At noon Eastern Standard Time, Donald J. Trump was sworn in as the 45th president of the United States. Hundreds of thousands of people flocked into America’s capital city prior to today’s ceremony. Some to see the man they voted for to take the highest office in the land, others to voice their concerns, uncertainty, or animosity toward the man they feel doesn’t represent the beliefs and ideals they envision in a president of a 21st century America.

Donald Trump has spent the better part of his life to this point building a business empire that spans the globe, inciting both support and criticism. Those in the Trump camp claim that Trump’s experience as the head of a multi-billion-dollar business makes him uniquely suited for the office of president, where years of politicians have left the federal government full of wasteful spending and bureaucracy. Those who are critical of the new president fear that his often unsavory business practices are signs of a morally bankrupt man seeking to amass power, rather than seeking to work to benefit the American people.

This distinct separation in belief led to a muddy campaign full of accusations and scandals on both sides, punctuated by recent concerns about Trump’s involvement with the Russian hacking Democrats believe hindered Hillary Clinton’s chances at winning the presidential office. Substantiated evidence to support such claims, however, has yet to surface.

Donald Trump now faces a difficult road ahead: The businessman-turned-politician may now find himself in unfamiliar territory, as the role of president of the United States can often be more comparable to a service role than that of a company’s chief executive officer. As president, Mr. Trump is beholden to millions of Americans and the international community at large. He’s no longer the boss, we are.

The inauguration ceremony was not interrupted by the masses of protestors gathered in Washington D.C., though not for lack of trying. Reports of pepper spray being used to disperse protestors broke as Donald Trump took the stage, but despite that, chants of “Trump” could be heard booming in the background.

President Trump, the man once disregarded in the Republican primaries as merely a comedic distraction, is now officially the president of the United States.

Featured image courtesy of Slate