(VNF) - Donald Trump was sworn in as the 45^th president of the United States on Friday (Jan. 20^th).

Mr. Trump raised his right hand and put his left on a Bible used by Abraham Lincoln and repeated a 35-word oath of office from the U.S. Constitution, with U.S. Chief Justice John Roberts presiding.

At Trump's side was his wife, Melania Trump.

Mr. Donald J. Trump was inaugurated as the 45^th president of the United States on Friday (Jan. 20^th). (Photo: Doug Mills/The New York Times)

The transition from a Democratic president to a Republican took place on the West Front of the domed U.S. Capitol before a crowd of former presidents, dignitaries and hundreds of thousands of people on the grounds of the National Mall. The crowd stretched westward on a cool day of occasional light rain.

The new president was to deliver an inaugural address lasting about 20 minutes centred on the campaign themes that he used in his improbable November election victory over Democrat Hillary Clinton. Clinton attended the ceremony with her husband, former President Bill Clinton.

"It will be optimistic. It will be visionary, but it's going to be philosophical," his spokesman, Sean Spicer, said of the speech, speaking to NBC on Friday morning (Jan. 20^th).

"It all begins today!" he wrote in a note on Twitter at about 7:30 a.m. on Friday "I will see you at 11:00 A.M. for the swearing-in. THE MOVEMENT CONTINUES - THE WORK BEGINS!"

Away from the Capitol, masked activists ran through the streets smashing windows with hammers at a McDonald’s restaurant, a Starbucks coffee shop and Bobby Van’s Grill steakhouse several blocks from the White House.

In another location not far from the White House, protesters also scuffled with police, at one point throwing aluminium chairs at them at outdoor café.

At the inaugural ceremony, former presidents George W. Bush and Jimmy Carter were also present with their wives. Bush's father, former President George H.W. Bush, 92, was in Houston recovering from pneumonia.

Mr. Trump and his vice president, Mike Pence, began the day attending a prayer service at St. John's Episcopal Church near the White House.

He was wearing a dark suit and red tie, and Melania Trump, clad in a classic-styled, powder blue ensemble, then headed into the White House for a meeting with Obama and his wife, Michelle.

Mr. Trump takes office with work to do to bolster his image./.

( Compiled by VNF )