Donald John Trump was sworn in Friday as the 45th president of the US, after which he delivered a dark but ambitious speech promising to throw out entrenched Washington elites, end “American carnage” in cities and restore jobs lost to shuttered factories.

“Today, we are not merely transferring power from one administration to another, or from one party to another, but we are transferring power from Washington, D.C., and giving it back to you, the people,” Trump said.

He spoke on a day that featured less ceremony than usual, and crowds that seemed to be smaller than the ones that attended President Barack Obama’s inaugurations in 2009 and 2013, reported The Washington Post.

Trump’s parade rolled down Pennsylvania Avenue, passing crowds that often stood just two people deep.

Elsewhere in downtown Washington, columns of peaceful protesters marched with anti-Trump signs, and small groups of black-clad anarchists clashed with police and set fire to trash cans and a limousine.

In his speech, Trump seemed to promise not just the obvious transition from Obama’s Democratic administration to full Republican control of Washington - but to a new style of politics, in which Trump will seek to be a new kind of independent power center.

Trump, 70, was administered the oath by Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr., using two Bibles-one from President Lincoln’s inauguration, and another that Trump’s mother gave him in 1955. His wife Melania Trump stood at his side.

Then, as rain began to fall, Trump gave an inaugural address that - while short in duration-made a major break with presidential precedent. Most presidents use this moment to acknowledge the opponent they defeated, to praise America’s promise and to call upon both parties to work together.

Trump, by contrast, used his speech to make a wide-ranging condemnation of America’s current state-talking about “American carnage” caused by urban crime, and saying that “wealth, strength and confidence has dissipated” because of jobs lost overseas.

Trump charged that both major political parties have lost their way, serving the needs of an elite rather than the needs of the public.

In grandiose language, Trump sought to cast this day as a kind of restart for American politics, with everything before - Republican and Democrat- cast aside.

“The United States of America is your country,” he said.

With now former president Obama and three previous presidents watching from behind him, Trump seemed to condemn them as unfaithful to the popular will, saying that his inauguration signaled that “the people” would rule the country again.

“For too long, a small group in our nation’s capital has reaped the rewards of government while the people have borne the cost,” Trump said. “Politicians prospered, but the jobs left and the factories closed.”

“We assembled here today are issuing a new decree . . . From this day forward, a new vision will govern our land. From this day forward, it’s going to be only America first. America first!” Trump said.

This two-word slogan, used heavily in Trump’s campaign, became infamous in US history as the slogan of isolationist forces opposed to American entry in World War II. Trump has used it as an economic message.

“Every decision on trade, on taxes, on immigration, on foreign affairs, will be made to benefit American workers and American factories,” Trump said.

Trump’s speech clocked in at less than 17 minutes, making it unusually short among recent inaugural addresses. It concluded with the signature promise of his stunningly successful presidential campaign, to “make America great again.”

"We will seek friendship and goodwill with the nations of the world, but we do so with the understanding that it is the right of all nations to put their own interests first," Trump told the crowd as a light rain fell.

"We must protect our borders from the ravages of other countries making our products, stealing our companies and destroying our jobs," Trump was quoted as saying by CNN.

"Protection will lead to great prosperity and strength," he added.

During the morning’s events, there were large crowds of protesters opposing Trump with signs and slogans-and some groups of black-clad anarchists who roamed District streets smashing windows of businesses and cars.

Outside The Washington Post’s headquarters on K Street NW, a group of a few dozen anarchists hurled bricks and rocks at police, who responded with loud “flash-bang” grenades and streams of pepper spray.

D.C. Interim Police Chief Peter Newsham said officers have arrested more than 90 people in connection with protests that turned violent on Friday and caused “significant damage to a number of blocks in our city.”

He said a “a very small percentage” of the thousands who came to demonstrate against the inauguration resorted to violence.

“It’s disappointing that it had to happen. I’m extremely pleased how the [police] responded to this and took the folks responsible for this into custody.” Elsewhere in the city, news reports showed columns of peaceful protesters marching.

After the speech, before a traditional lunch at the Capitol, Trump signed three measures. One was a bill providing a waiver for James Mattis - a retired Marine general-to become secretary of defense, despite a law that prohibits that position going to recently retired military personnel. Trump also signed formal nominations, sending his Cabinet picks to the Senate.

At that ceremony, Trump appeared a slightly different politician than the flame-throwing populist he had been on the inaugural stage. He was in the middle of Washington’s elite, and enjoying their company.

Trump joked with Congress’s two top Democrats, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (Calif.) and Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer (N.Y.) about the prospects that his choices would be confirmed.

Trump also signed a proclamation declaring a national day of patriotism, new White House spokesman Sean Spicer said in a tweet.

In recent years, other presidents have declared Sept. 11 of each year “Patriot Day,” in commemoration of the 2001 terrorist attacks. It was not immediately clear whether Trump’s proclamation was a repeat of that tradition, or a new tradition on a different day.

As he entered the lunch, Trump appeared to shake the hand of his Democratic opponent, former secretary of state Hillary Clinton, whom he made no mention of in his inaugural address.

“How are you? Thank you for coming. Thank you,” Trump said.

Later, at the same luncheon, Trump asked both Hillary Clinton and her husband, former president Bill Clinton, to stand and be applauded.

As the lunch ended, the Clintons headed toward the exit, walking alongside the statues.

Hillary Clinton, when asked by The Post what she thought of the speech, paused, smiled and lightly tapped a reporter’s arm.

“Hi, how are you?” she said. And then she disappeared around the entrance, out and away as Trump continued to greet lawmakers.

Trump’s swearing-in now gives Republicans control of both the White House and Congress for the first time since 2006.