Inauguration Day: Donald Trump to take office as U.S. president again

Donald Trump is set to make history today. He will be the first former president to return to U.S. office in over 130 years, and America’s first head of state and government with a criminal record.

All eyes will be on Trump’s moves during his first days back in office.

The Republican indicated last night that he will hit the ground running with plans to sign over 100 executive orders as soon as he’s sworn in.

The executive orders are a signed statement from the president outlining how they want the federal government to be managed. According to the American Bar Association such orders don’t need to be approved by U.S. Congress and they can’t simply be overturned.

Trump has spoken about orders ranging from illegal alien deportations to increasing fossil fuel developments — and 25 per cent tariffs on Canada and Mexico.

If Trump imposes such tariffs Canada says it will retaliate with tariffs worth about $37-billion-dollars, with possibly more to follow. Ontario premier Doug Ford said last week that the U.S. tariffs could affect up to half a million Ontario jobs.

READ MORE: Ford says tariffs from U.S. could cost up to 500k Ontario jobs

Due to freezing cold temperatures the inauguration day ceremony will take place inside the Capitol rotunda for the first time in 40 years.

Security has been ramped up around Capitol Hill with barriers in place and law enforcement patrolling the grounds.

Outgoing President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris will be at the ceremony as well as former presidents Barack Obama, George Bush and Bill Clinton and numerous world leaders.

Trump confidant billionaire Elon Musk and tech company heads Mark Zuckerberg and Jeff Bezos are on the guest list, and country music star Carrie Underwood will perform.

This morning, President Joe Biden pardoned former Chief Medical Advisor Dr. Anthony Fauci, retired U.S. Army general Mark Milley and several committee members who investigated the January 6 attack on the Capitol to protect them from potential retaliation from the incoming administration.

According to the 20th amendment of the U.S. Constitution, the current president and vice president’s term will end at noon today and Trump and Vice-President JD Vance will be sworn in immediately after.

Earlier this month Trump escaped a prison sentence for his felony crimes of hush money to pornographic star Stormy Daniels who had an extramarital encounter with the businessman and real estate mogul in 2006.

Trump’s former attorney Michael Cohen negotiated a $130,000 payment to Daniels during Trump’s first presidential campaign in 2016 so she would not go public about the affair.

READ MORE: Ontario politicians, businesspeople to mark large presence in D.C. for inauguration