponents," Roberts said. "But you didn't have to do much reading between the lines to understand that the sheriff is back in town. He's going to take this country back."

Trump's speech also emphasized his top priority in making America "a nation that is proud, prosperous and free," echoing sentiments of the New Frontier theme. 

"We are one people, one family and one glorious nation under God," Trump said. "So to every parent who dreams for their child and every child who dreams for their future, I am with you. I will fight for you and I will win for you. We are going to win like never before." 

Roberts said, "I think Trump put his finger on something that's, right now, going to be an underappreciated part of his legacy, and that is a president of American innovation."

"In other words, making America great again is bringing American manufacturing and economic vitality back to a level where the innovation is so tremendous you can't even comprehend as you sit here what it's going to be."

Roberts said such an invocation of the "real spirit of America" in Trump's speech indicated "bringing American manufacturing and economic vitality back" during his second administration, which was a theme that Roberts said both Ronald Reagan and John F. Kennedy incorporated into their own inaugural addresses.

President Donald Trump pulled the security clearances of more than 50 national security officials who said Hunter Biden’s laptop had "all the classic earmarks of a Russian information operation."

A total of 51 former national security officials released a public letter in 2020 claiming that even though the laptop did not have "any evidence of Russian involvement," it looked like a "Russian information operation."

The letter came after the New York Post reported they had emails showing Hunter Biden coordinated for Joe Biden to meet with a top executive at Ukrainian energy company Burisma months before pressuring Ukrainian officials to oust a prosecutor investigating the company. 

REPUBLICAN SENATOR SAYS TRUMP SHOULD NOT PARDON HUNTER BIDEN

Included on the list are former director of National Intelligence James Clapper Jr., former directors of the Central Intelligence Agency Michael Hayden, John Brennan, former Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta, and former National Security Advisor John Bolton. 

Fox News Digital previously reported that federal investigators with the Department of Justice were aware that Hunter Biden’s laptop was not manipulated and contained "reliable evidence." 

Republican lawmakers including Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina have previously suggested withdrawing the security clearances of these officials. 

BIDEN COMMITTED ‘IMPEACHABLE CONDUCT,’ DEFRAUDED UNITED STATES TO ENRICH HIS FAMILY': HOUSE GOP REPORT

The order was one of more than 200 executive orders Trump approved on Inauguration Day, joining directives like withdrawing the U.S. from the Paris Climate Agreement that the U.S. initially entered under former President Barack Obama’s administration in 2015. 

Trump previously withdrew the U.S. from the agreement during his first term in 2020. 

Other executive orders Trump signed on day one include rescinding nearly 80 executive orders and memoranda issued under Biden, issuing a regulatory and hiring freeze upon the federal government, preventing "government censorship" of free speech, and directing every department and agency to address the cost of living crisis. 

David Spector contributed to this report. 

Soon after President Donald Trump took his oath of office across town at the U.S. Capitol, Johng Delacruz, 31, a local Filipino-American nurse, set out from another corner of the nation’s capital, on Meridian Hill off 16th Street NW, joining a cacophony of drums, chants, signs and conversations that left little ambiguity about the ideology bent of the gathering. 

A man hoisted a pre-made sign, "SOCIALISM BEATS FACISM!" Beneath the message, the name of the organization that paid for the sign’s production: Democratic Socialists of America.

WOKE ARMY RETREATS IN DC PROTEST, PIVOTS TO ‘FIGHT BACK’ FOR GAZA

A pre-made neon green placard read: "WORKERS RIGHTS & PEOPLES NEEDS. NOT WAR & GENOCIDE," stamped with "Peoples Power Assembly," 

Another slogan, "FIGHT TRUMP’S AGENDA," bore the smaller-print attribution to Freedom Road Socialist Organization. 

A pre-printed banner carried by a group of demonstrators read: "WORKERS SHOULD HAVE POWER, NOT BILLIONAIRES!" Below it, the Party for Socialism and Liberation took credit.

"I’m proud to identify as a socialist supporting socialist movements," Delacruz told me without hesitation. "I believe that is the future of humanity and the right side of history. Well, ‘left’ if you will," he added with a laugh.

But you wouldn’t know that from the media coverage of this so-called professional "resistance" to Trump, with the Guardian reporting only that "anti-Trump protests sweep the globe on inauguration day." Voice of America merely describing the demonstrators as "anti-Trump protesters" and NBC News writing that "progressive groups" held marches around the country –  not a word about the self-described socialist dreams for many of the groups. 

Nearby, three activists bundled in winter clothes carried a banner in the blue and red colors of Puerto Rico’s flag, also waving overhead. It bore the name, Diaspora Pa’lante Collective, advocating for Puerto Rico’s independence—and a socialist government to lead it.

A man and a woman dressed in black masks dramatically pushed a faux guillotine, emblazoned with the ominous message: "COME GET SUM."

These weren’t fringe gatherings of hobbyists. Among them was Medea Benjamin, the rich co-founder of Code Pink, marching with a cardboard heart-shaped sign painted hot pink.

"The media doesn’t give a full and honest reportage of movements like this," Delacruz told me. "It holds a purpose to uphold the status quo of the capitalist system, if you will. If we believe socialism to be the antithesis to capitalism, then of course, it’s not going to cover it. I think at best it’ll say anti-Trump protesters from various grassroots movements, if that. But I highly doubt they will go with the particular calls and demands that we have."

Understanding these demands is crucial. The groups here weren’t just protesting Trump—they were advancing socialism, Marxism and communism. Many of these organizations also have a pro-Russia stance, rooted in a propaganda tradition the Soviet Union pioneered: agitprop. Short for "agitation and propaganda," agitprop combines political messaging with provocative action to influence and mobilize. I call protests like this "agitprop actions."

The journalists I spoke to at the rally admitted they rarely identify the groups behind the protests. "Audiences don’t really understand socialism," one reporter told me. "They tune out when they hear the word." It’s easier to reduce the activists to concepts their readers can grasp.

On the eve of the protest, I stayed up until 3 a.m., researching the ideologies of the 205 groups involved nationwide in the January 20 protests, as part of reporting for the Pearl Project, a nonprofit investigative reporting project that I cofounded. My analysis: 27 were Palestinian, Muslim, Arab, or Islamist; 63 self-identified as socialist; and 115 fell into what I term "adjacent" categories.

The protest industry is a complex and often opaque network of organizations, funding streams and ideological agendas that work together to orchestrate demonstrations, shape public narratives and influence political outcomes, like an effective "agitprop" operation. Understanding this ecosystem is critical because it reveals the motivations, alliances, and strategies behind what often appears to be spontaneous grassroots activism.

Far from being isolated events, protests are frequently coordinated efforts involving global actors, local chapters, and significant financial backing. Through the Pearl Project, I aim to investigate and expose the mechanisms of this industry—identifying the players, tracing their funding and analyzing their impact. By shedding light on how protests are organized and sustained, positioning themselves now as the "resistance" to the Trump administration, I hope to provide transparency and equip the public with a deeper understanding of the forces shaping political discourse and activism.

Walking through Meridian Hill Park revealed these agendas more clearly. The groups’ slogans championed socialism and anti-imperialism in countries like the Philippines, South Korea, Venezuela, Cuba—and here in the U.S. Their endorsers didn’t hide their intentions.

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The groups’ 205 "endorsers" nationwide don’t hide their agendas. Based in Salt Lake City, "Mormons with Hope for a Better World" says it is "committed to anti-racism, intersectional feminism, Trans and Queer liberation, disability justice, individual bodily autonomy, reproductive justice, socialism, anti-imperialism, and decolonization." Leaders of Qiao Collective, a media outlet say they seek to "be a bridge between the U.S. left and China’s rich Marxist, anti-imperialist political work and thought." The "Project for a Revolutionary Marxist International" has its agenda in its name.

As the march turned from 16th Street NW onto Massachusetts Avenue NW, Lacy MacAuley, 46, became a focal point for cameras. Wearing a disco outfit for a nearby "dance-off protest," she donned a mask over her sunglasses that read: "TRUMP IS SO NOT THE VIBE."

"I am an anarchist," she said with a smile. "I self-identify as one. That means I question and oppose hierarchies and the rule of people over others." While MacAuley criticized socialism as often becoming "too centralized," she added, "It’s thinking in the right direction."

By the end of the day, the protest wound down at Dupont Circle. The scent of marijuana lingered in the air as demonstrators dispersed. One marcher shoved his sign into a trash can, its message peeking out: "WE FIGHT BACK NETWORK."

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Lauren Sanchez has sparked backlash on social media after unveiling a racy look at Donald Trump’s inauguration.

The fiancée of Jeff Bezos, the chairman of Amazon, wore a white Alexander McQueen pantsuit featuring a fitted satin-trimmed blazer with a dangerously low-cut V-neck and wide-leg trousers.

She skipped a traditional blouse and instead opted for a risqué white lace bustier. She completed the look with a fuzzy coat for the frosty day. Sanchez also made heads turn with her signature smoky eye, glossy nude lips and a sleek updo.

DONALD TRUMP SWORN IN AS 47TH PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES

According to reports, Sanchez's eye-popping ensemble retails for at least $1,800.

The children’s book author, pilot and former journalist was accompanied by her billionaire beau, who sported a suit with an oxblood-hued tie.

Many quickly took to social media to criticize the 55-year-old’s look.

"Jeff Bezos future wife Lauren Sanchez is incredibly inappropriately dressed for a state occasion," one critic wrote on X. "Someone should have told her that having her white lace bra out on display is not acceptable."

"Good grief, Lauren Sanchez. Put them away for one day," chimed another.

"Really, a bra plainly visible," another user wrote. "Today is NOT a night club event. Show some class & dignity."

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When one user insisted that Sanchez "forgot to put a shirt on," another replied, "Maybe she can get one from Amazon same day shipping." Meanwhile, others joked that the mother of three was "dressed by Victoria’s Secret."

"Just when I was luxuriating in the beauty and class of @FLOTUS45, in walks Lauren Sanchez wearing only a bra," one user said, comparing the Emmy winner to Melania Trump.

The first lady, 54, wore a more modest navy Adam Lippes tailored navy silk wool coat to the inauguration. She completed her look with a navy silk wool pencil skirt and an ivory silk crêpe blouse, along with black leather gloves and a statement-making wide-brimmed hat.

Facebook and Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, who was seated next to Sanchez, was also called out on social media, but for a different reason. Viewers of the inauguration couldn't help but notice he seemingly snuck a look at her chest. 

"Zuckerberg was out of control ogling Jeff Bezos’ fiancée!" one X user wrote, while another noted, "This is the most normal thing I have ever seen Zuckerberg do." 

"Mark Zuckerberg was caught Fact Checking," another X user commented.

Sanchez appears to have worn the same form-fitting suit at The New York Times DealBook event in December. She took a sultry selfie at the time for her nearly 900,000 followers.

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Summer Anne Lee, a presidential fashion historian and professor at the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) told Newsweek that Sanchez’s fashion statement on the historic day left her stunned.

"I gasped when I saw it," Lee admitted about the jaw-dropping outfit. "I imagine this revealing lingerie moment has got to be a 'first' in inauguration fashion history, even if she is just an attendee and not a part of the ceremony."

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On Monday, Trump was sworn in as the 47th president. The 78-year-old promised a "revolution of common sense" as he sets out to reshape the country’s institutions.

A cadre of billionaires and tech titans — including Bezos, 61, as well as Mark Zuckerberg, Tim Cook and Sundar Pichai — were given prominent positions in the Capitol Rotunda, mingling with Trump’s incoming team before the ceremony began. Also, there was Elon Musk, the world’s richest man.

After five years of dating, Bezos proposed to Sanchez in May 2023. While the couple hasn’t publicly announced any details about their wedding, Sanchez teased on the "Today" show that she was already prepping for the big day.

WASHINGTON, DC— Several hundred protesters gathered in Washington, D.C. as President Trump was being sworn into office on Monday and several told Fox News Digital they braved the frigid temperatures to speak out against "colonialism" and "fascism" they believe is coming under Trump’s term.

"I’m coming out because I think it's important to make a stand against the country's slide towards fascism and against war and genocide and to just show that people are going to keep fighting no matter what attacks come down, and we know that they're going to happen," Gregory, who said he traveled from New Orleans to attend the We Fight Back rally at Meridian Hill Park in Washington, D.C., told Fox News Digital.

"We know the conditions are going to keep getting worse. We've just got to keep fighting."

Maxwell, who traveled to the inauguration protest from Baltimore, told Fox News Digital, "I'm here to make a stand to say that we're not going away and that the dangers of poverty and wealth inequality, misogyny, discrimination against the LGBTQ community and immigrants who make up the people of our nation deserve to have a voice and deserve to have people stand up for them domestically and also to end imperialism and colonialism and, you know, to discontinue that oppression enacted by the United States government and that's why we're here today."

PRESIDENT BIDEN PARDONS HIS SIBLINGS JUST MINUTES BEFORE LEAVING OFFICE

Many of the protesters brought signs and props, including one man who rolled a large guillotine replica, which he told Fox News Digital was an "art piece" that is "open to interpretation."

"I want people to know that they have the power to make themselves heard, to voice their anger and to say, you know, to send a message to the people that are above us, people that are ruling us, that, you know, we are here, we're powerful, and they better, you know, tread lightly. You know, it's just a sculpture, but it should be a little scary."

An inscription beneath the guillotine said, "come get sum."

Mara, who identifies as transgender, told Fox News Digital that Trump is a "fascist."

TRUMP VOWS THE 'BIGGEST FIRST WEEK' IN PRESIDENTIAL HISTORY DURING VICTORY RALLY: 'EXTREMELY HAPPY'

"It’s important for me to be here. First of all, Donald Trump, with his extreme right wing agenda, has, among other things, to label trans people as pedophiles and then execute them," Mara said. "So as a trans person, that's kind of alarming. In addition to that, he has been said not just by left-wing people, but by his own conservative generals, he's been called a fascist. So I'm out here to reject fascism and say it has no place in our America."

The signs in the crowd contained phrases that included "socialism beats fascism" and "fight Trump's agenda."

After the speeches wrapped up, many of which included rallying cries to "Free Palestine" and end Israel's "genocide" in Gaza, the group walked out of the park and marched down the local streets.

Counter-protesters showed up as the march got underway, and several individuals engaged in shouting matches.

Protests against Trump's inauguration were far more subdued than the protests that took place at the start of his first term in office and do not appear to have been violent, which it was eight years ago when hundreds of protesters were arrested.

Trump was sworn in as the 47th president of the United States on Monday, marking his return to the Oval Office with a pledge to restore America to a "golden age."

Trump addressed the nation after taking the oath of office for the second time and used his inaugural address remarks to call for a "revolution of common sense."

"I return to the presidency confident and optimistic that we are at the start of a thrilling new era of national success. A tide of change is sweeping the country," Trump said. "My message to Americans today is that it is time for us to once again act with courage, vigor, and the vitality of history’s greatest civilization."

Fox News Digital's Brooke Singman contributed to this report

Spirits were high in the streets of Washington, D.C., this Monday as Americans from across the country converged on the nation’s capital to celebrate the second inauguration of President Trump.

Fox News Digital spoke to many Trump supporters who, despite frigid temperatures and a biting wind chill, expressed optimism and hope for the future of America under the new Trump administration.

"It’s a happy day," said a group of women from South Georgia who were wearing huge star-spangled hats and "Make America Great Again" scarves and were standing by the U.S. Capitol. 

"It’s amazing to have freedom again," said one of the women named Tanya Garrett.  

"Today is a day of freedom," chimed in another woman named Angela Anderson.

WATCH: TRUMP SPEAKS TO SUPPORTERS AT THE CAPITOL

Anderson said she believes the Trump administration will bring "the respect of America back."

"I think that’s one of the greatest things," she said. "We’re going to have respect from other countries, and we’re going to prosper and bring safety on our borders and the respect for the people that there should be."

Most of the Trump supporters who spoke with Fox News Digital said the most important thing the new president could do is move quickly to undo the damage done during the Biden administration by securing the southern border, restoring the economy and American energy, and projecting American strength against the nation’s enemies.

"I am very, very excited," said Rachel Quy, who traveled from Atlanta and was standing outside Union Station. "I’m Vietnamese American and I do not like communists, and a lot of us who are anti-communist we hope that Trump can stop that or at least make them weaker so we can make America stronger."

WATCH TRUMP'S FULL INAUGURAL ADDRESS

In a pub just blocks from the Capitol, the celebrations began as early as 10 in the morning. As televisions showed Trump emerging from St. John’s Episcopal Church after morning services, crowds in the bar broke into cheers and applause.

"A lot of changes are going to happen," said Jeff, a Trump fan sitting by the bar who traveled for the inauguration from Alaska. "We’re going to make immigration a big deal, bringing things back to America, businesses. It’s a new era, I’m looking forward to it."

Another Trump supporter named Will, who was sitting nearby, chimed in by saying he had never felt the same type of energy for another president.

"We’re from Oregon, so it’s a blue state, so it's nice to be around like-minded people," he said.

TRUMP SUPPORTERS SWARM OUTSIDE CAPITAL ONE ARENA AHEAD OF DC VICTORY RALLY

Outside, supporters lined Pennsylvania Avenue where Trump and his motorcade were expected to pass through on their way to Capital One Arena.

"We were doing much better under Trump, so we’re excited for another four years," said Philip Swinson, a construction business owner from Southern California. Standing by Swinson was his father and business partner, Brad Swinson.  

"I’m almost 72, and I’m going to remember [Biden] as the worst president of my lifetime by far," said Brad. "We’re big on freedom, the Constitution, free enterprise, all the things that they seem to be pushing against, at least the Democrats [and] the deep state, and I think people can see through that."

Some said that they have noticed a shift in energy in their communities with more and more people willing to openly agree with and support Trump and his agenda.

"Anything is better than what we’ve had for the last four years," said Levi, a young man from Wisconsin. "People that were my friends that were liberals, hard-core lefties, now they’re like, ‘You know what? We’ve got to change something here.’"

"It’s been embarrassing for the last four years. We have not had anybody in charge, anybody running the show," said Deanna, from Illinois. "America has got somebody in charge now."

President Biden's last-minute preemptive pardons of some of President-elect Trump's biggest critics, including Gen. Mark Milley, former GOP Rep. Liz Cheney and Dr. Anthony Fauci, were panned Monday on social media, hours before he will exit the White House. 

"Joe Biden using his last day in office to pardon Liz Cheney, among others, is the perfect expression of the American political realignment and the rotted soul of the Democratic Party," journalist Glenn Greenwald wrote.

Biden included anyone who served on the House Jan. 6 committee in the list of preemptive pardons. Milley accepted the pardon, while Fauci thanked the president but maintained that he did nothing wrong.

HUNTER BIDEN SAYS HIS MISTAKES WERE ‘EXPLOITED’ FOR POLITICAL SPORT, SAYS HE WON'T TAKE PARDON FOR GRANTED

NBC's Kristen Welker reported that Trump texted her his reaction, which read, "It is disgraceful. Many are guilty of MAJOR CRIMES!"

Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., said, "If there was ever any doubt as to who bears responsibility for the COVID pandemic, Biden’s pardon of Fauci forever seals the deal."
 

Milley thanked Biden in a statement on Monday.

"My family and I are deeply grateful for the President’s action today," he wrote. "After forty-three years of faithful service in uniform to our Nation, protecting and defending the Constitution, I do not wish to spend whatever remaining time the Lord grants me fighting those who unjustly might seek retribution for perceived slights."

"I do not want to put my family, my friends, and those with whom I served through the resulting distraction, expense, and anxiety," he added.

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"The swamp protects its own," Gov. Ron DeSantis, R-Fla., wrote on social media.

Biden said in a statement that, "The issuance of these pardons should not be mistaken as an acknowledgment that any individual engaged in any wrongdoing, nor should acceptance be misconstrued as an admission of guilt for any offense."

Ex-Democratic Sen. Claire McCaskill lamented the "sad" pardons during an appearance on MSNBC's "Morning Joe" on Monday and said it set a precedent for the incoming president. 

Biden was criticized for pardoning his son, Hunter Biden, in early December, after repeatedly telling Americans he believed in the rule of law and would accept the outcome of his son's trial. 

"From the day I took office, I said I would not interfere with the Justice Department’s decision-making, and I kept my word even as I have watched my son being selectively, and unfairly, prosecuted," the president said in a December statement about his son's pardon.

"Biden pardoned Fauci. He says it’s not an admission of guilt. But if Fauci were innocent, no pardon would be needed. The evidence suggests Fauci helped create the Covid pandemic, and then covered it up. The investigation must go forward. All Covid & Fauci Files must be released," Michael Shellenberger, the CBR Chair of Politics, Censorship and Free Speech at the University of Austin, wrote on social media.

"No one is above the law except people who get blanket, preemptive pardons," commentator Mary Kathrine Ham wrote. "Ignominy to the end."

Notably, Special Counsel Jack Smith, former FBI Director Christopher Wray and Attorney General Merrick Garland are not included in the pardon, despite speculation that they may face backlash from the incoming administration.

Fox News' Anders Hagstrom contributed to this report.

With President Biden now in political retirement, California Gov. Gavin Newsom is quickly becoming one of President Trump's top targets.

And Trump, minutes into his second term as president, used his inauguration address inside the U.S. Capitol to take aim at the Democratic governor of the nation's most populous state.

"Our country can no longer deliver basic services in times of emergency," Trump argued. And he pointed to "Los Angeles, where we are watching fires still tragically burned from weeks ago without even a token of defense."

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Trump this month has repeatedly criticized Newsom's handling of the horrific wildfires that have razed parts of metropolitan Los Angeles, killing nearly 30 people and forcing tens of thousands to flee their homes.

POLITICAL FIRESTORM: NEWSOM DEFENDS HIS EFFORTS TO FIGHT CALIFORNIA'S HORRIFIC BLAZES

The governor's press office quickly pushed back, posting on social media four photos of firefighters tackling the blazes.

Trump will head to California on Friday to get a firsthand view of the firefighting and recovery efforts.

"I’m going to go out there on Friday to see it and to get it moving back," Trump said at an inaugural eve rally in the nation's capital. "We’re going to get some of the best builders in the world. We’ll get it moving back."

Newsom, who over a week ago invited Trump to California, said in a statement on Monday following the inauguration ceremony, "I look forward to President Trump’s visit to Los Angeles and his mobilization of the full weight of the federal government to help our fellow Americans recover and rebuild."

And he emphasized "finding common ground and striving toward shared goals" with the Trump administration.

"In the face of one of the worst natural disasters in America’s history, this moment underscores the critical need for partnership, a shared commitment to facts, and mutual respect – values that enable civil discourse, effective governance, and meaningful action," the governor said.

Newsom added that "where our shared principles are aligned, my administration stands ready to work with the Trump-Vance administration to deliver solutions and serve the nearly 40 million Californians we jointly represent."

Newsom was a top surrogate on the 2024 campaign trail for Biden and later former Vice President Kamala Harris, who replaced Biden last summer as the Democrats' nominee.

The governor, who is term-limited and likely has national ambitions in 2028, was a vocal Trump critic on the 2024 campaign trail and has taken a lead in leading the Democratic Party's resistance in the wake of Trump's presidential election victory.

The men who held the nation’s highest office before President Trump have all remained mum on his taking the presidency on Monday. 

All four living former presidents – Bill Clinton, George Bush, Barack Obama and Joe Biden – attended the inauguration ceremony, and sat behind Trump as he gave a politically charged speech about his vision for the future of the country. 

None had any public well-wishes for the incoming president after the swearing-in ceremony. Asked whether they planned to put out a statement on it, none of their offices responded at press time. 

Biden only addressed his supporters and staffers in remarks before boarding a government helicopter to be whisked away from Washington, D.C. 

"We're leaving office, we're not leaving the fight," he told them. 

Former first ladies Hillary Clinton, Laura Bush and Jill Biden all attended the ceremony alongside their husbands. Michelle Obama did not attend.

Sources reportedly close to Michelle Obama told People magazine that the former first lady intended to skip Trump's inauguration because she cannot contain her disdain for the Republican president-elect.

MARK MILLEY PARDONED: GENERAL AT CENTER OF AFGHANISTAN WITHDRAWAL PREDICTED IT WOULDN'T BE A SAIGON MOMENT

Hillary Clinton chuckled when Trump suggested renaming the Gulf of Mexico the Gulf of America. Bill Clinton told CNN of his reaction to the speech: "I think you can figure it out for yourself." The Clintons did not stay for the inaugural luncheon. 

Trump and former first lady Melania Trump did not attend President Biden's inauguration in 2021. At the late President Jimmy Carter’s funeral, Obama and Trump were seen chatting and laughing like old friends despite the history of political animosity between the former Democratic president and the returning Republican.

PRESIDENT BIDEN PARDONS HIS SIBLINGS JUST MINUTES BEFORE LEAVING OFFICE

Trump, in his address, took shots at Biden without addressing him by name. 

"My recent election is a mandate to completely and totally reverse a horrible betrayal, and all of these many betrayals that have taken place, and to give the people back their faith, their wealth, their democracy and indeed, their freedom," Trump said.

In a follow-up speech to supporters, Trump called out Biden’s last-minute moves as president. 

"You're going to see a lot of action on the J6 hostages," he said. 

"And I was going to talk about the things Joe did today with the pardons of people that were very, very guilty of very bad crimes, like the UnSelect Committee of political thugs," he went on.

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In an 11th hour move, Biden preemptively pardoned the members of the January 6th House Select Committee that investigated the role of Trump and his acolytes in the 2021 Capitol riot, along with Dr. Anthony Fauci and former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Mark Milley.

And just moments before leaving the White House, Biden preemptively shielded his siblings and their spouses from any prosecution.

Congressional Democrats are balancing efforts to stand tough against President Donald Trump while also pledging to work with him where possible after the Republican commander in chief took office.

It comes as moderate Democrats and Democrats in vulnerable seats have made overtures toward Republicans in areas like border security and transgender youth after the GOP’s commanding victories in the 2024 elections – which the right has widely interpreted as a mandate for a more conservative America.

"My job is to fight to make life better for Texas families, and I will work with anyone, Democrat or Republican, who is interested in lowering costs, securing our border, and keeping our communities safe," freshman Rep. Julie Johnson, D-Texas, who attended the inauguration, said in a statement. 

"But make no mistake, I will always stand up to President Trump, his administration, division, and far-right extremism when any of those individuals or entities threaten our way of life."

DONALD TRUMP SWORN IN AS 47TH PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES

Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto, D-Nev., who ran tight races in 2016 and 2022 and is expected to do so again in 2028, said in a statement, "I look forward to working with the incoming administration to lower prices, create jobs, and keep our communities safe. But make no mistake, if President Trump uses his position to hurt hardworking Nevadans, I will always stand strong to protect them."

Rep. Jimmy Panetta, D-Calif., took a similar conciliatory tone.

"There is progress to be made on housing, environmental stewardship, public safety, immigration reform, national security, and more. I will work with anybody and any administration to pursue areas of agreement and aggressively deliver for the people I serve," he said.

"I also firmly believe that our diversity is our strength and our unity is the power to endure and succeed no matter the many challenges that we face. Law-abiding immigrants, the LGBTQ+ community, women, and families recovering from devastating natural disasters are understandably worried by the rhetoric from the campaign trail and potential policies from the Trump Administration."

Other Democrats were more guarded in their statements, like Rep. Chris Deluzio, D-Pa., who said on X, "Today, and always, I root hard for this country of ours, and I wish [President Trump] well as he takes on the responsibility of leading America."

TRUMP TO TAKE MORE THAN 200 EXECUTIVE ACTIONS ON DAY ONE

Progressive Rep. Becca Balint, D-Vt., however, made clear that she would take a more hard-line approach against Trump.

"Day 1 under Trump. We must face these challenges and attacks with courage and clarity. I’m ready for the work ahead to defend our Constitution and will be working tirelessly to address the urgent needs of Vermonters and working people across America," she wrote on X.

Trump was sworn into office for his second term in an inauguration ceremony inside the U.S. Capitol.