Could he be a new Hitler? Today Donald Trump becomes the President of the United States. The world is watching and waiting to see what he will do in the next four years.
World on edge as Trump takes power
Revenge: An exultant Donald Trump (official portrait above) promised last night to act with “historic speed and strength” when he returns to the White House today, using a barrage of executive orders to target illegal immigration, transgender rights and other rightwing priorities. Glossary
Donald Trump - An American politician, media personality, and businessman serving as the 47th president of the United States since January 2025. A member of the Republican Party, he previously served as the 45th president from 2017 to 2021.
President - In some countries, the leader is called the president.
Inauguration - The introduction of a new system, or the formal ceremony introducing someone to office (most noticeably the US president).
Washington DC - The USA's capital city, and the homes of the US government's three branches - the Capitol, the White House and the Supreme Court.
Election - A vote in which someone is chosen to represent a group of people.
Democrat - A member of the Democratic party, the left-leaning US political party.
Kamala Harris - US Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden's running mate. If elected, she will be the first female vice president of the USA.
Joe Biden - An American politician who was the 46th president of the United States from 2021 to 2025.
Democracy - A system of government based on the idea of rule by the people.
Dictator - A ruler who has total power, and has often taken power by force.
Nazi Germany - The German state between 1933 and 1945, when it was ruled by Adolf Hitler's Nazi party.
World War Two - A global war that lasted from 1939 to 1945 and included all of the great powers.
Republican Party - Also known as the Grand Old Party or GOP, it is one of the USA's two major political parties. Its first president was Abraham Lincoln. It sits on the right of the political spectrum.
Law - A rule that everyone must follow.
Muslims - People who follow the religion of Islam.
Immigrants - People who have moved into one country from another.