Read more about President Trump's inauguration
More about Trump's team
- Senate confirms Alex Acosta as Trump's secretary of labor
- Lawmakers say Flynn did not inform U.S. government about payments from Turkey, Russia
- Senate confirms Sonny Perdue as agriculture secretary
- Gorsuch sworn into Supreme Court, restores conservative tilt
- Senate confirms Trump pick Neil Gorsuch to Supreme Court
- Senate Republicans invoke 'nuclear option' to overcome Democrats' filibuster of Supreme Court nominee
- Trump removes Bannon from National Security Council
- U.S. defense chief worries about 'reckless' North Korea actions
- U.S. defense chief worries about 'reckless' North Korea actions
- Michael Flynn in talks with Congress, wary of prosecution
- Top aide to President Donald Trump leaves administration
- David Friedman sworn in as Trump's ambassador to Israel
- Ivanka Trump to become official White House employee
- Zinke: Border wall 'complex,' faces geographic challenges
- Kushner, taking new White House role, faces rare scrutiny
- In Trump's White House drama, Priebus is favorite target
- Ivanka Trump, Education Secretary DeVos promote STEM careers
- Attorney General: Sanctuary cities are risking federal money
- Netanyahu welcomes new U.S. ambassador 'to Jerusalem'
- Ivanka Trump to attend women's economic summit in Berlin
- Ex-CIA chief: Flynn's firm discussed removing cleric from U.S.
- Trump son-in-law's ties to Israel raise questions of bias
- Gorsuch hearings show him as careful, folksy, testy at times
- Trump SEC pick assures that his Wall St. work not problem
- AP Exclusive: U.S. probes banking of ex-Trump campaign chief
- Supreme Court nominee unscathed facing last day of hearings
- Lawmakers want details on Flynn's foreign contacts, payments
- High court nominee to face daylong questioning in Senate
- Tillerson to skip meeting of NATO foreign ministers
- High court nominee: I'll be unbiased or 'hang up the robe'
- First daughter Ivanka Trump gets West Wing office
- White House tries to distance Trump from campaign aides
- Senate hearings get underway on Trump Supreme Court pick
- Report: Trump adviser's husband picked for Justice post
- Trump's high court pick is harsh critic of assisted suicide
- Documents detail Flynn payments from Russian interests
- Senate votes to approve Trump's picks for key security posts
- Democrats say Trump's pick for trade post needs waiver
- Senate confirms Trump pick to head Medicare and Medicaid
- Key members of Trump's circle under scrutiny for Russia ties
- DeVos promotes school choice, local control
- Tillerson heads to Asia with North Korea tensions high
- Conway suggests surveillance of Trump went beyond phones
- Sarah Huckabee Sanders is a rising star in Trump's orbit
- Trump's choice for FDA has ties to Wall Street, drug makers
- Attorney General Jeff Sessions seeks resignations of 46 U.S. attorneys
- Acosta headed for questions on sex offender case at hearing
- White House: Trump unaware of Flynn's foreign agent work
- HUD could face steep cuts, but Carson says numbers early
- EPA chief: Carbon dioxide not primary cause of warming
- AP Source: Huntsman offered job of ambassador to Russia
- General says no bad decisions in Yemen raid, probe is over
- Former Trump security adviser Flynn admits Turkey lobbying
- Confirmation for Justice's No. 2 job occurs amid controversy
- Top Trump security adviser faces questions in rare hearing
- Ben Carson compares slavery to immigration to America
- DHS chief: Agency may separate parents, children at border
- Vice President Mike Pence jokes with 'enemy of the people' at Gridiron Dinner
- Six weeks later, senators question delay on agriculture pick
- Officials: Tillerson eyes State Department budget cut over 3 years
- Pence used a private email account to conduct state business
- New Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke ponies up to work at first day in office
- Sessions recuses himself from investigation into Russia's election meddling
- Senate confirms billionaire investor Wilbur Ross as commerce secretary
- Sessions: More violence around pot than 'one would think'
- Pence to address politically potent Republican Jewish group
- State Department news briefings to resume in early March
- Sessions: U.S. to continue use of privately run prisons
- Trump pick as security adviser is independent-minded
- Trump sends top aides to Mexico amid deep strains with U.S.
- Scott Pruitt confirmed by Senate to serve as EPA administrator
- Harward turns Trump down for national security adviser job
- Trump names Acosta as new choice to become labor secretary
- Senate hearings for Supreme Court pick to begin March 20
- Trump's pick for Israel ambassador faces rocky confirmation
- Senate to confirm Trump budget chief
- Andrew Puzder is withdrawing as Trump's nominee for labor secretary
- Former wrestling executive Linda McMahon on track to lead Small Business Administration
- Four GOP senators on the fence over Puzder for labor secretary
- National Security Adviser Michael Flynn resigns amid Russia controversy
- Senate confirms former banker Mnuchin as Treasury secretary
- Trump 'evaluating the situation' involving Flynn, Russia
- Gorsuch returns 68-page questionnaire to Senate
- Gorsuch returns 68-page questionnaire to Senate
- Senate confirms Trump's health secretary
- Senate confirms Jeff Sessions to be attorney general
- Sen. Sessions on track for confirmations as attorney general
- DeVos ekes out confirmation win as Pence casts historic vote
- Senate set to confirm education secretary by narrow margin
- Vice President Mike Pence says nominee Neil Gorsuch will join Supreme Court 'one way or the other'
- DeVos clears Senate hurdle toward becoming education secretary
- Seasoned spymaster named deputy CIA director
- Pelosi calls top Trump security adviser 'white supremacist'
- GOP senators move Trump EPA pick ahead as Dems boycott vote
- Little heard in public, Bannon is quiet power in Oval Office
- 2 Republican senators won't support DeVos nomination
- Trump's national security adviser puts Iran 'on notice'
- Senate confirms Rex Tillerson as secretary of state
- GOP pushes 2 top Cabinet picks through to full Senate
- Trump's pick to head VA rejects radical change to fix agency
- Union-backed Ronald Vitiello named to lead Border Patrol
- President Donald Trump nominates Neil Gorsuch to U.S. Supreme Court [video]
- Elaine Chao sworn in as transportation secretary
- Education nomination advances to full Senate
- DeVos may have used official's remarks without attribution
- GOP pushing Price, Sessions, DeVos a step toward Senate OK
- Labor secretary nominee's company outsourced jobs
- Amid criticism, Comey remaining as FBI director under Trump
- Former intelligence officer picked to lead Navy
- Senate committees approve several of Trump's Cabinet choices
- South Carolina Gov. Haley resigns to become U.S. ambassador to U.N.
- Former congressman Mike Pompeo sworn in as CIA director
- Senate panel narrowly backs Rex Tillerson for top diplomatic post
- Senate confirms Trump's picks for defense, homeland security
- Rick Perry says he regrets call to eliminate Energy Department
- Trump picks former Georgia governor as agriculture secretary
- Senate panel decisively approves James Mattis for defense secretary
- Pointed questions for Trump's pick for health secretary [video]
- Trump pick DeVos pledges not to undo public education, pushes choice [video]
- Pointed questions await Trump's pick for health secretary
- In Rep. Tom Price's district, what happens after Obamacare repeal?
- Education secretary pick DeVos defends school choice during confirmation hearing
- Tennessee scientists urge Corker, Alexander to oppose Trump's EPA pick
- CIA nominee Mike Pompeo agrees Russia tried to interfere in election
- Top Trump aide in frequent contact with Russia's ambassador
- Trump's Pentagon pick cruises toward likely confirmation
- Trump's Pentagon pick receives strong support in first vote
- Black lawmakers say Sen. Jeff Sessions unfit to be attorney general
- Trump's pick for top diplomat takes tough line on Moscow
- I'd stand up to Trump as attorney general, Sessions tells senators
- Trump son-in-law Kushner to take senior White House role
- Haslam backs Trump's pick for U.S. Education Secretary
- Trump selects former Sen. Coats for top intelligence post
- Trump to name Nashville's Bill Hagerty ambassador to Japan
- Trump expected to name lawyer Robert Lighthizer as top trade rep
- Trump names Bush-era veteran and policy newcomer to posts
- Trumps pick for ambassador to Israel sparks hot debate
- Sen. Corker says he is 'more than reassured' about Tillerson's views on Russia
- Trump picks Florida Panthers owner as Army secretary
- Trump's pick for budget director has urged big spending cuts
- Trump salutes supporters in Florida, names budget director
- Former SEAL Zinke tapped for Interior secretary
- Perry would bring oil industry ties to Energy Department
- Trump announces selection of ExxonMobil CEO Rex Tillerson to be secretary of state
- Trump expected to tap Exxon Mobil CEO Rex Tillerson secretary of State
- President-elect Donald Trump: Rudy Giuliani taking himself out of running for Cabinet post
- Trump expected to tap Goldman Sachs president Gary Cohn for economic post
- Trump selects Tennessee business leader as labor secretary
- Trump picks WWE's Linda McMahon for Small Business Administration post
- Trump picks Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt to head EPA
- Trump taps retired four-star Gen. John Kelly to head Homeland Security
- HUD secretary nominee Ben Carson under fire for lack of experience
- Trump to nominate Marine Corps Gen. James Mattis as secretary of defense
- Trump adds new administration picks
- Trump taps Betsy DeVos as secretary of education, South Carolina Gov. Haley for U.N. post
- Trump auditions Cabinet prospects high above Manhattan
- For Trump, lots of meetings, Cabinet picks still coming
- The Latest: Trump aide talks about possible Cabinet heads
- Donald Trump's Cabinet picks, so far
- Alexander, Corker back Senate colleague as Trump's attorney general
- Trump taps Sessions, Flynn, Pompeo for top positions
- Trump picks Alabama Sen. Sessions for AG
- AP Source: Trump offers National Security Adviser job to Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn
- AP Source: Trump offers National Security Adviser job to Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn
- Corker: Giuliani, Bolton 'more likely' to get Trump nod as secretary of state
- Rudy Giuliani's foreign work complicates candidacy for top post
- Amid signs of transition trouble, Trump huddles with Pence
- Trump's transition team loses a key figure as he struggles to find his footing
- Giuliani emerges as favorite for Trump's secretary of state
- Trump puts flame-throwing outsider on the inside
- European Union awaits Trump team to assess future of trans-Atlantic ties
- Kansas' secretary of state added to Trump transition team
- Donald Trump names Reince Priebus, Stephen Bannon to senior White House roles
- Rep. Blackburn named to Trump presidential transition team following shakeup
- Trump chief of staff pick to signal direction of presidency
- Corey Lewandowski, former Trump campaign manager, leaves CNN
- Mike Pence to lead President-elect Donald Trump's transition team, replacing Chris Christie
- Alexander urges Trump to add Corker to his presidential cabinet
- Corker confirms he spoke with Trump and Pence Wednesday; claims they did not discuss possible cabinet post
WASHINGTON (AP) - Donald Trump enters the White House on Friday just as he entered the race for president: defiant, unfiltered, unbound by tradition and utterly confident in his chosen course.
In the 10 weeks since his surprise election as the nation's 45th president, Trump has violated decades of established diplomatic protocol, sent shockwaves through business boardrooms, tested long-standing ethics rules and continued his combative style of replying to any slight with a personal attack - on Twitter and in person.
Past presidents have described walking into the Oval Office for the first time as a humbling experience, one that in an instant makes clear the weight of their new role as caretaker of American democracy. Trump spent much of his transition making clear he sees things differently: Rather than change for the office, he argues, the office will change for him.
"They say it's not presidential to call up these massive leaders of business," Trump told a crowd in Indianapolis in December. That was after he negotiated a deal with an air conditioning company to keep jobs in the state, a move many economists derided as unworkable national economic policy.
"I think it's very presidential," he declared. "And if it's not presidential, that's OK. That's OK. Because I actually like doing it."
Even before he takes the oath of office, Trump has changed the very nature of presidency, breaking conventions and upending expectations for the leader of the free world.
Advisers who've spoken with Trump say the billionaire real estate mogul and reality TV star is aware of the historic nature of his new job. He's told friends that he's drawn to the ambition of Ronald Reagan, a Republican, and John F. Kennedy, a Democrat. He's thinking of spending his first night in the White House sleeping in the Lincoln Bedroom, according to some who dined with him recently in Florida.
But Trump also views himself as a kind of "sui generis" president, beholden to no one for his success and modeling himself after no leader who's come before. Trump has said he's read no biographies of former presidents. When asked to name his personal heroes in a recent interview, he mentioned his father before replying that he didn't "like the concept of heroes."
"I don't think Trump has a great sense of the history of the White House. When you don't know your history, it's hard to fully respect the traditions," said historian Douglas Brinkley, who recently dined with Trump and other guests at his South Florida club. "This is not somebody who brags about how many history biographies he's read."
"He's somebody who brags about it as this is a big event and he's the maestro," he said.
That's a shift that thrills his supporters, who elected Trump to shake up what they see as an unresponsive and corrupt federal government in the "swamp" of Washington.
"I don't want him to change" said Iowa state Sen. Brad Zaun, one of Trump's earliest backers. "One of the reasons that I supported him is that he told it the way it was. He didn't beat around the bush. He didn't do the standard political talking points."
Trump won election with that approach, but he's yet to win over the country. His Electoral College victory was tempered by a loss in the popular vote to Democrat Hillary Clinton by nearly 3 million ballots. The protests planned for the day after his inauguration threaten to draw more people to the National Mall than his official events.
Polls over the past week show that Trump is poised to enter the White House as the least popular president in four decades. Democrats remain staunchly opposed to him, independents have not rallied behind him and even Republicans are less enthusiastic than might be expected, according to the surveys.
In his typical reaction to poll results he doesn't like, Trump dismissed them as "rigged" in a Tuesday tweet.
It's exactly that kind of tweet that worries governing experts, lawmakers and other critics, who argue that traditional practices of the presidency protect the health of the American democracy.
"With notable exceptions, we've had a political culture in which presidents largely respect a series of unwritten rules that help democracy and the rule of law flourish," said Brendan Nyhan, a professor of government at Dartmouth College. "What's striking about Trump is he flouts norms that have previously been respected by both parties on a daily basis. He calls things into question that have never been questioned before."
Since winning the election, Trump has attacked Hollywood celebrities, civil rights icons and political rivals alike. He's moved markets by going after some companies, while praising others.
He's questioned the legitimacy of American institutions - appearing to trust the word of Russian President Vladimir Putin over the intelligence agencies he'll soon oversee, engaging in personal fights with journalists as he assails the free press and questioning the results of the election, even though it put him in office.
And he's lambasted the leaders of longstanding allied nations as he questions the post-World War II international order that won the Cold War and maintained peace in Europe for generations.
For Trump supporters, that no-holds-barred style is the very reason he won their votes. But for others in the country, it's a type of leadership they've seen before and fear will spread.
They point to Maine, where a Trump-like governor has roiled the state's government with offensive statements, a combative style and little respect for the Legislature, as a warning of what the nation might expect during a Trump administration.
Gov. Paul LePage's confrontational brand of politics has made it harder to pass legislation, build political coalitions or even conduct the basic workings of state government, say legislators and political consultants in the traditionally centrist state. He's created rifts with would-be Republican allies, demonized the media and tightly controlled basic information. At times, he's banned the heads of state agencies from appearing before legislative committees, making state budgeting and oversight difficult.
"What I'm concerned about nationally is what we've seen up here - that the checks and balances we take for granted disappear," said Lance Dutson, a Republican political strategist who worked to get LePage elected before later speaking out against him. "There are things that are happening up here that I really thought just couldn't happen."
There are signs that Trump's actions are already changing the traditions of government in Washington, freeing lawmakers and other officials from long-respected practices of federal politics.
More than 50 House Democrats plan to boycott Trump's inauguration ceremony, an unprecedented break with the bipartisan tradition of celebrating the peaceful transfer of power. While many Democrats were furious with the outcome of the 2000 election in which Republican George W. Bush defeated Al Gore after recounts and a Supreme Court ruling, they generally attended Bush's inauguration ceremony.
"I will not celebrate a man who preaches a politics of division and hate," tweeted Keith Ellison, a Minnesota congressman who's bidding to head the Democratic National Committee.
Those who know Trump say the billionaire mogul delights in confounding establishment expectations, even as he craves approval from powerbrokers in New York and Washington.
"He was born with a chip on his shoulder, and he is very much the guy from Queens who looked across at Manhattan and envied but also to some degree hated the elites who occupied Manhattan," said Michael D'Antonio, author of "Never Enough," a Trump biography. "The way that he wants to disrupt institutions reflects this idea that the institutions haven't embraced him."
That's a style that may work better for a CEO of a family corporation - who has little oversight from corporate boards or shareholders - than a president constrained by a system of checks and balances. Former Cabinet officials say the layers of government bureaucracy, myriad regulations and intricacies of Congress will challenge Trump's style.
"A president doesn't have sweeping, universal authority. It is a very different operation than being a CEO who can fire people and hire people at will," said Kathleen Sebelius, a Democrat and former health and human services secretary. "He's never been part of any organization with a framework where institutional rules are in place."
President Barack Obama, who's offered Trump advice both publicly and privately, said he's urged the president-elect to hold onto some of the traditions of the office.
"The one thing I've said to him directly, and I would advise my Republican friends in Congress and supporters around the country, is just make sure that as we go forward certain norms, certain institutional traditions don't get eroded, because there's a reason they're in place," said Obama, in a recent interview with CBS' "60 Minutes."
But Trump's supporters say it's the institutions and Washington - and not the next president - that must change.
"Trump believes that he has a better understanding of how things work in the modern world than all of these so-called critics," said Newt Gingrich, a Trump adviser and former Republican House speaker, who has spoken with the president-elect about his presidency. "That's who he is.
"The rest of us are going to have to learn how to think through that."