On Friday, the world turned its attention to the United States as Donald Trump was sworn in as the 45th President of the United States of America. The day started with a morning prayer service at Saint John’s Episcopal Church in Washington for the incoming First and Second families. After the services, the soon to be inaugurated President and Vice President headed to the White House for a meeting with the Obama and Biden families over tea. Afterwards the four families were loaded up into their motorcade and sent off to the Capitol for the day’s official ceremonies. 

Senator Roy Blunt of Missouri, who is the chair of the inaugural commission, gave the call to order, followed by a series of invocations or prayers. Afterward, there was a musical selection sung by the Missouri State University Chorale. Then U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas took the stage to administer the Vice Presidential Oath of Office to Vice President to Michael Pence. This oath happened at around 11:55 a.m.

After Pence was sworn in, the Mormon Tabernacle Choir sung. Then at exactly noon, U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts administered the Presidential Oath of Office to Donald Trump. 

After President Trump was sworn in, he delivered his 18-minute inaugural address. In President Trump’s first speech as President, he echoed many of the same points that he made in his campaign, including his promise to drain the “Washington Swamp.” “In America, we understand that a nation is only living as it is striving,” Trump said. “We will no longer accept politicians who are all talk and no action, constantly complaining but never doing anything about it.”

 Trump preached to his followers that the future of the United States relies on them, “From this day forward, it’s going to be only America first,” Trump said. “Every decision on trade, on taxes, on immigration, on foreign affairs, will be made to benefit American workers and American families.” 

“No matter what your opinion is of Trump, we all have to come together because as Trump said that this is our America,” Natalie Ackerman said “We have to know that he is now our president. It is no longer an election. This is really happening and we all have to come to the realization that it is our future.” 

Following the Inaugural Address, there was another series of benediction and then international platinum recording artist, Jackie Evancho, took to the stage to sing The National Anthem.

After sending the Obamas off on Marine One—which was flown under the call sign of “Executive One”—the Trumps headed back into the Capitol building for a luncheon with the Senate. After lunch, it was off to a military review to kick off the parade. 

The Trumps then processed down Pennsylvania Avenue and took a few minutes to themselves in the White House before proceeding to the Presidential Reviewing Stand to watch the remainder of the parade. Inauguration Day would not be over without the classic Inaugural Balls. The Trumps attended and enjoyed the finest of Washington’s ultra-exclusive parties.

Inauguration Day, however, was not all parties and fun. It was met with critics. In Washington, D.C. alone, there were protests throughout the entire city in an effort to disrupt the day’s events. One group of protesters even set a limo on fire. “I thought it went fairly normally,” student Jacob Borislow said. ”I was continuously worried that [Trump] would say something particularly cringe-worthy.” 

In all, Inauguration Day went as planned. It was full of celebration, new beginnings and solemn farewells. President Trump seemed to have grown since the election that shocked the country. 

Trump seemed to become more and more presidential throughout the day. He even had the room of senators and V.I.P.S at the luncheon stand in a round of applause for Hillary Clinton on a well-run campaign. It told the country that we can all be united under one flag and work together to strive and continue to be the country of the American Dream.