Only a few hours in office and US President Donald Trump is already looking at papers piling up on his desk.

The official White House petition page has its first entry on the same day President Trump was sworn in.

It is asking for the president to "immediately release" his full tax returns.

In explaining the petition, potsed by on January 20th, it says: "The unprecedented economic conflicts of this administration need to be visible to the American people, including any pertinent documentation which can reveal the foreign influences and financial interests which may put Donald Trump in conflict with the emoluments clause of the Constitution."

Image: petitions.whitehouse.gov

Mr Trump refused to publish his tax returns during the entire US presidential campaign.

Under petition rules if a campaign gathers 100,000 signature in 30 days, it will be reviewed and an official response will be issued.

Once the petition reaches the threshold, it will be put in a queue to be reviewed by the White House.

If and when the White House responds, everyone who has signed the petition will get an e-mail from the Trump administration to let them know.