Trump makes flurry of promises on inauguration eve
Donald Trump has told thousands of roaring supporters he will impose severe limits on immigration on his first day in office, vowing to swiftly fulfill the central promise of his presidential campaign at a rally just a day before he returns to power.
"By the time the sun sets tomorrow, the invasion of our country will have come to a halt," the US president elect said to cheers at a "Make America Great Again Victory Rally" at Washington's Capital One Arena on Sunday.
Supporters cheered as Trump said he'd take quick action on everything from cracking down on the US-Mexico border to promoting oil drilling, reining in the federal workforce and eradicating diversity programs.
Trump repeated his campaign pledge to launch the largest deportation effort in US history, which would remove millions of immigrants.
"We're going to give them the best first day, the biggest first week and the most extraordinary first 100 days of any presidency in American history," Trump said.
Trump entered at the arena's concourse level, stopping frequently to pump his fist and pose for pictures with fans.
After he finished speaking, the Village People took the stage and the president-elect sang — and even briefly danced — along to YMCA, the unofficial anthem of his campaign.
Trump said he'd jump start his agenda with a series of unilateral actions from the White House, telling the crowd, "You're going to see executive orders that are going to make you extremely happy. Lots of them".
The rally resembled the free-wheeling campaign speeches that have been a Trump staple, with the former and future president delivering a mix of boasts, false claims and sweeping promises to the delight of the crowd.
"This is the greatest political movement in American history, and 75 days ago, we achieved the most epic political victory our country has ever seen," he said.
"Starting tomorrow, I will act with historic speed of strength and fix every single crisis facing our country."
The event marked his first major address in Washington since his speech on January 6, 2021, that preceded the storming of the US Capitol by an angry mob of his supporters.
Trump has said he will pardon many of the more than 1500 people convicted or charged in connection with the attack.
Trump's rally, along with his inaugural address on Monday, could preview the tone he plans to adopt during his second White House term.
He vowed to repeal "every radical and foolish executive order of the Biden administration" within hours of assuming the presidency at noon (4am AEDT Tuesday).
A source familiar with the planning said Trump will take more than 200 executive actions on Monday.
Border security will figure prominently in Trump's first executive orders, another source said, including classifying drug cartels as "foreign terrorist organisations", declaring an emergency at the US-Mexico border and moving toward reinstatement of the "Remain in Mexico" policy that forces non-Mexican asylum seekers to wait in Mexico for their US court dates.
Trump said he would "get radical woke ideologies the hell out of our military" and order the military to construct a missile defence shield over the US.
He also pledged to release classified documents relating to the assassinations of President John F Kennedy in 1963 and his brother Senator Robert Kennedy and civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr, both in 1968.
The indoor hockey and basketball venue will also host some of Monday's inauguration festivities after forecasts of bitter cold prompted officials to move the planned outdoor events inside.
Ahead of the event, Trump's fans, many dressed in the campaign's trademark red jackets and MAGA hats, waited in a cold, driving rain along several downtown Washington blocks, some chanting "USA! USA!"
Large swathes of the streets around the US Capitol and White House have been blocked off by steel fences and police are visible throughout the city.
TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew planned to attend the rally, hours after the company announced it was restoring its service thanks to Trump's promise to delay a US ban that took effect on Sunday.
Chew is also expected to join other tech executives at Trump's inauguration on Monday, including the world's richest man, Elon Musk, a close Trump confidant who made a brief appearance on stage with Trump.
Trump took credit for bringing TikTok back online and said the US would do a "joint venture" to save the app alongside bidders to buy the company.
Biden, meanwhile, made his last official trip as president on Sunday to Charleston, South Carolina, to mark Martin Luther King Jr Day.
He attended services and spoke about King's legacy at Royal Missionary Baptist Church, while also urging despondent fellow Democrats not to give up hope.
Trump will take the presidential oath of office inside the rotunda of the Capitol building after cold weather prompted organisers to move the ceremony indoors.
with AP
