<a href="https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search/?query=byline:%22BEATRICE%20DUPUY%22&amp;mediaType=text&amp;st=keyword&amp;sortOrder=newest">By BEATRICE DUPUY &nbsp;Associated Press</a>

While red baseball caps have become synonymous with President Donald Trump,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/melania-trump">first lady Melania Trump</a>&nbsp;made her own millinery-related fashion statement, sporting a navy wide-brimmed hat by an American designer&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/live/trump-inauguration-updates">on Inauguration Day.</a>

The hat designed by Eric Javits shielded the first lady’s eyes as her husband was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-inauguration-swearing-capitol-b3549ebe5dae74a872502aa79def7a11">sworn in Monday</a>&nbsp;for the second time. Javits said dressing the first lady has been one of the greatest honors of his career.

“My art background gave me an edge in bringing harmony and balance to the face by creating hat shapes that would flatter and enhance every kind of face,” he said in a statement. “In this specific case that was not difficult to do, in that Mrs. Trump is blessed with great bone structure, beauty and a wonderful sense of style.”

The hat made its mark throughout the inauguration ceremony: As Trump went to kiss his wife after entering the Capitol Rotunda, the hat left only room for an air kiss. Even now-former President Joe Biden had to navigate around the hat while trying to talk to her husband on the other side.

Trump, speaking in Emancipation Hall after the swearing-in ceremony, joked about his wife’s hat nearly blowing away. The first lady had held onto her hat as a military helicopter taking off with Biden generated wind.

“She almost blew away,” Trump said with a laugh. “She was being elevated off the ground.”

In a departure from&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/beauty-and-fashion-political-news-fashion-united-states-government-5655e4b0162c44bca34c24bbc18bbec5">2017's sky blue cashmere dress and gloves by Ralph Lauren,</a>&nbsp;this time, Melania Trump paired a muted navy silk wool coat with a navy skirt and an ivory silk crepe blouse underneath, all by independent American designer Adam Lippes.

“The tradition of the presidential inauguration embodies the beauty of American democracy and today we had the honor to dress our first lady, Mrs. Melania Trump,” Lippes said in a statement. “Mrs. Trump’s outfit was created by some of America’s finest craftsmen and I take great pride in showing such work to the world.”

Her first inauguration ensemble drew comparisons to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/fashion-beauty-and-fashion-united-states-government-23e4a1b0714f4a2a84f59a0960e3ab73">Jacqueline Kennedy’s style.</a>&nbsp;Kennedy also famously wore a pillbox hat for her husband’s inauguration in 1961. But dressing the first lady became a point of political contention in 2017, with some designers saying they would not dress the incoming first lady — typically a coveted opportunity. Some social media users&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/c17019d689b943a38e73cdf2886223ec">pushed to boycott Ralph Lauren</a>&nbsp;at the time.

Fast forward to 2025, and Ralph Lauren was the designer of choice for departing first lady Jill Biden, who chose the designer for her parting look. She opted for a monochromatic purple, from her coat to her shoes and gloves, to mark the transition of power.

Ralph Lauren did not return a request for comment.

Associated Press writer Jill Colvin contributed to this report.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1737381842811.png" alt="The Trumps start Inauguration Day with the traditional church service -Image courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>The Trumps start Inauguration Day with the traditional church service -Image courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure><a href="https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search/?query=byline:%22BEATRICE%20DUPUY%22&amp;mediaType=text&amp;st=keyword&amp;sortOrder=newest">By BEATRICE DUPUY &nbsp;Associated Press</a>While red baseball caps have become synonymous with President Donald Trump,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/melania-trump">first lady Melania Trump</a>&nbsp;made her own millinery-related fashion statement, sporting a navy wide-brimmed hat by an American designer&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/live/trump-inauguration-updates">on Inauguration Day.</a>The hat designed by Eric Javits shielded the first lady’s eyes as her husband was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-inauguration-swearing-capitol-b3549ebe5dae74a872502aa79def7a11">sworn in Monday</a>&nbsp;for the second time. Javits said dressing the first lady has been one of the greatest honors of his career.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1737398522725.png" alt="Image courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>Image courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>“My art background gave me an edge in bringing harmony and balance to the face by creating hat shapes that would flatter and enhance every kind of face,” he said in a statement. “In this specific case that was not difficult to do, in that Mrs. Trump is blessed with great bone structure, beauty and a wonderful sense of style.”The hat made its mark throughout the inauguration ceremony: As Trump went to kiss his wife after entering the Capitol Rotunda, the hat left only room for an air kiss. Even now-former President Joe Biden had to navigate around the hat while trying to talk to her husband on the other side.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1737414298563.png" alt="Image courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>Image courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>Trump, speaking in Emancipation Hall after the swearing-in ceremony, joked about his wife’s hat nearly blowing away. The first lady had held onto her hat as a military helicopter taking off with Biden generated wind.“She almost blew away,” Trump said with a laugh. “She was being elevated off the ground.”In a departure from&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/beauty-and-fashion-political-news-fashion-united-states-government-5655e4b0162c44bca34c24bbc18bbec5">2017's sky blue cashmere dress and gloves by Ralph Lauren,</a>&nbsp;this time, Melania Trump paired a muted navy silk wool coat with a navy skirt and an ivory silk crepe blouse underneath, all by independent American designer Adam Lippes.“The tradition of the presidential inauguration embodies the beauty of American democracy and today we had the honor to dress our first lady, Mrs. Melania Trump,” Lippes said in a statement. “Mrs. Trump’s outfit was created by some of America’s finest craftsmen and I take great pride in showing such work to the world.”Her first inauguration ensemble drew comparisons to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/fashion-beauty-and-fashion-united-states-government-23e4a1b0714f4a2a84f59a0960e3ab73">Jacqueline Kennedy’s style.</a>&nbsp;Kennedy also famously wore a pillbox hat for her husband’s inauguration in 1961. But dressing the first lady became a point of political contention in 2017, with some designers saying they would not dress the incoming first lady — typically a coveted opportunity. Some social media users&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/c17019d689b943a38e73cdf2886223ec">pushed to boycott Ralph Lauren</a>&nbsp;at the time.Fast forward to 2025, and Ralph Lauren was the designer of choice for departing first lady Jill Biden, who chose the designer for her parting look. She opted for a monochromatic purple, from her coat to her shoes and gloves, to mark the transition of power.Ralph Lauren did not return a request for comment.___Associated Press writer Jill Colvin contributed to this report.

What Melania Trump wore to the inauguration — including the hat

WASHINGTON (AP) — Fresh off&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/live/trump-inauguration-updates">President Donald Trump's inauguration</a>, the Senate on Monday passed a bill that would require federal authorities to detain migrants accused of theft and violent crimes, the first measure he likely will sign into law and giving more weight to his plans to deport millions of migrants. The bill passed 64-34.&nbsp; Kansas U.S. Senators Jerry Moran and Roger Marshall voted with the majority along with a dozen Democrats including&nbsp; Cortez Masto, Fetterman, Gallego, Hassan, Kelly, Ossoff, Peters, Rosen, Shaheen, Slotkin, Warnock and Warner.

Trump has made a broad&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-day-1-priorities-deportations-drilling-ukraine-6747c6e64b0440978f59450b928f61d1">crackdown on illegal immigration</a>&nbsp;his top priority, and Congress, with Republicans in control and some Democrats willing to go along, is showing it is ready to follow suit.

Passage of the Laken Riley Act — named after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-trump-riley-immigrants-crime-63181cbc7a89fe9fe28b1d0cf84c8b9a">a Georgia nursing student</a>&nbsp;whose murder by a Venezuelan man last year became a rallying cry for Trump’s White House campaign — was a sign of how Congress has shifted sharply right on border security and immigration.

“We don’t want criminals coming into our country,” Trump told supporters at the Capitol, adding he looked forward to holding a bill signing “within a week or so.”

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-deportation-immigration-homan-asylum-inauguration-ac10480dc636b758ab3c435b974aeb19">Trump is already ending</a>&nbsp;many of former President Joe Biden's border and immigration programs, turning the United States away from the Democrat's attempts at more humane immigration policies at a time when record numbers of people were sometimes arriving at the border with Mexico. Swift action on immigration policy was proof of how Democrats were no longer resisting some strict enforcement proposals.

“If you come into this country illegally and you commit a crime, you should not be free to roam the streets of this nation,” said Sen. Katie Britt, R-Ala., who helped push the bill through the Senate.

The bill cleared a key procedural vote in the Senate last week with support from 10 Democrats, and similar legislation gained support from 48 House Democrats earlier this month.

The Republican-controlled House passed its version of the bill, but will still need to take up changes made in the Senate.

The legislation would require federal authorities to detain migrants accused of crimes such as shoplifting, as well as offenses that injure or kill someone, and would grant states new legal standing to challenge federal immigration decisions, including by immigration judges.

Critics of the bill say that provision will open the door for Republican state attorneys general to wage a legal battle against federal immigration decisions, injecting even more uncertainty and partisanship into immigration policy.

Deporting millions of migrants or enforcing the Laken Riley Act will largely depend on Congress' ability to allocate $100 billion. Republicans are debating how to approve that money through a process known as budget reconciliation that will allow them to squeeze it through Congress purely on party-line votes.

That won't be easy in the House, where Republicans hold the majority by just a few seats.

Currently, the Laken Riley Act has no funding attached to it, but Democrats on the Appropriations Committee estimate the bill would cost $83 billion over the next three years, according to a memo obtained by The Associated Press. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has estimated it would need to nearly triple the number of detention beds and conduct more than 80 removal flights per week to implement the requirements, according to the memo.

“That’s a lot of money to spend on a bill that is going to cause chaos, punish legal immigrants, and undermine due process in America — all while drawing resources away from true threats,” said Washington Sen. Patty Murray, the top Democrat on the Senate Appropriations Committee, in a floor speech last week.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/11/1732127765713.png" alt="Laken Riley photo courtesy Poole Funeral Home" />
 <figcaption>Laken Riley photo courtesy Poole Funeral Home</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — Fresh off&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/live/trump-inauguration-updates">President Donald Trump's inauguration</a>, the Senate on Monday passed a bill that would require federal authorities to detain migrants accused of theft and violent crimes, the first measure he likely will sign into law and giving more weight to his plans to deport millions of migrants. The bill passed 64-34.&nbsp; Kansas U.S. Senators Jerry Moran and Roger Marshall voted with the majority along with a dozen Democrats including&nbsp; Cortez Masto, Fetterman, Gallego, Hassan, Kelly, Ossoff, Peters, Rosen, Shaheen, Slotkin, Warnock and Warner.Trump has made a broad&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-day-1-priorities-deportations-drilling-ukraine-6747c6e64b0440978f59450b928f61d1">crackdown on illegal immigration</a>&nbsp;his top priority, and Congress, with Republicans in control and some Democrats willing to go along, is showing it is ready to follow suit.Passage of the Laken Riley Act — named after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-trump-riley-immigrants-crime-63181cbc7a89fe9fe28b1d0cf84c8b9a">a Georgia nursing student</a>&nbsp;whose murder by a Venezuelan man last year became a rallying cry for Trump’s White House campaign — was a sign of how Congress has shifted sharply right on border security and immigration.“We don’t want criminals coming into our country,” Trump told supporters at the Capitol, adding he looked forward to holding a bill signing “within a week or so.”<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-deportation-immigration-homan-asylum-inauguration-ac10480dc636b758ab3c435b974aeb19">Trump is already ending</a>&nbsp;many of former President Joe Biden's border and immigration programs, turning the United States away from the Democrat's attempts at more humane immigration policies at a time when record numbers of people were sometimes arriving at the border with Mexico. Swift action on immigration policy was proof of how Democrats were no longer resisting some strict enforcement proposals.“If you come into this country illegally and you commit a crime, you should not be free to roam the streets of this nation,” said Sen. Katie Britt, R-Ala., who helped push the bill through the Senate.The bill cleared a key procedural vote in the Senate last week with support from 10 Democrats, and similar legislation gained support from 48 House Democrats earlier this month.The Republican-controlled House passed its version of the bill, but will still need to take up changes made in the Senate.The legislation would require federal authorities to detain migrants accused of crimes such as shoplifting, as well as offenses that injure or kill someone, and would grant states new legal standing to challenge federal immigration decisions, including by immigration judges.Critics of the bill say that provision will open the door for Republican state attorneys general to wage a legal battle against federal immigration decisions, injecting even more uncertainty and partisanship into immigration policy.Deporting millions of migrants or enforcing the Laken Riley Act will largely depend on Congress' ability to allocate $100 billion. Republicans are debating how to approve that money through a process known as budget reconciliation that will allow them to squeeze it through Congress purely on party-line votes.That won't be easy in the House, where Republicans hold the majority by just a few seats.Currently, the Laken Riley Act has no funding attached to it, but Democrats on the Appropriations Committee estimate the bill would cost $83 billion over the next three years, according to a memo obtained by The Associated Press. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has estimated it would need to nearly triple the number of detention beds and conduct more than 80 removal flights per week to implement the requirements, according to the memo.“That’s a lot of money to spend on a bill that is going to cause chaos, punish legal immigrants, and undermine due process in America — all while drawing resources away from true threats,” said Washington Sen. Patty Murray, the top Democrat on the Senate Appropriations Committee, in a floor speech last week.

Moran, Marshall help Senate pass Laken Riley Act; first measure Trump could signs into law

BY&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/sally-ho">SALLY HO</a> Associated Press

President Donald Trump signed an executive order Monday to keep TikTok operating for 75 days, a relief to the social media platform’s users even as national security questions persist.

TikTok’s China-based parent ByteDance was supposed to find a U.S. buyer or&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-tiktok-ban-da11df6d59c17e2c17eea40c4042386d">be banned on Jan. 19</a>. Trump’s order could give ByteDance more time to find a buyer.

“I guess I have a warm spot for TikTok,” Trump said.

Shou Zi Chew, TikTok’s CEO, attended Trump’s inauguration earlier in the day,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-inauguration-tech-billionaires-zuckerberg-musk-wealth-0896bfc3f50d941d62cebc3074267ecd">seated with American tech heavyweights</a>.

Trump has amassed nearly 15 million followers on TikTok since&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ap.org/news-highlights/elections/2024/trump-joins-tiktok-and-calls-it-an-honor-as-president-he-once-tried-to-ban-the-video-sharing-app/" target="_blank">he joined last year</a>, and he has credited the trendsetting platform with helping him gain traction among young voters. Yet its 170 million U.S. users could not access TikTok for more than 12 hours between Saturday night and Sunday morning.

The platform went offline before the ban&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tiktok-ban-fire-congressmans-office-wisconsin-a815e6592bea4c028b1c7748491461ed">approved by Congress</a>&nbsp;and upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court took effect Sunday. After Trump promised he would pause the ban Monday,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tiktok-ban-trump-biden-china-bdc79b7ce741a81761f67ea56d410103">TikTok restored access</a>&nbsp;for existing users. Google and Apple, however, still have not reinstated TikTok to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tiktok-ban-app-stores-apple-google-a905693c43984e9b80d432a3a933a73f">their app stores</a>.

Business leaders, lawmakers, legal scholars, and influencers who make money on TikTok are watching to see how Trump tries to resolve a thicket of regulatory, legal, financial and geopolitical issues with his signature.

TikTok’s app allows users to create and watch short-form videos, and broke new ground by operating with an algorithm that fed viewers recommendations based on their viewing habits. But concerns about its potential to serve as a tool for Beijing to manipulate and spy on Americans pre-date Trump’s first presidency.

In 2020, Trump&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/global-trade-ap-top-news-politics-asia-business-719d8c83f689929c9c9d8c9aa5593fc8">issued executive orders</a>&nbsp;banning dealings with ByteDance and the owners of the Chinese messaging app WeChat. Courts ended up blocking the orders, but less than a year ago Congress overwhelmingly passed a law citing national security concerns to ban TikTok unless ByteDance sold it to an approved buyer.

The law, which went into force Sunday, allows for fines of up to $5,000 per U.S. TikTok user against major mobile app stores — like the ones operated by Apple and Google — and internet hosting services like Oracle if they continued to distribute TikTok to U.S. users beyond the deadline for ByteDance’s divestment.

Trump on Sunday said he had asked TikTok’s U.S. service providers to continue supporting the platform and app while he prepared to sign an executive order to stop the ban for now.

“The order will also confirm that there will be no liability for any company that helped keep TikTok from going dark before my order,” Trump posted on Truth Social, his social networking site.

The law that Congress passed and now-former President Joe Biden signed in April allowed for a 90-day extension if there had been progress toward a sale before the statute’s effective date. Less certain is whether that provision can be applied retroactively, according to Sarah Kreps, director of Cornell University’s Tech Policy Institute.

“Executive orders cannot override existing laws,” Kreps said. “It’s not clear that the new president has that authority to issue the 90-day extension of a law that’s already gone into effect.”

What difference might the sale of TikTok make?

Kreps also doubts the conditions for a delay exist at this point without so much as even a potential buyer being named to prove that a sale was moving along.

But Alan Rozenshtein, a University of Minnesota law professor, has written that the law also empowers the president to decide what constitutes a “qualified divestiture” — suggesting Trump could have discretion to say whether or when ByteDance meets the terms of the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act.

Although ByteDance spent months repeating it wasn’t interested in selling, Beijing on Monday also signaled a possible easing on China’s stance on TikTok to allow it to be divested from its Chinese parent company.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/han-zheng-vance-musk-trump-xi-2a82e553c50259d65f0e070c3079d8ce">China’s vice president</a>&nbsp;held meetings with Vice President JD Vance and Tesla tech titan&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-inauguration-elon-musk-mars-tech-billionaires-70ad9d5f854fce40f44cdabbd8084734">Elon Musk</a>&nbsp;on Sunday.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning, said Monday that business operations and acquisitions “should be independently decided by companies in accordance with market principles.”

“If it involves Chinese companies, China’s laws and regulations should be observed,” Mao said.

Until now, it was widely believed that Beijing would not allow the sale of TikTok, which had come to embody China’s defiance in the face of “U.S. robbery.” However, TikTok was among several issues brought up in a phone call between Chinese President Xi Jinping and Trump on Friday, though details were not available.

Trump on Monday said he is looking to have the U.S. government broker a deal for 50% control of TikTok, adding that “every rich person” has called him about acquiring the social media platform.

“I think the U.S. should be entitled to get half of TikTok and, congratulations, TikTok has a good partner and that would be worth, you know, could be $500 billion,” Trump said. “The numbers are crazy, but it’s worthless” without a U.S. buyer.

The Justice Department is generally tasked with enforcing the laws of the federal government. Trump’s executive order instructs the U.S. attorney general not to take any action to enforce the TikTok ban for 75 days “to allow my Administration an opportunity to determine the appropriate course forward in an orderly way that protects national security while avoiding an abrupt shutdown of a communications platform used by millions of Americans.”

Such a move might itself be subject to legal scrutiny but would buy time for TikTok.

Trump’s efforts to save TikTok may put him at odds with some of the House members and senators who voted for the law, which received broad bipartisan support. House Speaker Mike Johnson called ByteDance’s ownership “a very dangerous thing,” and said he expected a full sale to happen.

“I think we will enforce the law,” Johnson told NBC News’ “Meet the Press” on Sunday.

Legislators now stand to “look a little bit silly” if the ban doesn’t last, Kreps said.

“(The case) becomes about the separations of powers, and checks and balances, that we don’t have a king who decides what happens with the law,” Kreps said. “Enforcement isn’t only up to the executive branch.”

What are other potential legal obstacles?

Sen. Tom Cotton of Arkansas, in a message posted on X, listed a number of state and federal agencies, and private entities, that might be willing to go to court to get the ban enforced.

“Any company that hosts, distributes, services, or otherwise facilitates communist-controlled TikTok could face hundreds of billions of dollars of ruinous liability under the law, not just from DOJ, but also under securities law, shareholder lawsuits, and state AGs,” Cotton noted.

Despite the intense scrutiny and potential costs involved, the machinations over TikTok are in some ways just business as usual for the tech companies involved, according to Gus Hurwitz, a legal scholar with the International Center for Law and Economics.

“The fines that we’re talking about are civil penalties and companies risk civil penalties all the time,” Hurwitz said.

Still, the hard business calculus of complying with a law in limbo or risk defying a president who holds lucrative federal contracts over those companies could come into focus if shareholders sue.

Oracle, for example, has a part of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/technology-politics-amazoncom-inc-cloud-computing-us-department-of-defense-bfaeb3549b4d42328f35e579d7cb40b0">the Pentagon’s $9 billion contract</a>&nbsp;to build its cloud computing network.

“This actually could be the right business decision to make,” Hurwitz said. “That’s not necessarily a breach of duty to shareholders.”

Which companies are deciding whether to trust Trump’s assurances?

There’s been lots of questions about how companies such as Oracle and Akamai Technologies are powering TikTok’s servers to stay online, while others such as Apple and Google have made the app unavailable for new users to download.

None of the companies have responded to requests for comment.

Oracle in 2020 announced it had a 12.5% stake in TikTok Global after securing its business as the app’s cloud technology provider.

Meanwhile, as of Monday night, a search for TikTok on Apple’s app store directs to an online statement that reads in part: “Apple is obligated to follow the laws in the jurisdictions where it operates,” while Google’s app store notes downloads for TikTok “are paused due to current US legal requirements.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1737424060647.png" alt="Image courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>Image courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>BY&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/sally-ho">SALLY HO</a> Associated PressPresident Donald Trump signed an executive order Monday to keep TikTok operating for 75 days, a relief to the social media platform’s users even as national security questions persist.TikTok’s China-based parent ByteDance was supposed to find a U.S. buyer or&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-tiktok-ban-da11df6d59c17e2c17eea40c4042386d">be banned on Jan. 19</a>. Trump’s order could give ByteDance more time to find a buyer.“I guess I have a warm spot for TikTok,” Trump said.Shou Zi Chew, TikTok’s CEO, attended Trump’s inauguration earlier in the day,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-inauguration-tech-billionaires-zuckerberg-musk-wealth-0896bfc3f50d941d62cebc3074267ecd">seated with American tech heavyweights</a>.Trump has amassed nearly 15 million followers on TikTok since&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ap.org/news-highlights/elections/2024/trump-joins-tiktok-and-calls-it-an-honor-as-president-he-once-tried-to-ban-the-video-sharing-app/" target="_blank">he joined last year</a>, and he has credited the trendsetting platform with helping him gain traction among young voters. Yet its 170 million U.S. users could not access TikTok for more than 12 hours between Saturday night and Sunday morning.The platform went offline before the ban&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tiktok-ban-fire-congressmans-office-wisconsin-a815e6592bea4c028b1c7748491461ed">approved by Congress</a>&nbsp;and upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court took effect Sunday. After Trump promised he would pause the ban Monday,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tiktok-ban-trump-biden-china-bdc79b7ce741a81761f67ea56d410103">TikTok restored access</a>&nbsp;for existing users. Google and Apple, however, still have not reinstated TikTok to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tiktok-ban-app-stores-apple-google-a905693c43984e9b80d432a3a933a73f">their app stores</a>.Business leaders, lawmakers, legal scholars, and influencers who make money on TikTok are watching to see how Trump tries to resolve a thicket of regulatory, legal, financial and geopolitical issues with his signature.<h2>How did the TikTok ban come about?</h2>TikTok’s app allows users to create and watch short-form videos, and broke new ground by operating with an algorithm that fed viewers recommendations based on their viewing habits. But concerns about its potential to serve as a tool for Beijing to manipulate and spy on Americans pre-date Trump’s first presidency.In 2020, Trump&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/global-trade-ap-top-news-politics-asia-business-719d8c83f689929c9c9d8c9aa5593fc8">issued executive orders</a>&nbsp;banning dealings with ByteDance and the owners of the Chinese messaging app WeChat. Courts ended up blocking the orders, but less than a year ago Congress overwhelmingly passed a law citing national security concerns to ban TikTok unless ByteDance sold it to an approved buyer.The law, which went into force Sunday, allows for fines of up to $5,000 per U.S. TikTok user against major mobile app stores — like the ones operated by Apple and Google — and internet hosting services like Oracle if they continued to distribute TikTok to U.S. users beyond the deadline for ByteDance’s divestment.Trump on Sunday said he had asked TikTok’s U.S. service providers to continue supporting the platform and app while he prepared to sign an executive order to stop the ban for now.“The order will also confirm that there will be no liability for any company that helped keep TikTok from going dark before my order,” Trump posted on Truth Social, his social networking site.The law that Congress passed and now-former President Joe Biden signed in April allowed for a 90-day extension if there had been progress toward a sale before the statute’s effective date. Less certain is whether that provision can be applied retroactively, according to Sarah Kreps, director of Cornell University’s Tech Policy Institute.“Executive orders cannot override existing laws,” Kreps said. “It’s not clear that the new president has that authority to issue the 90-day extension of a law that’s already gone into effect.”<h2>What difference might the sale of TikTok make?</h2>Kreps also doubts the conditions for a delay exist at this point without so much as even a potential buyer being named to prove that a sale was moving along.But Alan Rozenshtein, a University of Minnesota law professor, has written that the law also empowers the president to decide what constitutes a “qualified divestiture” — suggesting Trump could have discretion to say whether or when ByteDance meets the terms of the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act.Although ByteDance spent months repeating it wasn’t interested in selling, Beijing on Monday also signaled a possible easing on China’s stance on TikTok to allow it to be divested from its Chinese parent company.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/han-zheng-vance-musk-trump-xi-2a82e553c50259d65f0e070c3079d8ce">China’s vice president</a>&nbsp;held meetings with Vice President JD Vance and Tesla tech titan&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-inauguration-elon-musk-mars-tech-billionaires-70ad9d5f854fce40f44cdabbd8084734">Elon Musk</a>&nbsp;on Sunday.Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning, said Monday that business operations and acquisitions “should be independently decided by companies in accordance with market principles.”“If it involves Chinese companies, China’s laws and regulations should be observed,” Mao said.Until now, it was widely believed that Beijing would not allow the sale of TikTok, which had come to embody China’s defiance in the face of “U.S. robbery.” However, TikTok was among several issues brought up in a phone call between Chinese President Xi Jinping and Trump on Friday, though details were not available.Trump on Monday said he is looking to have the U.S. government broker a deal for 50% control of TikTok, adding that “every rich person” has called him about acquiring the social media platform.“I think the U.S. should be entitled to get half of TikTok and, congratulations, TikTok has a good partner and that would be worth, you know, could be $500 billion,” Trump said. “The numbers are crazy, but it’s worthless” without a U.S. buyer.<h2>Who or what can enforce the ban?</h2>The Justice Department is generally tasked with enforcing the laws of the federal government. Trump’s executive order instructs the U.S. attorney general not to take any action to enforce the TikTok ban for 75 days “to allow my Administration an opportunity to determine the appropriate course forward in an orderly way that protects national security while avoiding an abrupt shutdown of a communications platform used by millions of Americans.”Such a move might itself be subject to legal scrutiny but would buy time for TikTok.Trump’s efforts to save TikTok may put him at odds with some of the House members and senators who voted for the law, which received broad bipartisan support. House Speaker Mike Johnson called ByteDance’s ownership “a very dangerous thing,” and said he expected a full sale to happen.“I think we will enforce the law,” Johnson told NBC News’ “Meet the Press” on Sunday.Legislators now stand to “look a little bit silly” if the ban doesn’t last, Kreps said.“(The case) becomes about the separations of powers, and checks and balances, that we don’t have a king who decides what happens with the law,” Kreps said. “Enforcement isn’t only up to the executive branch.”<h2>What are other potential legal obstacles?</h2>Sen. Tom Cotton of Arkansas, in a message posted on X, listed a number of state and federal agencies, and private entities, that might be willing to go to court to get the ban enforced.“Any company that hosts, distributes, services, or otherwise facilitates communist-controlled TikTok could face hundreds of billions of dollars of ruinous liability under the law, not just from DOJ, but also under securities law, shareholder lawsuits, and state AGs,” Cotton noted.Despite the intense scrutiny and potential costs involved, the machinations over TikTok are in some ways just business as usual for the tech companies involved, according to Gus Hurwitz, a legal scholar with the International Center for Law and Economics.“The fines that we’re talking about are civil penalties and companies risk civil penalties all the time,” Hurwitz said.Still, the hard business calculus of complying with a law in limbo or risk defying a president who holds lucrative federal contracts over those companies could come into focus if shareholders sue.Oracle, for example, has a part of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/technology-politics-amazoncom-inc-cloud-computing-us-department-of-defense-bfaeb3549b4d42328f35e579d7cb40b0">the Pentagon’s $9 billion contract</a>&nbsp;to build its cloud computing network.“This actually could be the right business decision to make,” Hurwitz said. “That’s not necessarily a breach of duty to shareholders.”<h2>Which companies are deciding whether to trust Trump’s assurances?</h2>There’s been lots of questions about how companies such as Oracle and Akamai Technologies are powering TikTok’s servers to stay online, while others such as Apple and Google have made the app unavailable for new users to download.None of the companies have responded to requests for comment.Oracle in 2020 announced it had a 12.5% stake in TikTok Global after securing its business as the app’s cloud technology provider.Meanwhile, as of Monday night, a search for TikTok on Apple’s app store directs to an online statement that reads in part: “Apple is obligated to follow the laws in the jurisdictions where it operates,” while Google’s app store notes downloads for TikTok “are paused due to current US legal requirements.”

Trump signs order to delay TikTok ban

&nbsp;WASHINGTON —Officers of the Wichita Police Department are in Washington, D.C., assisting with security during the Presidential Inauguration.

"Their service to the City of Wichita and their presence in D.C. exemplify the best of our department and our city."

Over the weekend they were officially sworn in for their mission. The Department wrote on social media, " we couldn't be prouder of their commitment to ensuring safety during this historic event.

This is the second Inauguration Wichita Police assisted with and demonstrates their strong partnerships with Law Enforcement across the country.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1737412803040.png" alt="Photo Wichita Police" />
 <figcaption>Photo Wichita Police</figcaption>
 </figure>&nbsp;WASHINGTON —Officers of the Wichita Police Department are in Washington, D.C., assisting with security during the Presidential Inauguration."Their service to the City of Wichita and their presence in D.C. exemplify the best of our department and our city."Over the weekend they were officially sworn in for their mission. The Department wrote on social media, " we couldn't be prouder of their commitment to ensuring safety during this historic event.This is the second Inauguration Wichita Police assisted with and demonstrates their strong partnerships with Law Enforcement across the country.

Kansas officers are in DC to help with Presidential Inauguration

WASHINGTON (AP)—Former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Gen. Mark Milley’s portrait and nameplate has been taken down in the Pentagon.

The portrait, which is a traditional way of honoring all former chairmen, was until at least 12:46 p.m. Monday still hung in the hallway by former Chairman Joseph Dunford’s portrait.

Milley’s portrait was just unveiled Jan. 12 at a ceremony. Earlier today former President Joe Biden pardoned Milley preemptively from any potential prosecution by President Donald Trump.

WASHINGTON (AP)—Former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Gen. Mark Milley’s portrait and nameplate has been taken down in the Pentagon.The portrait, which is a traditional way of honoring all former chairmen, was until at least 12:46 p.m. Monday still hung in the hallway by former Chairman Joseph Dunford’s portrait.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">We unveiled the portrait of U.S. Army (Ret.) General Mark Milley, the 20th Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Mark, it was good to see you back at the Pentagon. Thanks again for all you have given in service to our nation. I wish you Godspeed in the chapters to come. <a href="https://t.co/oKjYQk7HZx">pic.twitter.com/oKjYQk7HZx</a>&mdash; Archive: Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III (@SecDefAustin) <a href="https://twitter.com/SecDefAustin/status/1878551376592036038?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 12, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Milley’s portrait was just unveiled Jan. 12 at a ceremony. Earlier today former President Joe Biden pardoned Milley preemptively from any potential prosecution by President Donald Trump.

Pentagon removes portrait of Mark Milley, former top US general

WASHINGTON — Due to technical difficulty with the military band audio during the Inauguration, country music star Carrie Underwood was forced to sing 'America the Beautiful' a cappella.&nbsp;

She calmly looked around the room and said, "if you know the words, help me out here."&nbsp; &nbsp;Those fortunate to get inside the Capitol Rotunda joined her.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1737400620201.png" alt="Image courtesy Oklahoma U.S. Senator Jim Lankford" />
 <figcaption>Image courtesy Oklahoma U.S. Senator Jim Lankford</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON — Due to technical difficulty with the military band audio during the Inauguration, country music star Carrie Underwood was forced to sing 'America the Beautiful' a cappella.&nbsp;<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">.<a href="https://twitter.com/carrieunderwood?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@carrieunderwood</a> performs &quot;America the Beautiful&quot; at the Presidential Inauguration. <a href="https://t.co/rIJqcLK2uV">pic.twitter.com/rIJqcLK2uV</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1881400704180376022?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 20, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>She calmly looked around the room and said, "if you know the words, help me out here."&nbsp; &nbsp;Those fortunate to get inside the Capitol Rotunda joined her.

🎥Inauguration: Carrie Underwood Sings Despite Music Malfunction

WASHINGTON (AP) — Donald Trump was sworn in Monday as the 47th U.S. president taking charge as Republicans claim unified control of Washington and set out to reshape the country’s institutions. On social media, Kansas lawmakers offered congratulations.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Donald Trump was sworn in Monday as the 47th U.S. president taking charge as Republicans claim unified control of Washington and set out to reshape the country’s institutions. On social media, Kansas lawmakers offered congratulations.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">The 47th President of the United States! <a href="https://t.co/DBRdjq4TvJ">pic.twitter.com/DBRdjq4TvJ</a>&mdash; Senator Jerry Moran (@JerryMoran) <a href="https://twitter.com/JerryMoran/status/1881396459284869536?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 20, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Today marks a historic new chapter of hope and patriotism for America. With President <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@realDonaldTrump</a> at the helm, American excellence will return. Together, we will secure our border, support farmers, strengthen our economy, restore law and order, and more. Let’s Make America… <a href="https://t.co/7euMq9Umgd">pic.twitter.com/7euMq9Umgd</a>&mdash; Dr. Roger Marshall (@RogerMarshallMD) <a href="https://twitter.com/RogerMarshallMD/status/1881405251271508388?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 20, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">The 47th President of the United States. Congratulations, President <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@realDonaldTrump</a>! <a href="https://t.co/Vn1qHVr41V">pic.twitter.com/Vn1qHVr41V</a>&mdash; Dr. Roger Marshall (@RogerMarshallMD) <a href="https://twitter.com/RogerMarshallMD/status/1881388229724914146?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 20, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Congratulations <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@realDonaldTrump</a> on your swearing in as the 47th President of the United States. 🇺🇸&mdash; Tracey Mann (@RepMann) <a href="https://twitter.com/RepMann/status/1881401451911557439?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 20, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">This morning, Congressman Schmidt attended President Trump&#39;s Inauguration at the U.S. Capitol. Strength has returned to the White House; it&#39;s a great day to be an American! 🇺🇸 <a href="https://t.co/cBbel7jBck">pic.twitter.com/cBbel7jBck</a>&mdash; Rep. Derek Schmidt Press (@RepDerekSchmidt) <a href="https://twitter.com/RepDerekSchmidt/status/1881417697227112476?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 20, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>

Kansas lawmakers congratulate President Trump

WASHINGTON (AP) — Donald Trump, who overcame&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/trump-impeachment">impeachments</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-special-counsel-aileen-cannon-d7be86dad89227f12a6f5aac3433b202">criminal indictments</a>&nbsp;and a pair of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/attempted-assassination-of-donald-trump">assassination attempts</a>&nbsp;to win another term in the White House, will be sworn in Monday as the 47th U.S. president taking charge as Republicans claim unified control of Washington and set out to reshape the country’s institutions.

Trump’s swearing-in ceremony, moved indoors due to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-inauguration-capitol-rotunda-cold-weather-2e527b4f40309be7fd2b48a8173af390">intense cold</a>, will begin at noon ET. But festivities will start earlier when the incoming president arrives for service at St. John’s Episcopal Church.

Trump’s inauguration address echoes his rally speeches

The speech Trump is delivering sounds a lot like his rally speeches, with plenty of grievance, including references to those who tried to “take my freedom” and the “weaponization of our Justice Department.”

Trump, after leaving office, became the first former president to be indicted, convicted and sentenced. But he has long tried to cast his many investigations as politically motivated.

Some Democrats join standing ovation over border emergency

Trump is laying out his executive orders, starting with declaring a state of emergency on the southern border, which received a standing ovation from all Republicans and a few swing state Democrats, including Reps. Don Davis and Marie Gluesenkamp Perez.

Trump wants to make Martin Luther King Jr.‘s dream ‘a reality’

Trump marked the fact that his inauguration is occurring on Martin Luther King Jr. Day., saying in his speech that his administration will “strive together to make his dream a reality.”

“We will make his dream come true,” Trump vowed of the Rev. King.

Trump referred to the assassination attempt against him, saying he was “saved by God to make America great again,” drawing a standing ovation from Republicans in the room while Democrats, including Biden and Harris, remained seated and still.

Trump says the election has given him “a mandate to completely and totally reverse a horrible betrayal” he says has taken place, “and to give the people back their faith, their wealth, their democracy and indeed their freedom. From this moment on, America’s decline is over.”

Speaking just feet from former Biden, Trump is delivering a forceful critique of the federal government, which he says “cannot manage even a simple crisis at home.”

He cites the wildfires in California and flooding in North Carolina, crises about which he has repeatedly spread incorrect claims. He also points to “a continuing catalogue of catastrophic events abroad” and illegal immigration.

Trump: The ‘golden age of America begins right now’

Trump in his first remarks as the 47th president declared that the “golden age of America begins right now.”

Cheers erupt in Rotunda as Trump is sworn in

Trump’s family surrounds him after his swearing-in.

JD Vance has been sworn in by Justice Brett Kavanaugh

Vance’s wife, Usha, and their three young children were at his side.

Donald Trump takes oath of office as nation’s 47th president promising ‘revolution of common sense’

President-elect Donald Trump plans to use his own Bible, which was given to him by his mother, and the Lincoln Bible for his swearing-in ceremony.

The Lincoln Bible was provided during Lincoln’s 1861 inauguration by William Thomas Carroll, clerk of the Supreme Court. That’s because Lincoln’s family Bible was still packed and on its way to Washington from Springfield, Illinois, along with the Lincoln family’s other belongings.

In 2017, Trump stacked a family Bible atop Lincoln’s while taking the oath. He’s set to do the same with his own Bible and Lincoln’s this time.

That recalls Barack Obama, who also used the Lincoln Bible during his first swearing-in in 2009. During his second in 2014, he paired it with a Bible that had belonged to the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.

White House staff turning over the mansion for Trump during inauguration

The staff of the White House residence starts the work of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-inauguration-moving-day-white-house-biden-a907323a682749a62cddf3deaafc5506">moving out</a>&nbsp;one president and preparing the mansion for a new president as soon as the outgoing and incoming presidents leave for the inauguration at the Capitol.

The White House chief usher is the staff person who oversees the process and will have worked with Melania Trump to coordinate the move. One former White House usher describes the process as “organized chaos.”

While reciting the presidential oath of office is mandated by the Constitution, using a Bible isn’t.

Theodore Roosevelt didn’t use one when he was sworn in following the assassination of William McKinley in 1901. John Quincy Adams used a law text for his 1825 inauguration.

And, sworn in aboard Air Force One after John Kennedy’s assassination in 1963, Lyndon B. Johnson used a Catholic missal.

Also, who holds the Bible during the inaugural ceremony isn’t spelled out. Lady Bird Johnson set a tradition that has continued until today when she became the first incoming-first lady to hold the Bible for her husband Lyndon’s second inauguration in January 1965.

Prior to that, the Bibles were often held by an unknown official — people not easily identified in historical photographs.

Jill Biden and Doug Emhoff exchange a hug and a smile

The two awaited the arrival of their spouses on the inauguration platform.

The former presidents in attendance — Obama, Bush and Clinton — drew applause from the audience.

Two former first ladies were there, too, but&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-inauguration-obama-bush-clinton-f7212766dc0f69444d8a4537a736c2d2">Michelle Obama</a>&nbsp;skipped the inauguration.

She wasn’t with the former U.S. leaders and their spouses at former President Jimmy Carter’s state funeral earlier this month either.

No explanation has been given for her absences.

The former first and second ladies that aren’t attending

While former Vice President Mike Pence is in attendance at Trump’s inauguration, his wife, former second lady Karen, is not.

Karen Pence snubbed the Trumps earlier this month at former President Jimmy Carter’s funeral, where she ignored Melania Trump’s efforts to shake her hand.

Dan Quayle and Mike Pence arrived on the platform with a standing ovation from members of both the House and Senate.

CEOs have better seats than Trump’s Cabinet members

The CEOs of Meta, X, and Amazon sat in front of the president-elect’s entire Cabinet — a nod to the importance Trump has given the heads of some of the most powerful companies and social media platforms over his agency heads.

Some of the nation’s most powerful tech titans are at the Capitol

Vocal Trump ally Elon Musk, the owner of Telsa and the social platform X, was seen along with Google’s Sundar Pichai and Amazon owner Jeff Bezos.

Facebook owner Mark Zuckerberg and Apple CEO Tim Cook were also in the audience.

The capacity shrunk significantly when the ceremony was moved indoors due to cold temperatures.

Musk has also been tapped by Trump to help lead an outside government group called the Department of Government Efficiency to slash bureaucracy.

All 9 Supreme Court justices are at the Capitol

The entire court entered, led by Roberts. Retired Justice Stephen Breyer also is there.

Pence and the Clintons get booed in arena

The crowd in the arena is not discriminate with their cheers — anything from a man holding a “Joe Biden You’re Fired” sign to a shot of Rudy Giuliani has inspired enthusiastic applause — but a rare boo erupted from the crowd at the sigh of Mike Pence walking into the rotunda.

Congressional leaders arrive at the Capitol

Asked how he felt today, Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer said: “Feel great about the Bills.”

The New Yorker had a royal blue cap in hand. The House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Republican, said it’s “bright, sunny outside and bright in our heart.” Johnson said he expects “a lot” of executive orders from Trump. House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries smiled and waved but declined comment.

“Feel great,” said House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La.

President-elect Donald Trump and Vice President-elect JD Vance arrive at the Capitol ahead of their inauguration

Both men shared the same vehicle, along with Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar, chair of the bipartisan Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies.

Biden and Trump have been the bitterest of rivals for years. But the outgoing and incoming president taking the same vehicle to the inauguration ceremony keeps with political traditions.

President Joe Biden and President-elect Donald Trump are exiting

They left the White House after spending about 35 minutes in a private meeting.

Flags that had been lowered for the passing of former President Jimmy Carter are back up at the U.S. Capitol.

House Speaker Mike Johnson ordered the flags raised for Trump’s inauguration.

Second gentleman Doug Emhoff has exited the White House with Usha Vance, wife of vice president-elect JD Vance, to go to the Capitol.

Sports celebrities and business figures alike crowd into the Capitol’s visitor center

The attendees, which include the CEO of TikTok, made their way into the Capitol’s visitor center to watch the inauguration ceremonies on a large screen.

Evander Holyfield, Danica Patrick, Conor McGregor, Jake Paul and his brother Logan Paul have all made their way into a large area called the Emancipation Hall.

The CEO of TikTok, Shou Zi Chew, is also there. He struck up a conversation with Logan Paul, who is a social media influencer and professional boxer.

As Trump enters the White House a second time, some celebrities and business leaders have sought closer relationships than during Trump’s first term.

Trump is already proving he is a valuable ally to have — the incoming president intervened this weekend in an attempt to halt a ban on TikTok.

🎥Donald Trump Inauguration Day pageantry

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden on Monday pardoned his siblings and their spouses, saying his family had been “subjected to unrelenting attacks and threats, motivated solely by a desire to hurt me — the worst kind of partisan politics.”

“Unfortunately, I have no reason to believe these attacks will end,” he said. He issued a slew of pardons and commutations in the moments before leaving office, including for aides and allies that have been targeted by Donald Trump. None have been charged with any crimes.

Last month, he pardoned his son, Hunter for tax and gun crimes.

Biden issued blanket pardons for his brother James and his wife, Sara, his sister Valerie and her husband, John Owens, and his brother Francis.

“The issuance of these pardons should not be mistaken as an acknowledgment that they engaged in any wrongdoing, nor should acceptance be misconstrued as an admission of guilt for any offense,” he said in a statement.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1737392290779.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden on Monday pardoned his siblings and their spouses, saying his family had been “subjected to unrelenting attacks and threats, motivated solely by a desire to hurt me — the worst kind of partisan politics.”“Unfortunately, I have no reason to believe these attacks will end,” he said. He issued a slew of pardons and commutations in the moments before leaving office, including for aides and allies that have been targeted by Donald Trump. None have been charged with any crimes.Last month, he pardoned his son, Hunter for tax and gun crimes.Biden issued blanket pardons for his brother James and his wife, Sara, his sister Valerie and her husband, John Owens, and his brother Francis.“The issuance of these pardons should not be mistaken as an acknowledgment that they engaged in any wrongdoing, nor should acceptance be misconstrued as an admission of guilt for any offense,” he said in a statement.

Biden pardons family members in final minutes of presidency

SEDGWICK COUNTY—A Kansas man accused in a June 4, homicide is scheduled made a court appearance for&nbsp;a preliminary hearing on Friday.

Judge Quentin Pittman ruled 23-year-old Jeremiah Walker will stand trial for second-degree murder, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office. Walker is charged for the death of&nbsp;27-year-old Quentin Gordon.

Just after 9:30p.m. June 4, Sedgwick County Emergency Communications received a 911 call reporting a shooting in the 4800 block of East Funston.

Wichita Police, Wichita Fire, and Sedgwick County EMS responded to the scene and found Gordon suffering from a gunshot wound. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

&nbsp;Preliminary findings suggest that Gordon was involved in an argument with another individual when the shooting occurred, indicating that this was not a random act of violence, according to Moses.

On June 6, police asked for help to locate Anjaliyah S. Orange and Jeremiah Z. Walker as they may have information about the homicide.&nbsp;

On June 12, Wichita Police Homicide investigators arrested Walker, according to Wichita Police Captain Aaron Moses.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1718212493808.png" alt="Walker phot Sedgwick Co." />
 <figcaption>Walker phot Sedgwick Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY—A Kansas man accused in a June 4, homicide is scheduled made a court appearance for&nbsp;a preliminary hearing on Friday.Judge Quentin Pittman ruled 23-year-old Jeremiah Walker will stand trial for second-degree murder, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office. Walker is charged for the death of&nbsp;27-year-old Quentin Gordon.Just after 9:30p.m. June 4, Sedgwick County Emergency Communications received a 911 call reporting a shooting in the 4800 block of East Funston.Wichita Police, Wichita Fire, and Sedgwick County EMS responded to the scene and found Gordon suffering from a gunshot wound. He was pronounced dead at the scene.&nbsp;Preliminary findings suggest that Gordon was involved in an argument with another individual when the shooting occurred, indicating that this was not a random act of violence, according to Moses.On June 6, police asked for help to locate Anjaliyah S. Orange and Jeremiah Z. Walker as they may have information about the homicide.&nbsp;On June 12, Wichita Police Homicide investigators arrested Walker, according to Wichita Police Captain Aaron Moses.

Kan. suspect captured after 6-day search will stand trial for murder

BY&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/colleen-long">COLLEEN LONG</a>&nbsp;AND&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/zeke-miller">ZEKE MILLER</a>

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden on Monday pardoned Dr. Anthony Fauci, retired Gen. Mark Milley and members of the House committee that investigated the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol, in an extraordinary use of the powers of the presidency in his final hours to guard against potential “revenge” by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">the incoming Trump administration</a>.

<a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2025/01/20/statement-from-president-joe-biden-15/">Click here to read </a>the statement from President Biden on the pardons

The decision by Biden comes after Donald Trump warned of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-enemies-from-within-5c4a34776469a55e71d3ba4d4e68cf62">an enemies list</a>&nbsp;filled with those who have crossed him politically or sought to hold him accountable for his attempt&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-2020-election-lies-debunked-4fc26546b07962fdbf9d66e739fbb50d">to overturn his 2020 election loss</a>&nbsp;and his role in the storming of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-cabinet-hegseth-patel-bondi-gabbard-kennedy-0f6856a163b1e8eab517e80df28580a8">Trump has selected Cabinet nominees who backed his election lies</a>&nbsp;and who have pledged to punish those involved in efforts to investigate him.

“The issuance of these pardons should not be mistaken as an acknowledgment that any individual engaged in any wrongdoing, nor should acceptance be misconstrued as an admission of guilt for any offense,” Biden said in a statement. “Our nation owes these public servants a debt of gratitude for their tireless commitment to our country.”

The pardons, announced with just hours left in Biden's presidency, have been the subject of heated debate for months at the highest levels of the White House. It’s customary for a president to grant clemency at the end of his term, but those acts of mercy are usually offered to Americans who have been convicted of crimes. Biden, a Democrat, has used the power in the broadest and most untested way possible: to pardon those who have not even been investigated. The decision lays the groundwork for an even more expansive use of pardons by Trump, a Republican, and future presidents.

While the Supreme Court last year ruled that presidents enjoy&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ap.org/news-highlights/elections/2024/supreme-court-rules-ex-presidents-have-broad-immunity-dimming-chance-of-a-pre-election-trump-trial/">broad immunity from prosecution</a>&nbsp;for what could be considered official acts, the president's aides and allies enjoy no such shield. There is concern that future presidents could use the promise of a blanket pardon to encourage allies to take actions they might otherwise resist for fear of running afoul of the law.

Trump, who takes office at noon, has promised to swiftly pardon many of those involved in the violent and bloody Jan. 6, 2021, attack, which injured roughly 140 law enforcement officers. “Everybody in this very large arena will be very happy with my decision," he said at a Sunday rally.

It’s unclear whether those pardoned by Biden would need to apply for the clemency or accept the president's offer. Acceptance could be seen as a tacit admission of guilt or wrongdoing, validating years of attacks by Trump and his supporters, even though those who have been pardoned have not been formally accused of any crimes.

“These are exceptional circumstances, and I cannot in good conscience do nothing,” Biden said, adding that “Even when individuals have done nothing wrong — and in fact have done the right thing — and will ultimately be exonerated, the mere fact of being investigated or prosecuted can irreparably damage reputations and finances.”

Fauci was director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases at the National Institutes of Health for nearly 40 years, including during Trump's term in office, and later served as Biden’s chief medical adviser until his retirement in 2022. He helped coordinate the nation’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic and raised Trump's ire when he resisted Trump's untested public health notions. Fauci has since become a target of intense hatred and vitriol from people on the right, who blame him for mask mandates and other policies they believe infringed on their rights, even as hundreds of thousands of people were dying.

Milley, a former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, has called Trump a fascist and has detailed Trump’s conduct around the deadly Jan. 6 insurrection. He said he was grateful to Biden for a pardon.

“I do not wish to spend whatever remaining time the Lord grants me fighting those who unjustly might seek retribution for perceived slights," he said in a statement. “I do not want to put my family, my friends, and those with whom I served through the resulting distraction, expense, and anxiety.”

Biden also extended pardons to members and staff of the Jan. 6 committee that investigated the attack, as well as the U.S. Capitol and D.C. Metropolitan police officers who testified before the House committee about their experiences that day, overrun by an angry, violent mob of Trump supporters.

The committee spent 18 months investigating Trump and the insurrection. It was led by Rep. Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., and Rep. Liz Cheney, a Wyoming Republican who later pledged to vote for Democrat Kamala Harris and campaigned with her against Trump. The committee’s final report found that Trump criminally engaged in a “multi-part conspiracy” to overturn the lawful results of the 2020 presidential election and failed to act to stop his supporters from attacking the Capitol.

“Rather than accept accountability," Biden said, “those who perpetrated the January 6th attack have taken every opportunity to undermine and intimidate those who participated in the Select Committee in an attempt to rewrite history, erase the stain of January 6th for partisan gain, and seek revenge, including by threatening criminal prosecutions.”

Biden’s statement did not list the scores of members and staff by name.

“These public servants have served our nation with honor and distinction and do not deserve to be the targets of unjustified and politically motivated prosecutions,” the president said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1735817811864.png" alt="Congresswoman Liz Cheney and members of the House January 6 Committee -image courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>Congresswoman Liz Cheney and members of the House January 6 Committee -image courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>BY&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/colleen-long">COLLEEN LONG</a>&nbsp;AND&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/zeke-miller">ZEKE MILLER</a>WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden on Monday pardoned Dr. Anthony Fauci, retired Gen. Mark Milley and members of the House committee that investigated the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol, in an extraordinary use of the powers of the presidency in his final hours to guard against potential “revenge” by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">the incoming Trump administration</a>.<a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2025/01/20/statement-from-president-joe-biden-15/">Click here to read </a>the statement from President Biden on the pardonsThe decision by Biden comes after Donald Trump warned of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-enemies-from-within-5c4a34776469a55e71d3ba4d4e68cf62">an enemies list</a>&nbsp;filled with those who have crossed him politically or sought to hold him accountable for his attempt&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-2020-election-lies-debunked-4fc26546b07962fdbf9d66e739fbb50d">to overturn his 2020 election loss</a>&nbsp;and his role in the storming of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-cabinet-hegseth-patel-bondi-gabbard-kennedy-0f6856a163b1e8eab517e80df28580a8">Trump has selected Cabinet nominees who backed his election lies</a>&nbsp;and who have pledged to punish those involved in efforts to investigate him.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1600888542522.png" alt="Dr. Anthony Fauci photo White House" />
 <figcaption>Dr. Anthony Fauci photo White House</figcaption>
 </figure>“The issuance of these pardons should not be mistaken as an acknowledgment that any individual engaged in any wrongdoing, nor should acceptance be misconstrued as an admission of guilt for any offense,” Biden said in a statement. “Our nation owes these public servants a debt of gratitude for their tireless commitment to our country.”The pardons, announced with just hours left in Biden's presidency, have been the subject of heated debate for months at the highest levels of the White House. It’s customary for a president to grant clemency at the end of his term, but those acts of mercy are usually offered to Americans who have been convicted of crimes. Biden, a Democrat, has used the power in the broadest and most untested way possible: to pardon those who have not even been investigated. The decision lays the groundwork for an even more expansive use of pardons by Trump, a Republican, and future presidents.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1668685067328.png" alt="Mark Milley-photo courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>Mark Milley-photo courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>While the Supreme Court last year ruled that presidents enjoy&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ap.org/news-highlights/elections/2024/supreme-court-rules-ex-presidents-have-broad-immunity-dimming-chance-of-a-pre-election-trump-trial/">broad immunity from prosecution</a>&nbsp;for what could be considered official acts, the president's aides and allies enjoy no such shield. There is concern that future presidents could use the promise of a blanket pardon to encourage allies to take actions they might otherwise resist for fear of running afoul of the law.Trump, who takes office at noon, has promised to swiftly pardon many of those involved in the violent and bloody Jan. 6, 2021, attack, which injured roughly 140 law enforcement officers. “Everybody in this very large arena will be very happy with my decision," he said at a Sunday rally.It’s unclear whether those pardoned by Biden would need to apply for the clemency or accept the president's offer. Acceptance could be seen as a tacit admission of guilt or wrongdoing, validating years of attacks by Trump and his supporters, even though those who have been pardoned have not been formally accused of any crimes.“These are exceptional circumstances, and I cannot in good conscience do nothing,” Biden said, adding that “Even when individuals have done nothing wrong — and in fact have done the right thing — and will ultimately be exonerated, the mere fact of being investigated or prosecuted can irreparably damage reputations and finances.”Fauci was director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases at the National Institutes of Health for nearly 40 years, including during Trump's term in office, and later served as Biden’s chief medical adviser until his retirement in 2022. He helped coordinate the nation’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic and raised Trump's ire when he resisted Trump's untested public health notions. Fauci has since become a target of intense hatred and vitriol from people on the right, who blame him for mask mandates and other policies they believe infringed on their rights, even as hundreds of thousands of people were dying.Milley, a former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, has called Trump a fascist and has detailed Trump’s conduct around the deadly Jan. 6 insurrection. He said he was grateful to Biden for a pardon.“I do not wish to spend whatever remaining time the Lord grants me fighting those who unjustly might seek retribution for perceived slights," he said in a statement. “I do not want to put my family, my friends, and those with whom I served through the resulting distraction, expense, and anxiety.”Biden also extended pardons to members and staff of the Jan. 6 committee that investigated the attack, as well as the U.S. Capitol and D.C. Metropolitan police officers who testified before the House committee about their experiences that day, overrun by an angry, violent mob of Trump supporters.The committee spent 18 months investigating Trump and the insurrection. It was led by Rep. Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., and Rep. Liz Cheney, a Wyoming Republican who later pledged to vote for Democrat Kamala Harris and campaigned with her against Trump. The committee’s final report found that Trump criminally engaged in a “multi-part conspiracy” to overturn the lawful results of the 2020 presidential election and failed to act to stop his supporters from attacking the Capitol.“Rather than accept accountability," Biden said, “those who perpetrated the January 6th attack have taken every opportunity to undermine and intimidate those who participated in the Select Committee in an attempt to rewrite history, erase the stain of January 6th for partisan gain, and seek revenge, including by threatening criminal prosecutions.”Biden’s statement did not list the scores of members and staff by name.“These public servants have served our nation with honor and distinction and do not deserve to be the targets of unjustified and politically motivated prosecutions,” the president said.Biden, an institutionalist, has promised a smooth transition to the next administration,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-farewell-address-oval-office-8bc6051c20adc1bc212cdd8be2578624">inviting Trump to the White House</a>&nbsp;and saying that the nation will be OK,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/oligarchy-biden-zuckerburg-bezos-musk-altman-a44e281c6dbf2fd6cd174f13cdcdc1c5">even as he warned during his farewell address of a growing oligarchy</a>. He has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jan-6-capitol-siege-biden-congress-3dd8fd804c857c23f8e0fe2324c9d8a4">spent years warning that Trump’s ascension</a>&nbsp;to the presidency again would be a threat to democracy. His decision to break with political norms with the preemptive pardons was brought on by those concerns.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-commutes-2500-nonviolent-drug-offenders-83174cd0602a0bf5d491aa60184f3568">Biden has set the presidential record</a>&nbsp;for most individual pardons and commutations issued. He announced on Friday he would commuting the sentences of almost 2,500 people convicted of nonviolent drug offenses. He previously announced he was&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2024/12/23/fact-sheet-president-biden-commutes-the-sentences-of-37-individuals-on-death-row/">commuting the sentences</a>&nbsp;of 37 of the 40 people on federal death row, converting their punishments to life imprisonment just weeks before Trump, an outspoken proponent of expanding capital punishment, takes office. In his first term, Trump presided over an unprecedented spate of executions, 13, in a protracted timeline during the coronavirus pandemic.Biden is not the first to consider such preemptive pardons. Trump aides considered them for Trump and his supporters involved in his failed efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election that culminated in the violent riot at the Capitol. But Trump’s pardons never materialized before he left office four years ago.President Gerald Ford granted a “full, free, and absolute pardon” in 1974 to his predecessor, Richard Nixon, over the Watergate scandal. He believed a potential trial would “cause prolonged and divisive debate over the propriety of exposing to further punishment and degradation a man who has already paid the unprecedented penalty of relinquishing the highest elective office of the United States,” as written in the pardon proclamation.