US President-elect Donald Trump laid a wreath Sunday in a symbolic trip to the most hallowed place for America's war dead, before holding a huge victory rally on the eve of his return to power.
Already involved in negotiations to restore the TikTok app at home and in peace efforts in the Middle East, Trump finds himself embroiled in world events before his second term has even started.
But the billionaire Republican, 78, is still taking time for pre-inauguration ceremonies including his trip to Arlington National Cemetery on the outskirts of Washington.
Wearing a black overcoat, red tie and black gloves, Trump stood in silence alongside incoming vice president JD Vance before the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
Trump then laid a wreath of white flowers with a red, white and blue ribbon, before saluting while a bugler played "Taps." His wife Melania and several family members were also present.
The somber ceremony contrasted with Trump's last trip to the cemetery as presidential candidate in August, when the US army criticized his staff for pushing a cemetery employee.
Trump has had a troubled relationship with the military, and while often touting his support for the armed forces he privately mocked the war dead while president, according to his former chief of staff.
The mood will change to one of festivity later Sunday when Trump hosts a star-studded "Make America Great Again Victory Rally" at a sports arena in Washington.
Golden Age
Large lines were already forming for the rally, which will include a performance by the Village People -- whose 1970s-era "Y.M.C.A." became the theme for a much-memed Trump dance during his campaign -- in addition to singers Kid Rock and Billy Ray Cyrus.
Trump's hopes for a huge crowd to see his inauguration at the US Capitol on Monday took a blow, however, when forecasts of freezing weather prompted organizers to move the ceremony indoors.
Instead of being sworn in on the steps of the Capitol, Trump will now take the oath under the massive dome of its Rotunda, last used for the ceremony 40 years ago during the inauguration of Ronald Reagan.
"You’re going to hear President Trump talk about how we are entering a Golden Age of America" in his inaugural speech, his incoming press secretary Karoline Leavitt told Fox News.
Once back in the Oval Office, Trump has vowed a series of swift actions starting with the deportation of millions of undocumented migrants.
The expulsions will "begin very, very quickly," Trump told NBC on Sunday -- though his border czar Tom Homan said the administration was rethinking plans for an initial showcase raid in Chicago after its plans leaked to the media.
Trump said he will immediately sign a record number of executive orders, undoing many of the policies advanced during President Joe Biden's outgoing administration.
Biden traveled to South Carolina on Sunday, his last full day as US president, to mark a national holiday honoring civil rights icon Martin Luther King Jr.
TikTok 'deal'
The Trump effect has already been on display, with TikTok crediting his "clarity" for being able to restore service in the United States after briefly going dark due to a ban on national security grounds.
Trump promised on Sunday to issue an executive order delaying the ban to allow time to "make a deal" to remove TikTok's US subsidiary from Chinese ownership.
The Trump administration has already forged deep links with the tech world, with X boss Elon Musk set to head a cost-cutting drive in the new government. Musk, Meta chief Mark Zuckerberg and Amazon boss Jeff Bezos will all be at his side for the inauguration.
In the Middle East, the first three Israeli hostages were released Sunday under a Gaza truce that Trump's team had been involved in along with Biden's administration.
Americans are meanwhile increasingly embracing some of Trump's policies, a New York Times poll showed Sunday, despite a divisive first term and the fact that he is the first convicted felon to be elected president.
Just over half of Americans want him to follow through on mass deportations, even if they oppose his threats to exact retribution on his political enemies, according to the Times poll.
Danny Kemp, with AFP
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