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French media this evening has reflected what many in the world seem to be thinking - the Trump presidency will be a step into the unknown.

Respected daily Liberation said Trump's speech "remains entirely in line with his campaign statements".

"Calmer than usual, in a composed voice, this time Trump put on a presidential posture," it said.

Meanwhile, Le Parisien called Trump's speech "anti-elite, anti-decline and combative".

"In a combative political speech, which lasted about 15 minutes, right after taking the oath on the Bible, the 45th president of the United States promised to 'strengthen the old alliances and forge new ones,'" the paper stated.

Business daily Les Echos simply put it that "America has just entered a new era".

Elsewhere, former President Nicolas Sarkozy has broken his social media silence to wish Barack Obama all the best.

It was Sarkozy's first tweet since he was defeated by ex-PM Francois Fillon in the first round of France's Republican presidential primary in November.