Donald Trump is the 45th US president

Donald Trump is the 45th US president
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Highlights

Under dark clouds and a swollen sky, real estate tycoon and TV reality show host Donald Trump was today sworn in as the 45th President of the United States.

NEW DELHI: Under dark clouds and a swollen sky, real estate tycoon and TV reality show host Donald Trump was today sworn in as the 45th President of the United States.

U.S. Chief Justice John Roberts administered the oath to Trump, 70, who has never before held public office.

Trump used two bibles when he took his oath of office - Abraham Lincoln's Bible and a childhood Bible given to him by his mother. Present at the podium were Trump's children and his wife Melania.

Before Trump took the oath, Mike Pence took the oath of Vice President. And before he took the oath, Trump gave a thumbs up to the crowd.

As many as 900,000 people - including protestors - were gathered to witness the swearing in. Among those in attendance were former US Presidents Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton and George W Bush. Also present was the winner of the popular vote in the November 8 US Presidential elections, Hillary Clinton.

Trump's swearing-in was the culmination of a dizzying political ride that began about two years ago. From a rank outsider, Trump managed to win not just the Republican Party primary but also the November 8 elections even as opinion polls put his Democratic opponent Hillary Clinton far ahead of him. Critics said his campaign was highly divisive, racist and sexist.

And to be sure, he didn't win the popular vote. Hillary Clinton won the popular vote by nearly three million votes.

Even as the former host of the TV show 'The Apprentice' was being sworn in, in another area of Washington DC, masked activists ran through the streets smashing store and car windows, Reuters reported. They carried black anarchist flags and signs that said, "Join the resistance, fight back now." Police used pepper spray and chased them down a major avenue, a Reuters eyewitness reported.

Earlier in the morning, Trump tweeted:

Before heading to the White House for the swearing in, Trump attended a prayer service at St. John's Church, where he was greeted warmly by President Barack Obama, capping a transfer of power that has been peaceful yet rancorous, AFP reported.

"Mr President-elect, how are you?" Obama asked his successor, after having deposited a letter in the Resolute desk and left the Oval Office for the last time, AFP said.

After morning tea, Trump, Obama and their wives Melania and Michelle traveled the 2.5 miles (four kilometers) down Pennsylvania Avenue to the swearing-in ceremony at the Capitol.

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