Newsletter Archive

Before President-elect Donald Trump takes the oath of office today, he’ll ride with President Barack Obama from the White House to the swearing-in ceremony at the U.S. Capitol. Historically, presidential inaugurations are a time when the heat of the political campaign is set aside to focus on democracy and the peaceful transfer of power. Trump is known for his off-the-cuff speaking style and, when it comes to his inaugural address, we’re in uncharted territory.

INTERACTIVE: On Inauguration Day, the newly sworn-in president delivers a speech outlining his intentions during his term in office. Here’s an interactive graphic that lets you explore the history of U.S. presidential inaugural addresses, and compare which words are used the most.

Inauguration Day in America is a momentous occasion that follows specific customs and traditions, some of which began at the very first inauguration. But everything doesn’t always go as planned, which makes some inaugurations more memorable than others.

VIDEO: What does the Inauguration Day schedule look like? There’s the ride to the U.S. Capitol, the swearing in, parades and balls. VOA Learning English walks us through the events as Donald Trump becomes the nation’s 45th president.

So-called ‘Sanctuary cities’ are bracing for Donald Trump’s presidency. They’re worried he’ll act on his post-election pledge to deport 2-to-3 million undocumented immigrants. The ‘sanctuary movement’ began in the 1980s when U.S. congregations began providing shelter to asylum-seekers fleeing civil war in Central America. Organizations that protect immigrants are again overburdened with requests.

The United States is the world’s largest aid donor, but that overseas assistance is likely to be scrutinized by a business-minded incoming president and secretary of state with reputations for focusing on the bottom line. Africa is one area U.S. President-elect Donald Trump’s team is already looking at.

Counterterrorism dominated U.S.-Africa policy during President Barack Obama’s tenure. A rise in radical extremism and fear of terrorism on the continent threaten to derail some of the world’s fastest-growing economies. Dealing with the spread of radicalization led to a more militarized Obama foreign policy that disappointed some in the region. A Donald Trump surrogate says Africans can expect a stronger commitment to fighting terror under the new U.S. leader.

Pakistan officials say they’re are looking forward to a more ‘substantive’ and mutually advantageous engagement with Donald Trump. President Barack Obama’s administration provided billions of dollars in economic and military assistance to Pakistan, but relations were strained. In Islamabad, a top Pakistani official tells VOA that Pakistan feels the opportunity to achieve shared objectives is much better today than it was in the past eight years.