Donald Trump takes power as US braces for vengeful second term | First Thing

Incoming president has promised retaliation against his opponents. Plus, billionaire wealth grew $2tn in 2024

Good morning.

The United States braces for a new era of disruption and division on Monday with Donald Trump scheduled to be sworn in as its 47th president, promising a blitz of executive orders and radical shake-up of the global order.

What did Trump promise yesterday? We're going to stop the invasion of our borders ... We're going to unlock the liquid gold that's right under our feet ... We're going to bring back law and order to our cities ... We're going to get radical woke ideology the hell out of our military."

How are some assessing the Biden administration? Joe Biden was a remarkably consequential one-term president", writes Katrina vanden Heuvel. Internationally, Biden was assuming a world that no longer existed" - with calamitous results - but domestically, Biden consolidated the break" with failed market fundamentalism".

What is the status of the three Israelis? On Sunday, three women held hostage by Hamas in tunnels beneath Gaza - Emily Damari, 28, Romi Gonen, 24 and Doron Steinbrecher, 31 - were released and reunited with their mothers. Videos showed them in apparently reasonable health.

Were there any obstacles? Yes, a three-hour delay to the start of the truce, during which Israeli warplanes and artillery pounded the Gaza Strip. The delay meant a further 13 people were killed, Palestinian health authorities said. At least two missiles hit a family travelling on a donkey cart as they tried to return home, Al Jazeera reported.