Trump is to be sworn in as the 47th president

Asked about the prospects for lasting peace in the Middle East under Trump, Lammy told the BBC Radio 4 Today programme: “This is not a man who is by any means a warmonger.”

Lammy said that “in relation to the world’s most nefarious interests, he was very aware that he wanted to be strong and powerful, but he does not embrace war”. He added that “Trump is a revisionist actor. He wants to change the rules of the game,” suggesting that this could lead to a breakthrough in the Middle East.

David Lammy has praised Donald Trump’s “grace” and warmth as the British government tries to ingratiate itself with the new US administration.

The Secretary of State, who infamously described the incoming president as a “neo-Nazi sympathizer” and a “sociopath” in the past, heaped praise on Trump this morning.

Speaking about his dinner with Trump in New York in September, Lammy told the BBC Radio 4 Today programme: “He had incredible grace, generosity, very keen to be a good host, very funny, very, very, very kind, very warm … That was the Donald Trump I found.”

Donald Trump’s allies said he would begin his second term as president with a series of executive orders designed to “shock and awe” America.

Tightening immigration, ending President Biden’s border policies and implementing sweeping tariffs are all early priorities for the president-elect, who was expected to sign up to 200 executive orders on his first day in office.

Although a powerful tool, these orders can be challenged in court – raising the prospect that Trump’s ambitions and plans may not be fully realized.

• What are the executive orders that Trump could sign on day one?

Due to bitterly cold weather, Donald Trump’s inaugural address will be held in the US Capitol Rotunda for the first time since 1985. Just over four years ago, the building was the scene of an attempted uprising by his supporters.

Washington was filled with the unusual sight of legions of red-hatted supporters, many disappointed they would not be able to see the swearing-in from the central mall as the thermometer dipped to minus 7C.

• Read in full: It was meant to contain 250,000. Indoor initiation means more like 700

But the venue’s capacity of 20,000 is far below the number expected to travel to celebrate. The Capitol Rotunda only seats 700 people, while more than 250,000 guests were ticketed to watch from the Capitol grounds.

Donald Trump is expected to sign as many as 200 executive orders on his first day as the 47th president of the United States.

Addressing a crowd of about 25,000 who had lined up for hours in sub-freezing temperatures, Trump, 78, said his new America would be radically different from the one he is inheriting.

“All radical and foolish orders from the Biden administration will be rescinded within hours of me taking the oath of office,” Trump said. “Someone said, ‘Sir, don’t sign so many in one day, let’s do it over a period of weeks’. I said, ‘like hell, we’re going to do it over a period of weeks’. We’re going to sign them at the beginning. We’ll do them tomorrow.”

• Read in full: Donald Trump vows to start destroying Joe Biden’s legacy within hours

To mark Trump’s historic return to the White House, The Story podcast brought together two American experts from The Times and The Sunday Times – one who attended Trump’s first inauguration in 2017 and one who will attend this one.

What, Manveen Rana asks Josh Glancy and Louise Callaghan, is so different this time?

As revealed at the White House press pool yesterday. All times are local (ET) — for GMT, add five hours

• What time is Trump’s inauguration? Today’s program and artists

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