President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama greets President-elect Donald Trump and his wife Melania Trump at the White House in Washington, Friday, Jan. 20, 2017. (AP Photo)
Washington: Donald Trump took the first ceremonial steps before being sworn in as the 45th president of the United States Friday -- ushering in a new political era that has been cheered and feared in equal measure.
"It all begins today! I will see you at 11:00 A.M. for the swearing-in. THE MOVEMENT CONTINUES - THE WORK BEGINS!" the Republican billionaire tweeted before tracing his predecessors' steps to St. John's Church and the White House.
There he was greeted warmly by President Barack Obama, capping a transfer of power that has been peaceful yet rancorous.
"Mr President-elect, how are you?" Obama asked, after having deposited a letter in the Resolute desk and departING the Oval Office for the last time.
Hundreds of thousands of people will gather on the National Mall in the center of the nation's capital to celebrate a man whose short 19-month political career has defied all predictions, and many norms.
In the cool Washington dawn, his most ardent supporters ignored intermittent light rain and began to make their way by metro, car and on foot to take part in history.