Bernd Debusmann Jr
Reporting from the White House

The acting head of the US immigration court system and three other top officials were removed from their posts soon after Donald Trump became president, according to US media reports.

Trump and his political allies have often criticised the immigration court system, which grants asylum to migrants found to have "credible" reasons to fear returning to their home country. Those who do not are deported.

An overloaded system, however, means that migrants often wait years to see an immigration judge, with many thousands paroled into US cities to wait for that date.

Trump has promised to make immigration and border security reforms a top priority of his istration, and earlier declared a "national emergency" on the southern US border.

Canada evades tariffs - at least for nowpublished at 02:05 Greenwich Mean Time 21 January

02:05 GMT 21 January

Jessica Murphy
BBC News, Toronto

After bracing for weeks for a trade war with the US, it looks like Canada has - at least for now - evaded the tariffs that President Donald Trump had threatened to impose on the country on day one.

The incoming president had pledged import duties of 25% on Canada, which is highly dependent on trade with the US, with roughly 75% of its exports heading south.

There were multiple reports that Trump was instead asking federal officials to evaluate US trade relationships for unfair practices, including those with Canada, Mexico and China.

"We are very cautious," Canada’s Foreign Minister Melanie Joly said.

"It's really, really important that we continue to roll up our sleeves and make sure that we defend Canadian interests."

Then Trump suggested on Monday a reprieve may be brief - tariffs on Canada and Mexico could come on 1 February.

Joly said officials will continue with efforts to lobby US counterparts on the benefits of trade between the two nations, which totalled an estimated $909bn (£739bn) in 2022.

Ottawa is preparing significant counter-tariffs in response to the threat.

Image source, Reuters

Nancy Pelosi, who at the time of the 6 January Capitol riot was the Democratic House speaker, has reacted to President Donald Trump's pardon for those involved.

Posting on social media, Pelosi says the move is an "outrageous insult to our justice system and the heroes who suffered physical scars and emotional trauma as they protected the Capitol, the Congress and the Constitution".

She says it is "shameful" that Trump has made the "abandonment and betrayal of police officers who put their lives on the line" one of his top priorities.

Mike Wendling
US digital reporter

As recently as just a few days ago there was some question as to whether President Donald Trump would release all of the Capitol rioters.

His Vice-President JD Vance suggested some of the most violent people in the crowd on 6 January 2021 might not get clemency.

But he’s now gone for the maximalist option, freeing even those who violently assaulted police officers, smashed windows or tore through Congressional offices.

There are pardons for all of the nearly 1,600 rioters who’ve been convicted or arrested so far. The only exceptions are 14 of the ringleaders - of the far-right Proud Boys and Oath Keepers who received the longest sentences. They will get commutations, meaning their records won’t be expunged, but they will still go free.

Many are expected to be released within hours. There’s already a party being planned in Miami for the Proud Boys leader, Enrique Tarrio.

It’s a move that appeals to his base - though most of his opponents will find the release of violent rioters abhorrent.

Image source, Reuters

There are several inaugural balls happening this evening, and some of them are now under way.

Trump's schedule said he would arrive at the Commander in Chief Ball at 19:30 local time (00:30 GMT), but he's only just finished g executive actions in the Oval Office.

He's also meant to head to the Liberty Ball, followed by the Starlight Ball.

Trump is scheduled to end his night about 22:00.

Trump has now finished his combination executive action g-cum-press conference from the Oval Office.

That was an extraordinary flurry of developments so stick with us as we unpack what this all means for the 47th presidency.

Trump is continuing to take question from reporters.

He is asked about his promise to end the war in Ukraine, which he promised to do on day one of his presidency.

"Well, this is one half a day," Trump says, "I have another half a day left. We'll see."

Trump tells reporters in the room he thinks Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky wants to make a deal to end the conflict.

“Most people thought that war would have been over in one week,” Trump says of the nearly three-year war. “I think he’d be very well off to end that war.”

"Our country has an amazing economic future," Trump says as he sits in the Oval Office.

Reporters are asking Trump about universal tariffs. He responds by saying other nations are taking from the US.

"They're coming in and they're stealing of wealth", Trump says.

Trump is continuing to sign executive actions, the latest is described as protecting women from "radical gender ideologies", which he signs.

Trump next signs an executive action beginning the process of withdrawing the US from the World Health Organization (WHO).

"Oooh, that's a big one," Trump says as he signs it.

Trump says the US has paid an unfair amount compared to other countries.

"They wanted us back so badly so we'll see what happens," he says referring to the WHO, perhaps hinting the US could return to the organisation eventually.

Donald Trump says he was surprised that Joe Biden pardoned of his own family, saying it sets an "unbelievable precedent".

"Now maybe every president that leaves office, they're going to pardon every person they ever met," he says.

Asked if he would do the same thing, Trump says, "I guess now I have precedent to do it", but says he wouldn't want to.

"I think it makes you look very guilty", Trump says, adding it makes Biden look "bad" and "weak".

Trump did not mention that he previously pardoned the father of his daughter, Ivanka's husband: Charles Kushner.

Image source, Reuters

Donald Trump is still g executive actions in the Oval Office.

Just before he signs one related to TikTok, a reporter in the room asks the president why he has previously warned about the dangers of TikTok and why he has changed his mind - referring to his promise to delay implementation of a law that bans the app in the US.

Trump says it "depends on the deal", saying he may or may not do a deal to save TikTok.

The app is "worthless" if he "doesn't do the deal", Trump says, adding if he does a deal it could be worth a trillion dollars and that the US "should get half" through a t venture.

"The US essentially would be paid for doing that - half of the value of TikTok", Trump says.

Trump then signs the TikTok action, but no precise detail of its contents are provided.

Asked what the action does, Trump says it gives him the right to "sell it or close it".

A lawyer for one of the Proud Boys' leaders has told CBS News, the BBC's US partner, that he is expected to be released tonight.

Enrique Tarrio, one of the Proud Boys' leaders who led the rioters on the Capitol in 2021, has been serving a 22-year sentence for charges of sedition. This was the longest sentence handed down in connection with the 6 January Capitol attack.

Tarrio's mother expressed her joy for her son's release, writing on X, "lord thank you".

President Trump has commuted the sentences of the Oath Keepers and Proud Boys convicted of seditious conspiracy in relation to the 6 January Capitol riot.

Trump has signed an order creating the Department of Government Efficiency (Doge).

A reporter asks Trump if Tesla CEO and his close ally, Elon Musk, will have an office in the White House

Trump says Musk will get an office for some 20 employees for this new government agency.

Regan Morris
Reporting from Washington DC

Image source, BBC / Regan Morris

Derrick Storms, chief legal counsel for defendants in Capitol riot cases, says he expects "J6 hostages" to be released from the DC jail before midnight.

Just a few moments ago, President Donald Trump said he was pardoning about 1,500 ers of the Capitol riot.

In the Oval Office, Trump is asked about his threats to take control of the autonomous Danish territory of Greenland.

He says the people of Greenland are not happy with Denmark but they're happy with America.

Trump references his eldest son, Don Jr's recent visit to the territory.

The president says this relationship is necessary for international security.

In between g executive actions, Trump is taking some questions from reporters.

One of the questions asked is when he plans to bring in his proposed 10% to 60% tariffs on goods from China.

Trump doesn't say exactly when but notes he had a "very good" phone call with China's President Xi Jinping.

Image source, Reuters

Trump has pardoned roughly 1,500 ers arrested for the 6 January riot at the US Capitol in 2021.