Incoming US first lady Melania Trump has unveiled her own new cryptocurrency, a day before her husband Donald Trump is sworn in for his second term in the White House.
Ahead of his inauguration, the president-elect gave a campaign-style speech at the “Make America Great Again Victory Rally” at the Capital One Arena, alongside other MAGA world luminaries — including Elon Musk, the Trump family, and Megyn Kelly.
Mr Trump again indicated his plans to pardon many of those convicted for their actions during the January 6 insurrection once he takes office.
Freezing cold weather is gripping much of the northeastern US, so the inauguration ceremony on Monday has been moved inside to the Capitol’s rotunda. The last time this happened was at Ronald Reagan’s second inauguration in 1985.
On day one, the president-elect plans to sign more than 200 executive orders — a record — covering everything from border security and energy, to ending DEI programs.
The Independent has learned that Trump will begin his term with only one-quarter of the staff he needs — a notable failure of the Project 2025 plan to fill all roles from day one.
Key points
- Four years on, MAGA faithful welcome Donald Trump’s unlikely return to DC
- Melania Trump launches her own cryptocurrency ahead of inauguration
- Trump says he will released records on assassinations of JFK, RFK, and Martin Luther King Jr
- Watch: Trump teases decision on Jan 6 ‘hostages'
- Trump to sign more than 200 executive orders on first day in office, report says
Bitcoin price hits new all-time record amid Trump-fuelled frenzy
08:05
,
Andy Gregory
The price of bitcoin has hit a new all-time-high amid a crypto market frenzy fuelled by incoming US president Donald Trump.
The world’s leading cryptocurrency reached above $108,000 for the first time in its history on Monday morning, just hours before Trump is dues to take office. Bitcoin’s latest price surge follows the launch of Trump’s own cryptocurrency, as well as that of his wife Melania.
Trump has promised the crypto industry that he will make the US the “bitcoin capital of the world” as president.
Our deputy technology editor Anthony Cuthbertson reports:
Inside the scramble to move Trump’s inauguration indoors
07:45
,
Oliver O'Connell
The plans for President-elect Donald Trump’s second inauguration had been in the works for months — but officials are now scrambling to figure out new options as freezing temperatures have forced proceedings to move inside for the first time in 40 years.
Trump confirmed his inauguration would be moving inside on Friday as temperatures are forecast to plummet to the low 20s and said he didn’t want to see people “hurt or injured” due to the cold.
Rhian Lubin looks at what happened next.
Full report: Melania Trump launches her own cryptocurrency on eve of husband Donald’s inauguration
07:42
,
Andy Gregory
Hours before the second inauguration of president-elect Donald Trump, incoming first lady Melania Trump has launched her own cryptocurrency.
“The Official Melania Meme is live! You can buy $MELANIA now,” Ms Trump posted on X in the early hours of Monday.
The launch of $Melania comes just days after Mr Trump launched his own meme coin, and appeared to briefly tank the value of $Trump before it then rebounded.
Both the $Trump and $Melania coins have risen in value since launch but are also seeing volatile trade, and their respective websites note that the cryptocurrencies are “not intended to be, or the subject of” an investment opportunity or a security.
Our science and technology reporter Vishwam Sankaran has more details:
Melania Trump launches her own cryptocurrency
07:26
,
Sonal Hayat
Incoming-first lady Melania Trump launches her own crypto coin on the eve of her husband’s inauguration. On Sunday, Melania announced that “The Official Melania Meme is live!” via her official X account. “You can buy $MELANIA now.” The announcement comes a day after President-elect Donald Trump launched the $Trump cryptocurrency.
07:15
,
Oliver O'Connell
Trump boasts about saving TikTok at DC rally day before inauguration
06:15
,
Oliver O'Connell
President-elect Donald Trump boasted about his efforts to “save” TikTok during his pre-inauguration victory rally.
Trump spoke at his “Make America Great Again Victory Rally” inside Washington D.C.’s Capital One Arena this Sunday evening, less than 24 hours before he is set to take office.
“As of today, TikTok is back,” Trump said. “So, you know, I did a little TikTok thing. We have a guy...he’s a young kid, like 21 years old, and we hired this guy, and I went on Tiktok. Can you believe what I’ll do to win an election?”
“So whether you like Tiktok or not, we’re going to make a lot of money,” he added.
Katie Hawkinson watched his remarks.
What’s next for Joe and Jill Biden?
05:15
,
Ariana Baio
President Joe Biden and First Lady Dr. Jill Biden are leaving the White House on January 20, marking the end of the president’s 50 years in politics.
But Biden, 82, insists he’s not quite ready to retreat into a slow retirement just yet. In interviews, the president has indicated he’s still got work to do to improve Americans’ lives. Jill Biden, 73, has similarly dedicated her life to others through education, but she has kept quiet about her next chapter after the White House.
What is certain is that Bidens will almost certainly return to their homes in Wilmington and Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, where they spend time with family.
Here is what else could be in store for Joe and Jill Biden.
Trump’s plan to name cartels ‘terrorists’ could open door to military operations in Mexico, experts warn
04:45
,
Oliver O'Connell
Donald Trump’s plan to designate Mexican drug cartels as “foreign terrorist organizations” could provide the legal framework to allow the U.S. to conduct military operations in Mexico, according to experts.
For years, the President-elect has threatened to designate cartels that traffic illicit drugs into the U.S. foreign terrorist organizations. That distinction would allow the government to place additional economic and social sanctions on them.
Doing so also bolsters the president’s authority to carry out military operations on those involved with a terrorist organization, including foreign states suspected of supporting such organizations. The president can also preemptively deploy military force against terrorist organizations.
Ariana Baio reports.
Trump reiterates support for LA to host Olympics after wildfires
04:15
,
Oliver O'Connell
Donald Trump told his victory rally in Washington, D.C. on Sunday that he stood behind keeping the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles after the catastrophic wildfires of this month.
Trump on the Olympics and World Cup: It’s only because they rigged the election that I’ll be your president representing you there pic.twitter.com/UYcNkp4itX
— Acyn (@Acyn) January 19, 2025
Here’s our earlier report on his initial show of support for the city’s winning bid in the aftermath of the devastation:
Family detention, raids and ‘no price tag’: Trump’s mass deportation plan comes into focus
03:45
,
Oliver O'Connell
Alex Woodward writes:
The man charged with implementing Donald Trump’s ambitions for what he calls the “largest deportation operation in American history” is previewing his agenda.
Trump and his “border czar” Tom Homan are likely to face a volley of lawsuits and legal obstacles from city and state officials. Homan, in turn, has threatened to prosecute them if they don’t “get the hell out of the way.”
Throughout his 2024 campaign, Trump pledged to arrest, detain and deport people living in the country without legal permission as part of his “day one” agenda. The president-elect promises to deploy federal, state and local law enforcement into immigrant communities he says are “poisoning the blood of the country,” relying on stories of violent crime to support a brutal crackdown that could impact millions of families.
Read on...
Who pays for the presidential inauguration?
03:15
,
Oliver O'Connell
The fundraising for the inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump has beaten all records, gathering an unprecedented $170 million.
Tech executives and big donors have donated massive sums of money to curry favor with the incoming president. The donations are usually spent on events surrounding the inauguration, such as the oath of office ceremony, a parade, and several inaugural balls.
Gustaf Kilander looks at the numbers.
Trump plans to ‘flood the zone’ with immigration executive orders
02:45
,
Oliver O'Connell
Alex Woodward writes:
Civil rights groups and immigration attorneys are preparing for what they expect will be a flood of actions from Donald Trump within his first days in office, laying the groundwork for his “mass deportation operation” that could impact millions of immigrants and their families.
Trump is expected to swiftly announce plans to gut legal immigration pathways while reinstating policies reversed under Joe Biden and demanding members of Congress approve billions of dollars in new funding to arrest and detain people living in the country illegally, along with their citizen children.
Following his inauguration on January 20, Trump is widely expected to “flood the zone with anti-immigration actions,” according to Naureen Shah, deputy director for government affairs at ACLU.
Timeline of Trump’s dramatic return to White House
02:30
,
Oliver O'Connell
With just a week left until President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration, his inaugural committee has shared the schedule for all the events leading up to the swearing-in of the 47th president.
Trump has overcome impeachments, indictments, assassination attempts, and unforced errors on the campaign trail that would have dealt severe blows to most other political candidates.
During the two months since Trump won the election, states and Congress have certified the results, a new Congress has convened, and Trump has been sentenced in his hush-money case.
These are all the key dates from Trump’s election victory until he becomes the next president.
Ramaswamy out at DOGE, report says
02:20
,
Oliver O'Connell
CBS News has learned that Vivek Ramaswamy, President-elect Donald Trump’s choice to co-lead the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) with entrepreneur Elon Musk, is expected to soon step away from the task force.
Multiple sources confirmed to the network that Ramaswamy intends to announce a campaign for Ohio governor as soon as the end of the month.
Per CBS News:
People close to Musk have privately undercut Ramaswamy for weeks, frustrated with his lack of participation in the heavy lifting, according to sources familiar with the internal dynamics. There has been friction between the incoming rank and file DOGE staff and Ramaswamy, the sources said, and Ramaswamy has been subtly encouraged to exit.
"Vivek has worn out his welcome," one person close to Trump said.
Senate Intelligence Committee to vote on Trump CIA director tomorrow evening
02:15
,
Oliver O'Connell
The Senate Intelligence Committee is voting on John Ratcliffe’s CIA director nomination tomorrow evening. Thune could tee him up on the floor as soon as Tues. R’s are prioritizing national security nominees. Rubio likely to get confirmed tomorrow. Hegseth/Noem also high on list
— Andrew Desiderio (@AndrewDesiderio) January 20, 2025
Who is performing at Donald Trump’s inauguration?
02:10
,
Oliver O'Connell
At the ceremony in Washington, D.C. on the steps of the U.S. Capitol, Trump and Vice President-elect J.D. Vance will take the oath of office and assume their positions in the White House.
However, the inauguration ceremony will be more than just a swearing-in — Trump’s team has just released the schedule of events, revealing those who will perform at the event, The Spectator World reports.
Here’s what you need to know about the line-up for Trump and Vances’ inauguration:
Biden marks last full day in office with visit to South Carolina
02:05
,
Oliver O'Connell
On our last full day in office, Jill and I wanted to be in South Carolina.
— President Biden (@POTUS) January 20, 2025
We started this morning in church to reflect on the power of faith.
And here at the International African American museum, we reflect on the power of history in redeeming the soul of our nation. pic.twitter.com/NrbAo4zBIm
As he returns to the White House, Trump will begin ‘two year race’ to change America and the world
02:00
,
Oliver O'Connell
Donald Trump and his team will be in “a two-year race” to change the US - and the world - from the moment he is inaugurated inside the Capitol on Monday.
Sources close to the 47th president of the United States of America have privately noted that he has until the midterm elections in November 2026 to fulfill his policy agenda while the Republicans still have control of the Congress and Senate.
David Maddox, The Independent’s political editor, reports from Washington, D.C.
Full story: Trump to sign more than 200 executive orders on first day in office, report says
01:45
,
Oliver O'Connell
Donald Trump will sign more than 200 executive actions on his first day in office, according to a report by Fox News Digital, later backed up by ABC News.
This record-setting first wave of policy priorities will focus on border security, energy, reducing the cost of living for American families, ending DEI programs across the federal government, and more, the network reports.
Read on...
Watch: Biden exits Air Force One for final time as president
01:38
,
Oliver O'Connell
Joe Biden exits Air Force One for the final time as President (returning from South Carolina) pic.twitter.com/q9Pg3zFzTN
— Howard Mortman (@HowardMortman) January 20, 2025
Lawmakers decry ‘s***show’ arrangements for indoor inauguration
01:30
,
Oliver O'Connell
Politico reports that moving Donald Trump’s inauguration inside because of the freezing temperatures in Washington, D.C. could result in some members of Congress not being able to attend in person.
The outlet reports, citing four lawmakers and aides, that the possibility that not all lawmakers might get seats in the Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol for the ceremony and inaugural address is causing disquiet in Congress.
“Simply put, there’s not enough room,” one senior Republican aide said. “It’s a shitshow.”
The initial guidance was that anyone with tickets for the Presidential Platform, traditionally erected on the steps of the Capitol, and any members of Congress could attend in person.
Now, on the eve of the inauguration, it appears to be questionable whether that is possible, and there are rumors that some lawmakers might have to watch from elsewhere in the building.
One Republican member said “no one knows” the situation, while another expressed concerns that there would not be enough chairs to accommodate every member.
This is the first time since 1985 that an inauguration has been held in the Rotunda’s approximately 7,200 square feet, and in addition to members of Congress, hundreds of dignitaries will be present.
Another Republican who spoke to Politico said members were told they would be in the Rotunda while their spouses would likely be in Statuary Hall or the Capitol Visitor Center.
However, another member said that, as of Sunday, they believed they still had two tickets.
At least 20 Democrats have said they will not be attending.
Trump ‘purge’ of federal employees could begin as soon as tomorrow
01:20
,
Oliver O'Connell
With the promise of more than 200 executive orders to be signed by the newly inaugurated president tomorrow, Jeff Stein of The Washington Post says that could include the first major shake-up of federal government employment policies.
“Trump allies compare to Lincoln purging US gov of Confederate supporters,” he tweeted.
NEW: Trump vs. U.S. government employees is about to get underway
— Jeff Stein (@JStein_WaPo) January 20, 2025
Incoming president's aides look at rescinding union, civil service protections for federal civil service
Trump allies compare to Lincoln purging US gov of Confederate supporters
Could start as soon as tomorrow
Was the whole TikTok drama a bait-and-switch to make Trump look good?
01:10
,
Oliver O'Connell
Skeptics have highlighted how Trump was the one who initially called for the controversial Chinese-owned social media app to be banned in 2020. But since Trump’s following on TikTok grew — he has now amassed 14.8 million followers — and he hinted it helped to clinch the election, the president-elect has changed his tune.
Rhian Lubin and John Bowden report.
Nigel Farage proclaimed ‘Britain’s future PM’ at Trump celebration party
00:50
,
Oliver O'Connell
Nigel Farage was proclaimed “the next prime minister of Great Britain” at a huge party overlooking the White House to celebrate the upcoming inauguration of his friend and ally Donald Trump.
The Stars and Stripes Union Jack reception on the rooftop of the Hay Adams hotel on Friday night became a gathering of the glitterati of the US and UK political right, with Maga Republicans rubbing shoulders with Reform UK, senior Conservatives, and Brexiteers.
David Maddox and Andrew Feinberg report from Washington, D.C.
Four years on, MAGA faithful welcome Trump’s unlikely return to DC
00:41
,
Oliver O'Connell
Richard Hall reports from Donald Trump’s victory rally in Washington, D.C., on the eve of his inauguration — the culmination of a dramatic political comeback.
Elon Musk's four-year-old son X upstages father
00:30
,
Oliver O'Connell
Exclusive: Trump will only have a quarter of the staff he needs in place when he enters office
00:10
,
Oliver O'Connell
The second Donald Trump administration will start with fewer key staff in place than when Trump entered the White House for the first time eight years ago, with just a quarter of the political appointments made and ready to go when he is sworn in as the 47th president of the United States on Monday.
The Independent has learned that only 1,000 people have been hired to fill a fraction of the 4,000 important presidentially appointed roles atop the federal bureaucracy, many of which can be put in place without the need of Senate confirmation. That’s roughly 300 fewer than the number of appointees hired during Trump’s chaotic 2016-2017 transition effort.
David Maddox and Andrew Feinberg report from Washington, D.C.
Watch: Trump’s Middle East envoy hails release of first three hostages by Hamas
Sunday 19 January 2025 23:50
,
Oliver O'Connell
“I just received on my phone pictures of the first three hostages who were released. We had a great team. But it doesn't happen without Donald J. Trump. The President was responsible for this release. And we all owe him a debt of gratitude as do all the families"
— Howard Mortman (@HowardMortman) January 19, 2025
- Steve Witkoff pic.twitter.com/1KIBBIFSet
In pictures: Trump dances with Village People on eve of inauguration
Sunday 19 January 2025 23:38
,
Oliver O'Connell
Dave Chappelle issues plea to Trump in last SNL before inauguration
Sunday 19 January 2025 23:30
,
Oliver O'Connell
Dave Chappelle, a three-time Saturday Night Live host, returned to the Studio 8H stage for a fourth time less than 48 hours before President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration.
Chappelle began his monologue by discussing the Los Angeles fires before moving on to his absence from Sean “Diddy” Combs’ “freak offs” — and giving Trump advice for returning to his old gig on Monday.
Michelle Del Rey reports.
Watch: The Village People join Trump on stage for the YMCA
Sunday 19 January 2025 23:22
,
Oliver O'Connell
Yes, America, this is happening...
Trump does the double jerk dance as the Village People perform "YMCA" live pic.twitter.com/JpaB9UoI8l
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) January 19, 2025
Trump confirms report he will visit areas devastated by LA wildfires
Sunday 19 January 2025 23:10
,
Oliver O'Connell
During his remarks at his victory rally, Donald Trump confirms he will visit the site of the Los Angeles wildfires that devastated the suburbs of the city and left at least 25 dead.
TRUMP CONFIRMS visit to CA on Friday. https://t.co/IeoFSfwUP3
— Libbey Dean (@LibbeyDean_) January 19, 2025
Watch: Trump teases decision on Jan 6 ‘hostages’ tomorrow
Sunday 19 January 2025 23:03
,
Oliver O'Connell
“Tomorrow everyone in this arena will be very happy with my decision on the J6 hostages. I think you’ll be very, very happy. I would say about 99.9% in this beautiful arena,” says Trump at his victory rally.
Trump: "Tomorrow everybody in this very large arena will be very happy with my decision on the J6 hostages." pic.twitter.com/amkisZAB3Z
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) January 19, 2025
‘We’re going to make a lot of money’: Trump boasts about saving TikTok at DC rally day before inauguration
Sunday 19 January 2025 23:00
,
Oliver O'Connell
President-elect Donald Trump boasted about his efforts to “save” TikTok during his pre-inauguration rally.
Trump is speaking at his “Make America Great Again Victory Rally” inside Washington D.C.’s Capital One Arena this Sunday evening, less than 24 hours before he’s set to take office.
“As of today, TikTok is back,” Trump said. “So, you know, I did a little TikTok thing. We have a guy...he’s a young kid, like 21 years old, and we hired this guy, and I went on Tiktok. Can you believe what I’ll do to win an election?”
“So whether you like Tiktok or not, we’re going to make a lot of money,” he added.
Katie Hawkinson reports from Washington, D.C.
Trump says he will released records on assassinations of JFK, RFK, and Martin Luther King Jr
Sunday 19 January 2025 22:58
,
Oliver O'Connell