When will Donald Trump officially become President of the United States?

Victory: Donald Trump has been declared 45th US president
Spencer Platt/Getty Images
Hatty Collier20 January 2017

Donald Trump has claimed the presidency of the United States of America in one of the most closely-fought election contests in history.

In a shock result, the mogul trounced Hillary Clinton to win the race for the White House.

But it will be 10 weeks before the Republican takes office as America’s 45th president.

What happens after the election result?

The millionaire businessman – now the president-elect – will be sworn in on Friday, January 20 2017, also known as Inauguration Day.

Celebration: Donald Trump celebrate his wins in key swing states
Evan Vucci/AP

The transition

Barack Obama will have the days in between to tick remaining items off his presidential to-do list.

Trump will begin the task of preparing to be president including naming his chief of staff, choosing a national security team and filling several other roles including secretaries of state, defence and treasure and the attorney general, which usually happens within days of the result.

Inauguration Day

Under the terms of the 20th Amendment, Obama’s second term will end at noon on Inauguration Day on January 20.

The first term of his successor begins upon the swearing-in ceremony at the US Capitol at that time where Trump will put his hand on the bible and take the oath of office.

Staff will be frantically moving out the Obama administration's belongings ready for the new First Family’s things to move in.

The vice-president is typically sworn in first followed by the new president at exactly noon.

Jubilant Donald Trump supporters

1/19

From that point on, the US government is officially in the hands of Trump.

After the ceremony, Trump and vice president Mike Pence will attend a lunch held by Congress, before a parade down Pennsylvania Avenue to the White House.

Trump will attend a series of inaugural balls before finally settling into his new role as President of the United States.

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