Aides signal his address will be noticeably more upbeat compared to grim ‘American carnage’ speech in 2017

Donald Trump’s aides have signaled that Monday’s inauguration speech will strike a noticeably more upbeat tone than his equivalent address eight years ago, when he talked darkly about “American carnage” and depicted the US as a country riddled by violent crime, drugs and economic degradation.

News website Axios cited Trump associates as saying “light” and “unity” would be the guiding themes – exemplified by a “one America, one light” prayer service for donors.