Trump vows to end 'American decline' at rally

Donald Trump pledged to end "American decline" during his inauguration eve rally Sunday, vowing to crack down on woke ideology and immigration.

In a raucous, campaign-style gathering in Washington, the 78-year-old Republican promised his supporters that he would act with "historic speed" from day one of his White House return.

"Tomorrow at noon, the curtain closes on four long years of American decline, and we begin a brand new day of American strength and prosperity," Trump told the packed sports arena. "I will act with historic speed and strength and fix every single crisis facing our country."

Trump was joined on stage by tech tycoon Elon Musk, who will lead a major cost-cutting drive in Trump's administration and vowed to make America strong "for centuries."

Much of Trump's hour-long speech focused on immigration, reiterating dark messages that helped spur his victory over Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris. "We're going to stop the invasion of our borders," he said, pledging to launch raids targeting undocumented migrants within days of taking office.

Trump also promised numerous executive orders on his first day, including one to ban "transgender insanity" and critical race theory from schools and to keep trans athletes out of women’s sports.

He reiterated a vow to release files on the assassinations of former President John F. Kennedy, his brother Bobby Kennedy, and civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr.

Earlier, Trump visited Arlington National Cemetery, where he laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, followed by Vice President-elect J.D. Vance. The somber ceremony contrasted with Trump's last visit to the cemetery as a presidential candidate in August, when the US Army criticized his staff for pushing a cemetery employee.

Later on Sunday, Trump attended a "candlelight dinner" for supporters.

Trump's hopes for a large crowd at his inauguration took a blow when forecasts of freezing temperatures prompted organizers to move the ceremony indoors. Instead of being sworn in on the steps of the Capitol, Trump will take the oath under the Rotunda, last used for the ceremony 40 years ago during Ronald Reagan's inauguration.

"You're going to hear President Trump talk about how we are entering a Golden Age of America," his incoming press secretary Karoline Leavitt told Fox News.

Outgoing President Joe Biden, on his last full day in office, traveled to South Carolina to mark Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Biden urged Americans to "keep the faith in a better day to come" and promised he was "not going anywhere" as he prepares to hand over the presidency to Trump.

Before taking office, Trump has already been involved in global affairs. TikTok credited his "clarity" for restoring service in the US after the app briefly went dark due to a national security ban. "We have to save TikTok," Trump said at the rally, promising an executive order to delay the ban and negotiate a deal to remove TikTok's US subsidiary from Chinese ownership.

In the Middle East, three Israeli hostages were released Sunday under a Gaza truce that Trump's team had helped broker alongside the Biden administration.