WASHINGTON (AP) — Donald Trump, who overcame impeachments, criminal indictments and a pair of assassination attempts to win another term in the White House, will be sworn in Monday as the 47th U.S. president taking charge as Republicans claim unified control of Washington and set out to reshape the country’s institutions.
Trump’s swearing-in ceremony, moved indoors due to intense cold, and began at noon ET. Festivities started earlier when the incoming president arrived for service at St. John’s Episcopal Church.
- Trump inauguration: What to expect; see the schedule of events
- Trump inauguration: What words will Trump, Vance repeat during the swearing-in
- Trump to issue executive orders aimed at remaking America’s immigration policies on Day 1
Here’s the latest:
Milley’s portrait in the Pentagon removed
Former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Gen. Mark Milley’s portrait and nameplate has been taken down in the Pentagon.
The portrait, which is a traditional way of honoring all former chairmen, was until at least 12:46 p.m. Monday still hung in the hallway by former Chairman Joseph Dunford’s portrait. Milley’s portrait was just unveiled Jan. 12 at a ceremony. Earlier today former President Joe Biden pardoned Milley preemptively from any potential prosecution by Trump.
Trump is participating in a formal signing ceremony at the Capitol
Flanked by members of Congress from both parties, Trump sat in a high-backed red chair at an ornate desk and began affixing his signature to documents. One act was related to Cabinet duties while another directed that U.S. flags be flown at full staff on Inauguration Day.
Trump had bristled at the idea of flags flying at half-staff, as directed by Biden, for 30 days to honor the death of former President Jimmy Carter.
Carter died late last month.
‘She almost blew away,’ Trump jokes
Trump is joking about his wife’s large hat, saying that she nearly blew away earlier when the two stepped outside to see Biden off.
“She almost blew away,” Trump said with a laugh, joking that, “She was being elevated off the ground.”
First lady Melania Trump visibly struggled to keep the hat on her head amid wind gusts and the force of the military helicopter that carried Biden from the Capitol.
Biden leaves Washington aboard Special Air Mission 46
The military airplane taking Biden and his family to a respite in California started taxiing just before 2 p.m. for takeoff from Joint Base Andrews in Maryland.
Before getting on the plane, Biden spoke at a farewell event on the base with now-former staff members, telling them, “We’re leaving office but we’re not leaving the fight.”
Trump reverts to a rally-style weave
It’s a remarkable moment for the new president — moments after being sworn into office, rambling into a long speech of familiar promises, grievances and insults.
Trump is holding court at the Capitol’s Emancipation Hall, his vice president and the House speaker looking on, as he talks unscripted for what was expected to be a quick stop to supporters.
Instead, he is speaking on a range of topics, a weave he has called it.
He’s also going longer in his post-inaugural remarks than he did in his inaugural address, which ran for half an hour.
The new president read from a teleprompter and was relatively staid in the Capitol Rotunda during his formal address. That speech was short by traditional inaugural address standards.
But then he headed to another part of the Capitol and started talking in a more relaxed and jovial way.
He didn’t stop for 32 minutes, joking at one point, “I think it’s a better speech than the one I gave upstairs.”
Trump unleashed
After delivering a relatively staid inaugural address reading from a teleprompter, Trump is now unleashing during a freewheeling, off-the-cuff second speech at the Capitol Visitor Center.
Trump is angrily railing against his enemies, promising action on what he calls the “J6 hostages,” calling former U.S. Rep. Liz Cheney “a crying lunatic,” and bashing what he calls the “unselect committee of political thugs” that investigated the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the Capitol.
He’s also criticizing the pardons Joe Biden issued right before Trump was sworn in and in recent weeks.
Trump is speaking from Emancipation Hall at the Capitol Visitors Center
It’s where rows of National Guard troops took their rest on the hard floors in the aftermath of the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol.
Trump is reviving false claims about the House’s Jan. 6 committee that investigated the attack and complaining about Biden’s last-minute pardons for the committee members and staff.
Trump says he decided not to mention the people who have been jailed for their roles in the violent insurrection on Jan. 6, 2021, during his inaugural speech but is talking about them now during freewheeling remarks at the visitor center.
“I was going to talk about the J6 hostages,” said Trump, who has vowed to pardon those involved in the violence, whom he refers to as “hostages.”
He says that action, not words, are what matter, adding: “You’re going to see a lot of action.”
An acting defense secretary has been appointed
President Donald Trump has named an acting defense secretary because his choice to lead the Pentagon, Pete Hegseth, has not yet been confirmed by the Senate.
Robert G. Salesses, deputy director of the Pentagon’s Washington Headquarters Service, will fill in, two defense officials said on the condition of anonymity to discuss an announcement that was not yet public.
The service includes all of the capitol region support services, including facilities management and the office of general counsel and others that support the military branches and Pentagon leadership. Salesses served as a Marine in the Gulf War, earning a Bronze Star.
The appointment was first reported by NBC.
The Bidens make one last wheels up
Joe Biden is boarding a helicopter that will carry him into his post-presidency life — but the aircraft carrying him is no longer known as Marine One.
Since Biden is now a former president, he and his wife Jill boarded a chopper technically known as “Nighthawk 46″ despite still having the presidential seal.
The Bidens were flying to a farewell ceremony at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland, then flying to California.
The California flight will be Special Air Mission 46.
Trump, who hadn’t yet taken office then, flew on Saturday from Florida to Washington aboard a plane with presidential markings that was known as Special Air Mission 47
Trump ends CBP One
The Trump administration Monday ended use of a border app called CBP One that has allowed nearly 1 million people to legally enter the United States with eligibility to work.
A notice on the website of Customs and Border Protection on Monday just after Trump was sworn in let users know that the app that had been used to allow migrants to schedule appointments at eight southwest border ports of entry is no longer available. The notice said that existing appointments have been canceled.
The move adheres to a promise Trump made during his campaign and will please critics who say it was an overly generous magnet for more people to come to Mexico’s border with the United States.
The CBP One app had been wildly popular.
It is an online lottery system to give appointments to 1,450 people a day at eight border crossings. They enter on immigration “parole,” a presidential authority that Joe Biden used more than any other president since it was introduced in 1952.
No longer president, Biden leaves Capitol
He and his wife, Jill, boarded a military helicopter on the grounds of the Capitol after Trump was sworn into office.
Biden is going to Joint Base Andrews for a farewell ceremony with now-former members of his staff.
He’ll then fly aboard a military airplane to Santa Ynez, California, to unwind with his family.
Leaders of Israel, Egypt congratulate Trump on his inauguration
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi were among those wishing Trump well in his new term in the White House.
Netanyahu predicted “the best days of our alliance are yet to come,” even as he hailed actions Trump took in his first term, including moving the American embassy to Jerusalem.
El-Sissi said he’d work with Trump to enhance their countries’ relationship.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, whose Labor government has been under attack by Elon Musk and other Trump allies, also sent his “warmest congratulations.”
Trump and Vance have departed
President Trump, VP Vance, and the first and Second Lady have departed.
Former President Joe Biden and former Vice President Kamala Harris have also left.
The Trump family is waiting for the remaining former presidents to leave the platform before they are escorted out
Trump has left the Capitol Rotunda
He is next expected to appear at a signing room ceremony.
Macchio returns for “The Star-Spangled Banner”
Trump selected opera tenor Christopher Macchio to perform the national anthem during the inauguration. He’s a smaller name than some of the performers who’ve offered their renditions of “The Star-Spangled Banner” in the past.
In 2021, Lady Gaga sang the national anthem for President Joe Biden. In 2013, Beyoncé performed the national anthem and later said she had lip-synced to a taped track for President Barack Obama.
Trump again will withdraw the US from Paris Climate Agreement
Trump says he will again withdraw the United States, a top carbon-polluting nation, from the landmark Paris Climate Agreement, dealing a blow to worldwide efforts to combat global warming and once again distancing the U.S. from its closest allies.
The announcement echoed Trump’s actions in 2017 when he announced that the U.S. would abandon the Paris accord, which is aimed at limiting long-term global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit) above pre-industrial levels.
The 2015 Paris Agreement is voluntary and allows nations to provide targets to cut their own emissions of greenhouse gases from the burning of coal, oil and natural gas.
Trump repeated his desire to take back the Panama Canal
Trump did not express intentions to take back the Panama Canal during his campaign but began talking about wanting this vital waterway last month. During his inaugural address, Trump said the spirit of a treaty signed in 1977 by President Jimmy Carter that relinquished control of the canal in 1999 had been violated.
He said the waterway should have never been given away and said that “American ships are being severely overcharged and not treated fairly,” and repeated that “China is operating the Panama Canal.” Earlier this month, he said he would not rule out military force to take control of it.
Trump ends CBP One, a Biden-era border app that gave legal entry to nearly 1 million migrants with online appointments
Religious leaders offer benedictions
Rabbi Ari Berman delivered the first of several benedictions after Trump delivered his inaugural address. Berman is president of Yeshiva University, a Jewish institution in Manhattan. He is the second Orthodox rabbi to deliver the benediction at a presidential inauguration.
At least one prayer has been recited by clergy members at presidential inaugurals since 1937 during President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s second inauguration.
Rev. Lorenzo Sewell, pastor of 180 Church Detroit, followed during the second of the benediction, saying, “Heavenly father we are so grateful that you gave our 45th and now our 47th president a millimeter miracle.”
Advocacy groups greet Trump’s swearing-in with a lawsuit over DOGE
A coalition of veterans, public health professionals, teachers, consumer advocates and watchdog groups has filed a legal challenge in federal court against Trump’s special commission on promoting government efficiency.
The lawsuit was filed just after Trump’s swearing-in. It seeks an injunction against the Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, under the Federal Advisory Committee Act.
The suit charges that Trump is operating the group without complying with federal transparency laws, and argues that the activities of private commissions must be made public.
Trump mentioned DOGE, which is being headed by billionaire Tesla CEO Elon Musk, in his inauguration speech.
Today’s speech was a sharp departure from ‘American carnage’
Trump’s second inaugural speech marked a major departure from his tone the first time he took the Oath of Office.
Back in 2017, Trump delivered an inaugural address that put aside the typical optimism and promises of unity with a dark portrait of national life as he spoke of “American Carnage.”
“From this day forward, a new vision will govern our land. From this moment on, it’s going to be America first,” he had declared then.
Trump concludes his speech
Trump finished speaking after about 30 minutes.
It was a very short speech by Trump’s standards.
His 2024 campaign rally speeches often went on for more than an hour.
Photos of the swearing-in show Trump with his hand at his side, not atop the Bible. Does it matter?
It’s traditional to use a Bible during the presidential oath of office, but it is not required. Only the oath is mandated by the Constitution.
Theodore Roosevelt didn’t use a Bible when he was sworn in following the assassination of William McKinley in 1901. John Quincy Adams used a law text for his 1825 inauguration.
And, sworn in aboard Air Force One after John Kennedy’s assassination in 1963, Lyndon B. Johnson used a Catholic missal.
Who wants to go to Mars?
Trump’s enthusiasm for sending astronauts to Mars was shared by some — but not all — Americans in a 2019 AP-NORC poll.
About 3 in 10 US adults said that sending astronauts to Mars was “very” or “extremely” important, about one-third said it was “moderately” important, and about 4 in 10 said it was “not too” or “not at all” important.
Trump appears to be concluding on a positive note
“Many people thought it was impossible for me to stage such a historic political comeback, but as you see here today, here I am,” he said.
“I stand before you now as proof that you should never believe that something is impossible to do in America,” he went on, adding: “In America, the impossible is what we do best.
Inauguration performer Carrie Underwood doesn’t usually get involved with politics
Country music star Carrie Underwood is performing “America the Beautiful” at today’s inauguration.
“I love our country and am honored to have been asked to sing at the Inauguration and to be a small part of this historic event,” Underwood said in a statement shortly after the news broke. “I am humbled to answer the call at a time when we must all come together in the spirit of unity and looking to the future.”
But Underwood has avoided discussing politics across her career, in 2019 telling The Guardian, “I feel like more people try to pin me places politically. I try to stay far out of politics if possible, at least in public, because nobody wins. It’s crazy. Everybody tries to sum everything up and put a bow on it, like it’s black and white. And it’s not like that.”
Trump wants to plant an American flag on Mars
Trump says he wants to send American astronauts to Mars, saying he “will pursue our manifest destiny into the stars” and “plant the stars and stripes on the planet Mars.”
Billionaire Elon Musk of SpaceX threw his hands up in the air as Trump announced the U.S. would plant its flag on Mars.
Trump’s plans for reshaping American asylum
Trump said “all illegal entry will immediately be halted,” with few details on how he will achieve that. He said he would end the practice of releasing migrants in the United States to pursue asylum, known as “catch-and-release,” but didn’t say how he would pay for the enormous costs of detention.
Part of his plan relies on resuming the “Remain in Mexico” policy to make asylum-seekers wait in Mexico for hearings in U.S. immigration court, a hallmark of his first term. The Mexican government has agreed, signaling perhaps one of the most concrete and immediate changes that will be seen at the border.
Trump said little about his plans for mass deportation, saying only that he would deport “millions and millions of criminal aliens.”
There is more than 1 split-screen in Washington on Monday
The Rev. Al Sharpton and other Black leaders led a standing-room-only congregation in a passionate and political Martin Luther King Jr. Day as Trump was being sworn in.
The timing was no accident.
“We want people to see the tale of two cities in one,” Sharpton cried, as Trump was being inaugurated at the Capitol.
Sharpton introduced Korey Wise — one of the falsely accused Central Park Five Black defendants whose execution Trump had lobbied for — to cheers from the crowd, and rattled off a series of actions he said Trump had taken against Black Americans and civil rights.
“We will fight the next four years no matter what he says,” Sharpton said.
“Everything that Dr. King stood for is at risk with this president, this Congress,” Sharpton said.
Not-so-record inflation
Trump vowed to “defeat what was record inflation.”
Inflation peaked at 9.1% in June 2022 after rising steadily in the first 17 months of Biden’s presidency from a low of 0.1% in May 2020. The most recent data shows that as of December it had fallen to 2.9%.
But other historical periods have seen higher inflation, such as a more than 14% rate in 1980, according to the Federal Reserve.
Trump’s promised Day 1 executive orders
Here are a few of the executive orders Trump says he plans to issue on his first day:
1. Several on immigration, including declaring a national emergency at southern border, reinstating the “remain in Mexico” policy and sending troops to the southern border.
2. Seeking a broad government effort to reduce inflation and reduce prices.
3. Declaring a “national energy emergency” and allowing for more energy production.
4. Ending what he has called an “electric vehicle mandate.”
Trump repeats unfounded immigration claim at the crux of his campaign
In his inaugural address, Trump repeated a line he usually brought up during his campaign, saying that immigrants arriving in the country illegally come from prisons and mental institutions.
There is no evidence countries are sending their criminals or mentally ill across the border.
Trump’s inauguration address echoes his rally speeches
The speech Trump is delivering sounds a lot like his rally speeches, with plenty of grievance, including references to those who tried to “take my freedom” and the “weaponization of our Justice Department.”
Trump, after leaving office, became the first former president to be indicted, convicted and sentenced. But he has long tried to cast his many investigations as politically motivated.
Some Democrats join standing ovation over border emergency
Trump is laying out his executive orders, starting with declaring a state of emergency on the southern border, which received a standing ovation from all Republicans and a few swing state Democrats, including Reps. Don Davis and Marie Gluesenkamp Perez.
Trump wants to make Martin Luther King Jr.’s dream ‘a reality’
Trump marked the fact that his inauguration is occurring on Martin Luther King Jr. Day., saying in his speech that his administration will “strive together to make his dream a reality.”
“We will make his dream come true,” Trump vowed of the Rev. King.
‘America’s decline is over’
Trump referred to the assassination attempt against him, saying he was “saved by God to make America great again,” drawing a standing ovation from Republicans in the room while Democrats, including Biden and Harris, remained seated and still.
Trump says the election has given him “a mandate to completely and totally reverse a horrible betrayal” he says has taken place, “and to give the people back their faith, their wealth, their democracy and indeed their freedom. From this moment on, America’s decline is over.”
Trump lays into the federal government
Speaking just feet from former Biden, Trump is delivering a forceful critique of the federal government, which he says “cannot manage even a simple crisis at home.”
He cites the wildfires in California and flooding in North Carolina, crises about which he has repeatedly spread incorrect claims. He also points to “a continuing catalogue of catastrophic events abroad” and illegal immigration.
Trump: The ‘golden age of America begins right now’
Trump in his first remarks as the 47th president declared that the “golden age of America begins right now.”
“From this day forward, our country will flourish and be respected again all over the world,” he said.
Cheers erupt in Rotunda as Trump is sworn in
Trump’s family surrounds him after his swearing-in.
He kisses his wife, Melania, on the cheek — this time making it past the brim of her hat.
JD Vance has been sworn in by Justice Brett Kavanaugh
Vance’s wife, Usha, and their three young children were at his side.
Donald Trump takes oath of office as nation’s 47th president promising ‘revolution of common sense’
Inauguration Day on MLK Day
This is the third time a president has been sworn in on the federal holiday honoring the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.
Presidents Bill Clinton and Barack Obama also were sworn in for their second terms on the holiday.
The holiday honoring the civil rights leader was established nearly 40 years ago. It is observed on the third Monday of January every year.
The Constitution places Inauguration Day on Jan. 20.
Klobuchar said the coincidence is “a further reminder we must strive to uphold the values in our Constitution.”
Speeches highlighting the “endurance” of American democracy
The bipartisan leaders of the 60th Inaugural Committee kicked off the ceremony by highlighting the importance of American democracy as the country is close to celebrating 250 years.
“Our great American experiment, grounded in the rule of law, has endured. So as we inaugurate a new president and vice president, let us remember that the power of those in this room comes from the people,” Sen. Amy Klobuchar, the committee chair, said in her speech.
Her Republican counterpart, Sen. Deb Fischer, echoed that sentiment.
“Our democracy promises the American people the power to change, to chart their own destiny,” Fischer said. “That’s the beauty that is the importance of democracy. It allows endurance, the permanence of a nation and never change.”
Lincoln Bible redux
President-elect Donald Trump plans to use his own Bible, which was given to him by his mother, and the Lincoln Bible for his swearing-in ceremony.
The Lincoln Bible was provided during Lincoln’s 1861 inauguration by William Thomas Carroll, clerk of the Supreme Court. That’s because Lincoln’s family Bible was still packed and on its way to Washington from Springfield, Illinois, along with the Lincoln family’s other belongings.
In 2017, Trump stacked a family Bible atop Lincoln’s while taking the oath. He’s set to do the same with his own Bible and Lincoln’s this time.
That recalls Barack Obama, who also used the Lincoln Bible during his first swearing-in in 2009. During his second in 2014, he paired it with a Bible that had belonged to the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.
White House staff turning over the mansion for Trump during inauguration
The staff of the White House residence starts the work of moving out one president and preparing the mansion for a new president as soon as the outgoing and incoming presidents leave for the inauguration at the Capitol.
They have about five hours to do it.
The White House chief usher is the staff person who oversees the process and will have worked with Melania Trump to coordinate the move. One former White House usher describes the process as “organized chaos.”
No Bible required
While reciting the presidential oath of office is mandated by the Constitution, using a Bible isn’t.
Theodore Roosevelt didn’t use one when he was sworn in following the assassination of William McKinley in 1901. John Quincy Adams used a law text for his 1825 inauguration.
And, sworn in aboard Air Force One after John Kennedy’s assassination in 1963, Lyndon B. Johnson used a Catholic missal.
Also, who holds the Bible during the inaugural ceremony isn’t spelled out. Lady Bird Johnson set a tradition that has continued until today when she became the first incoming-first lady to hold the Bible for her husband Lyndon’s second inauguration in January 1965.
Prior to that, the Bibles were often held by an unknown official — people not easily identified in historical photographs.
Biden’s other family pardon proved unpopular
Only about 2 in 10 Americans approved of Biden’s previous decision to pardon his son, Hunter Biden, according to an AP-NORC poll from December — suggesting that his last-minute move to issue pardons to his family members may not be received well.
That poll found that about 4 in 10 Democrats approved of the pardon, while about 3 in 10 disapproved and about one-quarter did not have an opinion or did not know enough to say. The vast majority of Republicans and about half of independents had a negative opinion.
Trump’s purple tie appears to include a checkered pattern of red and blue
It could be a potential nod to unity and a departure from the fire engine red tie he wore when he was first sworn in back in 2017.
Trump attempts to his wife’s cheek
The president-elect leaned in to kiss her but appeared to be blocked by the brim of her hat.
He greeted President Joe Biden after entering the Capitol Rotunda to roaring applause and cheers.
Why does Amy Klobuchar speak first?
Klobuchar spoke at the start of the swearing-in, calling the audience to order before the ceremony began.
The Minnesota Democrat has a prominent role because she chairs the joint committee overseeing preparations for the inauguration.
The decision to move the inauguration inside creates a split screen
Senior government officials, tech moguls and donors are gathered inside the Capitol building, attending the swearing-in ceremony in person.
Meanwhile, thousands of Trump’s supporters, many wearing MAGA gear, are gathered at Capital One Arena to watch on screen.
Proud Boys seen marching on Washington streets
A group of Proud Boys carrying pro-Trump signs and anti-antifa marched on the streets in Washington as Trump prepared for the swearing-in ceremony at the Capitol Rotunda.
The extremist group was known for street fights with anti-fascist activists when Trump infamously told them to “stand back and stand by” during his first debate in 2020 with Biden.
Dozens of Proud Boys leaders, members and associates have been convicted and sentenced to prison in the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol. It’s unclear whether any might receive pardons promised by Trump.
Vice President-elect JD Vance enters the Rotunda to roaring applause
Trump will order the renaming of the Gulf of Mexico and more
A spokeswoman for the transition team says Donald Trump will order the renaming of the Gulf of Mexico and Alaska’s Mount Denali in his first executive orders.
Spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt said on the social platform X that the Gulf of Mexico will be renamed the Gulf of America and Denali — the highest mountain in North America — will revert to Mount McKinley, its former name until the Obama administration changed it in 2015.
Earlier this month, Trump floated the idea of renaming the body of water that forms the coastline along five southeastern states, saying he felt “Gulf of America” has a “beautiful ring to it.”
As president, Trump can take the action to rename the body of water, although other countries don’t have to adopt the new name.
Opera singer Christopher Macchio prepares to perform ‘The Star-Spangled Banner’
“It is with deep humility and gratitude that I have accepted President Donald J. Trump’s gracious invitation to perform our National Anthem at the Inauguration of our 47th President,” American tenor Christopher Macchio said in a statement provided to The Associated Press. “In opening and closing this magnificent ceremony with music that celebrates our nation, I hope to contribute to restoring the spirit of unity, strength, and love of country, that will help Make America Great Again.”
Macchio performed at the Republican National Convention in July, at Trump’s return rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, in October after the president-elect’s first rally there was marred by an assassination attempt, and during his Madison Square Garden rally.
Jill Biden and Doug Emhoff exchange a hug and a smile
The two awaited the arrival of their spouses on the inauguration platform.
Audience welcomes former presidents
The former presidents in attendance — Obama, Bush and Clinton — drew applause from the audience.
Two former first ladies were there, too, but Michelle Obama skipped the inauguration.
She wasn’t with the former U.S. leaders and their spouses at former President Jimmy Carter’s state funeral earlier this month either.
No explanation has been given for her absences.
The former first and second ladies that aren’t attending
While former Vice President Mike Pence is in attendance at Trump’s inauguration, his wife, former second lady Karen, is not.
Karen Pence snubbed the Trumps earlier this month at former President Jimmy Carter’s funeral, where she ignored Melania Trump’s efforts to shake her hand.
Michelle Obama also chose not to attend.
Former vice presidents have arrived
Dan Quayle and Mike Pence arrived on the platform with a standing ovation from members of both the House and Senate.
CEOs have better seats than Trump’s Cabinet members
The CEOs of Meta, X, and Amazon sat in front of the president-elect’s entire Cabinet — a nod to the importance Trump has given the heads of some of the most powerful companies and social media platforms over his agency heads.
Some of the nation’s most powerful tech titans are at the Capitol
Vocal Trump ally Elon Musk, the owner of Telsa and the social platform X, was seen along with Google’s Sundar Pichai and Amazon owner Jeff Bezos.
Facebook owner Mark Zuckerberg and Apple CEO Tim Cook were also in the audience.
The capacity shrunk significantly when the ceremony was moved indoors due to cold temperatures.
Musk has also been tapped by Trump to help lead an outside government group called the Department of Government Efficiency to slash bureaucracy.
All 9 Supreme Court justices are at the Capitol
The entire court entered, led by Roberts. Retired Justice Stephen Breyer also is there.
Italian, Argentine leaders are in the Rotunda
Argentine President Javier Milei and Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni are in the Rotunda. Trump broke with precedent by inviting foreign leaders to attend his inauguration.
Pence and the Clintons get booed in arena
The crowd in the arena is not discriminate with their cheers — anything from a man holding a “Joe Biden You’re Fired” sign to a shot of Rudy Giuliani has inspired enthusiastic applause — but a rare boo erupted from the crowd at the sigh of Mike Pence walking into the rotunda.
Soon after a much larger boo came for the Clintons.
Trump has entered the Capitol with Biden
Podcast host Joe Rogan is taking his seat near the platform
‘Promises Made, Promises Kept’
That is the subject line of an email from Trump’s transition team touting the executive orders he is expected to sign shortly after being sworn in for a second term.
“He told voters on Day One, we would Drill, Baby, Drill. President Trump will be doing that,” it reads.
“He told voters on Day One, he would end the invasion at the border. President Trump will be doing that,” it goes on.
“He told voters on Day One, he would restore common sense. President Trump will be doing that,” it adds.
Congressional leaders arrive at the Capitol
Asked how he felt today, Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer said: “Feel great about the Bills.”
The New Yorker had a royal blue cap in hand. The House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Republican, said it’s “bright, sunny outside and bright in our heart.” Johnson said he expects “a lot” of executive orders from Trump. House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries smiled and waved but declined comment.
“Feel great,” said House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La.
President-elect Donald Trump and Vice President-elect JD Vance arrive at the Capitol ahead of their inauguration
Getting their selfies in while they can
Republicans and Democrats sat amongst each other as lawmakers did not have designated seats and took selfies before the official inaugural ceremony began.
Biden and Trump share a limo
Both men shared the same vehicle, along with Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar, chair of the bipartisan Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies.
Biden and Trump have been the bitterest of rivals for years. But the outgoing and incoming president taking the same vehicle to the inauguration ceremony keeps with political traditions.
President Joe Biden and President-elect Donald Trump are exiting
They left the White House after spending about 35 minutes in a private meeting.
They got into a limo for the Capitol for the swearing-in ceremony. It’s now less than two hours away.
First lady and incoming first lady leave the White House
First lady Jill Biden and incoming first lady Melania Trump have left the White House.
They were followed by Vice President Kamala Harris and Vice President-elect JD Vance, who left in a limo for the swearing-in at the Capitol.
“Very well, thank you,” Harris replied to a shouted question as she left the White House and headed to a waiting limo.
Flags are up at the Capitol
Flags that had been lowered for the passing of former President Jimmy Carter are back up at the U.S. Capitol.
House Speaker Mike Johnson ordered the flags raised for Trump’s inauguration.
Second gentleman heads to the Capitol
Second gentleman Doug Emhoff has exited the White House with Usha Vance, wife of vice president-elect JD Vance, to go to the Capitol.
Sports celebrities and business figures alike crowd into the Capitol’s visitor center
The attendees, which include the CEO of TikTok, made their way into the Capitol’s visitor center to watch the inauguration ceremonies on a large screen.
Evander Holyfield, Danica Patrick, Conor McGregor, Jake Paul and his brother Logan Paul have all made their way into a large area called the Emancipation Hall.
The CEO of TikTok, Shou Zi Chew, is also there. He struck up a conversation with Logan Paul, who is a social media influencer and professional boxer.
As Trump enters the White House a second time, some celebrities and business leaders have sought closer relationships than during Trump’s first term.
Trump is already proving he is a valuable ally to have — the incoming president intervened this weekend in an attempt to halt a ban on TikTok.
Seeing red
House Republican women arrived at the Rotunda wearing various shades of red, a nod to the GOP’s signature hue. Similarly, Republican men wore ties ranging from dark red to orange as they took their seats.
Harris and Biden make final posts on X
“It has been the honor of our lifetimes to serve you, the American people,” the vice president and president wrote in identical posts Monday morning on the social platform X.
The posts both featured a portrait of Biden, first lady Jill Biden, Harris and second gentleman Doug Emhoff.
What are the most — and least — popular parts of Trump’s agenda?
Donald Trump will start implementing a far-reaching agenda when he takes office for the second time on Monday, but a new AP-NORC poll finds that some of his priorities are a lot more popular than others.
Just over half of Americans favor eliminating taxes on earnings from tips, for example, while about one-quarter are neutral and only about 2 in 10 are opposed.
On the other hand, about 6 in 10 US adults oppose pardoning many of the people who participated in the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol.
Chief Justice John Roberts will administer the presidential oath of office to Trump
It’s the fifth inauguration for Roberts, who swore in Barack Obama twice, Joe Biden once and now will stand opposite Trump for a second time.
In the first inaugural ceremony for both men, in 2009, Roberts and Obama combined to flub the constitutionally prescribed oath, then met at the White House for a rare do-over — just to be safe.
Guests begin to arrive at the Capitol
Among the first people high-ranking officials to arrive at the Capitol Rotunda on Monday was Gen. CQ Brown, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, who is sitting on the platform where Trump will take his oath.
Current and former House and Senate leaders also arrived, including former Republican Leader Mitch McConnell and his wife former Trump Cabinet member Elaine Chao.
Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh will administer oath of office to Vance
Kavanaugh has known Vance and his wife, Usha, since their days at Yale Law School.
Vance was among Kavanaugh’s students in a law school seminar in 2011. He later employed Usha Vance as a law clerk when Kavanaugh was a judge on the federal appeals court in Washington.
She went on to serve as a clerk to Chief Justice John Roberts.
3 former Republican Speakers of the House are present
Newt Gingrich, John Boehner and Kevin McCarthy are in the Capitol Rotunda for the inauguration.
The last Democratic Speaker, Nancy Pelosi, has said she is not attending the ceremony.
French billionaire Bernard Arnault joined others at the church service
Arnault, who heads the LVMH fashion empire and is France’s richest man, was sitting a few rows back and to the left of Trump and his wife, Melania, wearing a dark suit and tie.
LVMH’s many brands include Louis Vuitton and Dior, and its influence and Arnault’s wealth make the lowkey billionaire a powerful figure.
LVMH had a stellar year in France last year, especially as a high-profile sponsor of the Paris Olympics. Arnault also was a key donor toward the reconstruction of Paris’ Notre Dame Cathedral after its fire in 2019 and attended the monument’s reopening — along with Trump — last December.
Biden says he wrote a letter to Trump
It’s become tradition for the outgoing president to write a letter to his successor and leave it in the drawer of the Oval Office desk for the new president to find.
Biden declined to say what he said in the note. Trump wrote Biden a note four years ago.
Pence is attending today’s inauguration ceremony
“This is a day when every American does well to celebrate our democracy and the peaceful transfer of power under the Constitution of the United States,” the former vice president wrote in a post on the social platform X.
“We encourage all our fellow Americans to join us praying for President Trump and Vice President Vance as they assume the awesome responsibility of leading this great Nation,” he added.
Trump and Pence once had a close relationship, but had a falling out when Pence refused to go along with Trump’s unconstitutional scheme to overturn the results of the 2020 election.
Pence ran against Trump in the GOP primary but dropped his bid before any votes were cast.
He has been critical of several of Trump’s proposals for a second term, with a group he runs urging Republican senators not to confirm Robert F. Kennedy to lead the Department of Health and Human Services.
Putin congratulates Trump
Speaking during a video call with members of Russia’s Security Council just before Trump’s inauguration, Putin said that “we hear the statements from Trump and members of his team about their desire to restore direct contacts with Russia, which were halted through no fault of ours by the outgoing administration.”
“We also hear his statements about the need to do everything to prevent World War III,” Putin said in televised comments. “We certainly welcome such an approach and congratulate the U.S. president-elect on taking office.”
Putin said Moscow is open to discussing a prospective peace settlement in Ukraine, adding it should lead not to a short truce but a lasting peace and take into account Russia’s interests.
New York’s governor orders flags to be raised to full height
The move came after a Hochul spokesperson said last week that flags would remain at half-staff following the death of former President Jimmy Carter.
Flags will be returned to half staff on Tuesday, Hochul said in a statement.
“Regardless of your political views, the American tradition of the peaceful transition of power is something to celebrate,” said Hochul, a Democrat.
The Trumps have arrived at the White House
They met the Bidens on a gold-trimmed red carpet, exchanging greetings and posing for photos ahead of a private meeting over tea and coffee.
“Welcome home,” Biden said to Trump after the president-elect stepped out of the car.
Biden wrapped his hand around Trump’s upper arm to escort him inside the mansion.
Biden welcomes Trump at the White House for a preinaugural tea, restoring traditions around peaceful transfer of power
Serving up the inaugural lunch menu
Chesapeake Crab Cake, Greater Omaha Angus Ribeye Steak and wine from Monticello are on the menu for the inaugural luncheon.
That’s according to the joint congressional committee on inauguration ceremonies headed by Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn.
It says the luncheon after the swearing-in ceremony is the 11th to be held at the Capitol’s National Statuary Hall, and will include more than 200 guests including the president, vice president, family, U.S. Supreme Court justices, Cabinet Member-designees and members of Congressional leadership.
For dessert, there’s Minnesota Apple Ice Box Terrine with sour cream ice cream and salted caramel.
Nerves and uncertainty run high for those along the border.
Before dawn Monday, ahead of Donald Trump’s inauguration, several dozen people waited in freezing temperatures at a bridge connecting Ciudad Juarez, a Mexican border city, with El Paso, Texas.
They held appointments for CBP One, a program that allows asylum seekers to schedule initial appointments before reaching the border. CBP One has brought nearly 1 million people to the U.S. on two-year permits with eligibility to work and is one of the programs that Trump has said he will end.
Nerves and uncertainty were running high in the line.
Julio González, 35, who came from the violent Mexican state of Michoacan, cried as he considered his circumstances.
“We hope that with Donald Trump’s arrival the application (CBP One) continues,” he said.
Inauguration ceremony begins in the Capitol Rotunda
The University of Nebraska-Lincoln Combined Choirs kicked off the inaugural ceremonies Monday with a musical prelude. The students wore all black with a red scarf embossed with their university logo.
Their voices echoed into the Capitol dome where in just a few hours Trump will be sworn in as the 47th President.
Trump to sign actions focused on energy and inflation
Trump plans on Monday to sign actions to increase domestic oil production including a measure with a focus on Alaska.
That’s according to an incoming administration official who spoke on condition of anonymity under terms set by the transition team in a phone call with reporters.
Trump also plans to sign a memorandum that seeks an all-of-government approach to bringing down inflation.
The incoming official declined to provide specifics, but it’s unclear just how Trump can reduce energy and household costs without sacrificing growth or corporate profits.
JD Vance arrives at the White House
Outgoing Vice President Kamala Harris greeted the vice president-elect when he arrived.
Usually, only the president-elect comes to the White House on Inauguration Day before the swearing-in.
Harris and Vance have not yet had a formal one-on-one meeting after the outgoing vice president did not invite him to visit the official residence on the grounds of the U.S. Naval Observatory.
Harris and Vance were accompanied by their spouses and all shook hands and posed for a picture.
Key people from Trump’s first administration among attendees of indoor event
The lineup will include Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders, who served as Trump’s press secretary, along with former aide Kellyanne Conway and Texas Rep. Ronny Jackson, who was Trump’s White House physician.
Former White House adviser Peter Navarro, who served prison time related to the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol and is returning to Trump’s administration as a senior counselor for trade and manufacturing, is also expected to give remarks.
Kash Patel, Trump’s pick to lead the FBI, and Trump’s “border czar” Tom Homan will also attend.
A Jumbotron sighting gets the crowd energized
The crowd inside the Capital One Arena cheered enthusiastically when the Jumbotrons began broadcasting President-elect Donald Trump and his wife, Melania, on their way to the White House.
Some chanted “USA! USA!” but it didn’t catch on with the half-full crowd, drowned out by the speakers playing The Killers song “Mr. Brightside.”
The Bidens post a final selfie from the White House
“One more selfie for the road. We love you, America,” the post on the social platform X read.
Harris is asked how she feels today
“I think this is democracy in action,” she told a reporter at the White House.
Trump leaves church for White House
Trump has left St. John’s Episcopal Church after a prayer service ahead of the inauguration.
He and his wife, Melania, are next expected to be welcomed by President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden, where they will share tea and coffee at the White House.
The private meeting is another presidential transition tradition.
It’s a stark departure from four years ago, when Trump refused to acknowledge Biden’s victory or attend his inauguration.
Trump will order rolling back protections for transgender people
Trump will sign an executive order declaring that the federal government would recognize only two genders: male and female, an incoming White House official said Monday.
The order undoes parts of one President Joe Biden signed on his first day in office four years ago. Trump’s order could restrict access to gender-affirming medical care and sports competitions for some transgender people.
The official said only two sexes will be recognized on passports and visas.
The move is not a surprise. Trump criticized transgender and nonbinary rights in his campaign, airing one ad more than 15,000 times that proclaimed, “Kamala is for them/them. President Trump is for you.”
Civil rights groups were preparing to challenge Trump’s restrictions in court before he took office.
“We are going to persevere, we’re going to continue in our work and we’re going to continue to protect trans rights throughout the country,” said Ash Orr, a spokesperson for Advocates for Trans Equality last week, anticipating such an order.
Trump to issue orders on immigration, AP source says
President Donald Trump is going to issue a series of orders aimed at remaking America’s immigration policies on his first day in office Monday — ending asylum access, sending troops to the southern border and ending birthright citizenship, an incoming White House official said.
It’s unclear how he would carry out some of his executive orders, including ending automatic citizenship for everyone born in the country, while others were expected to be immediately challenged in the courts.
The official spoke on condition of anonymity in order to preview some of the orders expected later Monday.
Immigrant communities were bracing for the crackdown that Trump had been promising throughout his campaign and up through a rally Sunday just ahead of his inauguration.
The service concludes with congregants singing ‘America the Beautiful’
The Trumps held hands as they filed out of the church and the president-elect nodded and offered smiles to the churchgoers as he exited the sanctuary.
Best seats in the house
Hours before Trump and Vance are expected to be inaugurated, seats designated for Elon Musk, Tucker Carlson and others were among the closest to the platform where Trump will be taking the oath of office.
Even Musk’s mother, Maye Musk, had a better seat than the majority of House and Senate lawmakers.
Biden is asked how he’s feeling
“Good, it’s a beautiful day,” he said.
Harris arrives at the White House
Biden and first lady Jill Biden greeted the vice president and her husband Doug Emhoff at the Pennsylvania Avenue side of the White House.
Trump will issue series of executive orders designed to remake immigration policies; they face legal, logistical hurdles
Prayer offered for Trump
The prayer for Trump and Vice President-elect JD Vance asked that God give them “wisdom and strength to know and to do.”
Dr. Fauci says he appreciates Biden’s pardon and says he has committed no crime and sees no grounds for prosecution
Trump tells supporters to ‘never ever, ever give up’ in new video
Trump’s team released the video online on Monday ahead of his swearing-in and it portrays him as an outsider who overcame his legal problems to win a comeback to the White House, ushering in a new chapter for America.
The video stitches together footage of his courthouse appearances for his criminal trial last year, his mug shot from another criminal case in Georgia and images of prosecutors and judges involved in some of the other cases he faced, along with images of his visits to UFC matches, his campaign and the Republican National Convention.
In a voice-over, Trump tells his supporters they have to “never ever, ever give up” and “treat the word impossible as nothing more than motivation.”
The video was first reported by Fox News Digital.
Pastor gives a welcome to service attendees
“Having the cameras off is a gift. The rest of the day will be very public,” he said.
White House press offices emptying out
Cupboards and drawers have been emptied, the walls are bare and all personal items have been boxed up, including in press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre’s office.
Most of the press office staff wrapped up their government service last week.
A couple of press secretaries and assistants remain to see Biden through tea with Trump, the ride to the Capitol for the inauguration and Biden’s departure ceremony afterward.
Trump enters church for service ahead of inauguration
President-elect Donald Trump has entered St. John’s Episcopal Church with his wife, Melania, for a service ahead of the inauguration, taking part in a long presidential tradition.
The Trumps spent the night at Blair House and will head to the White House for a coffee and tea with President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden following the service.
US flag atop White House flying at half-staff
Biden had ordered that flags at federal facilities be lowered for 30 days out of respect for Jimmy Carter. The former president died on Dec. 29 at the age of 100.
Many governors also lowered the flag on state buildings.
But Trump complained that flags at the U.S. Capitol would fly at half-staff when he takes the oath of office to begin his second term.
Many Republican governors since have said the flag will be raised for the inauguration and lowered again afterward to respect Carter.
The White House had said Biden would not consider reversing or reevaluating the flag order.
Guests arrive at St. John’s Episcopal Church for Inauguration Day service
Elon Musk and several of President-elect Trump’s Cabinet picks are already in the pews awaiting his arrival and the start of the service at the historic church on Lafayette Square.
Among the other guests are Secretary of State-designate Marco Rubio, Argentina President Javier Milei and the president’s daughter Ivanka Trump
Audiences take their seats at Capitol One arena
Long lines stretched around the icy sidewalks and security perimeters of Capitol One Arena where ticket holders hoped to be among the 20,000 to get in.
Inside the arena before 8:30 a.m. the atmosphere was calm — the seats largely empty as workers finalized preparations and the media set up cameras and lights on the arena floor.
Security and inauguration staff scolded members of the press inside for stray equipment in the hallways, saying doors would be held for the general public until it was cleared. Around 8:25 a.m., the public started to take their seats as the Katrina and the Waves song “Walking on Sunshine” blared on the speakers.
‘We don’t have to stand out here on the lawn to show our support’
Pam Pollard, a former National Committeewoman from Oklahoma City, arrived in Washington nearly a week ago and said she was in line to sit in a reserved section at the inauguration before it was moved inside.
She agreed with the change because people could get so caught up in the moment that they might endanger themselves.
Pollard, 65, who was at the state convention and the Republican National Convention that formally nominated Trump to be the party’s candidate, suggested people break up into watch parties.
“We all believe God’s hand has been on this man to be elected,” she said. “We don’t have to stand out here on the lawn to show our support, our unity.”
German chancellor stresses the importance of trans-Atlantic relations
“Trans-Atlantic relations are of the utmost importance for Germany and for Europe,” German Chancellor Olaf Scholz told the Rheinische Post. “And NATO is the guarantor of our security. That is why we need stable relations with the USA.”
Scholz’s comments came hours before Trump’s inauguration.
The German chancellor also said that “as the European Union, we can also build on our own strength. As a community of more than 400 million Europeans, we have economic weight.”
He said he had already talked to Trump on the phone twice without elaborating when the calls took place.
Milley says he’s ‘deeply grateful’ for Biden’s pardon
Retired Gen. Mark Milley says President Joe Biden issuing a pardon to shield him from potential revenge by the incoming Trump administration means he won’t have to spend time avoiding “retribution for perceived slights.”
“I do not wish to spend whatever remaining time the Lord grants me fighting those who unjustly might seek retribution for perceived slights,” Milley said in a statement.
Milley is the former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. He called Trump a fascist and detailed Trump’s conduct around the deadly Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol.
Milley said he was “deeply grateful for the President’s action.”
‘This is the trip of a lifetime’
Vince Filippone, 71, and his wife, Diane, 68, came to the inauguration from their central Florida home — a gift from their sons, who joined them.
Filippone quipped he hadn’t worn a heavy coat in years as they braved the frigid temperatures.
They rode the Washington Metro subway into the district’s downtown area and joined the thousands of people who began lining up before sunrise to get into the viewing arena where Trump’s victory celebration was held Sunday.
Far beyond being disappointed, the cancer survivor said he was “past excited. This is the trip of a lifetime.”
Pardons for the Jan. 6 committee and Washington police officers
Biden pardoned members and staff of the Jan. 6 committee that investigated the attack, as well as the U.S. Capitol and D.C. Metropolitan police officers who testified before the committee about their experiences that day, overrun by an angry, violent mob of Trump supporters.
The committee spent 18 months investigating Trump and the violent insurrection on Jan. 6, 2021. It was led by U.S. Rep. Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., and Republican Liz Cheney, who later pledged to vote for Democrat Kamala Harris and campaigned with her. The committee’s final report found that Donald Trump criminally engaged in a “multi-part conspiracy” to overturn the lawful results of the 2020 presidential election and failed to act to stop his supporters from attacking the Capitol.
Foreign leaders descend upon Washington for Inauguration Day
Trump may be breaking a tradition on Inauguration Day. No heads of state have previously made an official visit to the U.S. for the inauguration.
It’s not clear whether foreign leaders will attend the swearing-in ceremony or other events related such as inaugural balls.
Argentina’s President Javier Milei and Italy’s Premier Giorgia Meloni have spoken about being invited. The offices of Ecuadorean President Daniel Noboa and Paraguayan President Santiago Peña have also said they were invited and were planning to attend. The Salvadoran ambassador to the U.S. said there had been an invitation to the country’s President Nayib Bukele, but he is not likely to attend.
Last month, Trump transition spokesperson Karoline Leavitt said world leaders, including Chinese President Xi Jinping, had been invited. Jinping is unlikely to attend and it’s not clear whether he would send another official.
Moving day madness
The “transfer of families” is a frenetic Inauguration Day ritual of approximately five hours where the White House is turned over from the outgoing presidential family to the incoming one.
In that time, while the outgoing and incoming presidents are together for the inaugural ceremony — White House residence staff hustle to inventory belongings, pack and move out one family and prepare the residence for its new occupants.
The process wasn’t always so efficient, though.
After the disputed election of 1876, outgoing President Ulysses S. Grant suggested that his successor, Rutherford B. Hayes, take the oath of office two days early to prevent potential unrest.
Hayes did that but then took a second oath as scheduled. Grant, though, didn’t actually vacate the White House until after Haye’s second swearing-in.
A record number of pardons
Biden has set the presidential record for most individual pardons and commutations issued; he announced on Friday he would commute the sentences of almost 2,500 people convicted of nonviolent drug offenses.
He previously announced he was commuting the sentences of 37 of the 40 people on federal death row, converting their punishments to life imprisonment just weeks before Trump, an outspoken proponent of expanding capital punishment, takes office. In his first term, Trump presided over an unprecedented spate of executions, 13, in a protracted timeline during the coronavirus pandemic.
Biden pardons Fauci and Milley in an effort to guard against potential ‘revenge’ by Trump
President Joe Biden has pardoned Dr. Anthony Fauci, retired Gen. Mark Milley and members of the House committee that investigated the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol, using the extraordinary powers of his office in his final hours to guard against potential “revenge” by the incoming Trump administration.
The decision by Biden comes after Donald Trump warned of an enemies list filled with those who have crossed him politically or sought to hold him accountable for his attempt to overturn his 2020 election loss and his role in the storming of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. Trump has selected Cabinet nominees who backed his election lies and who have pledged to punish those involved in efforts to investigate him.
“The issuance of these pardons should not be mistaken as an acknowledgment that any individual engaged in any wrongdoing, nor should acceptance be misconstrued as an admission of guilt for any offense,” Biden said in a statement. “Our nation owes these public servants a debt of gratitude for their tireless commitment to our country.”
Trump will get ahold of an old X account
The White House’s official X account, and its 37 million followers, will shift around midday from Joe Biden to Donald Trump.
The process is similar to Inauguration Day 2017 when the @POTUS account — created during Barack Obama’s tenure — was transferred to Trump’s first administration.
The same will be true for @WhiteHouse, the first lady’s @FLOTUS and @VP for the vice president.
Twitter suspended Trump’s personal account, @realDonaldTrump, in 2021, after the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol.
But Trump supporter Elon Musk later bought Twitter, renaming it X, and Trump rejoined the platform last summer — though he uses his Truth Social network more.
Inauguration Day has moved around the calendar — and the country
Congress directed in September 1788 that the presidential swearing-in ceremony occur on the first Wednesday in March. But George Washington wasn’t actually inaugurated until April 30, 1789, on the balcony of Federal Hall in New York City, then the nation’s capital.
The capital was moved to Philadelphia in 1790 before construction was completed on the White House in 1800. There, Washington was sworn in for his second term in,1793, and John Adams was inaugurated in 1797.
Most inaugurations took place on March 4 until the ratification of the Twentieth Amendment in 1933, which set the ceremony for noon on Jan. 20.
Where inaugurations took place also traditionally varied. But they’ve been held on the Capitol’s western front, facing the National Mall, since Ronald Reagan took office in January 1981.
How performing at the inauguration could impact musicians
“The people who are coming out and participating directly are still a small subset of the entire universe of what we call celebrity,” said Robert Thompson, a professor of pop culture at Syracuse University. “But we’re seeing a lot more celebrities who are coming out and supporting Trump. There may not be that distinct division that we saw before.”
There may still be a tinge of stigma, however. Thompson pointed to the statement from The Village People, in which they offered a justification their involvement, which he likened to an apologia.
Also, Thompson said, “The idea of being featured in a big national civic ritual perhaps can transcend political identity.”
The participation of people like Underwood is not going to change anyone’s mind about Trump, Thompson said. It could, however, change minds about the artist. On social media, some declared they were going to delete Underwood’s songs from their playlists.
‘Four long years of American decline:’ Trump rally speech echoed his campaign
Addressing a packed crowd at Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C., Trump stayed consistent with the framing he often used in his campaign.
He criticized Biden’s term as a “failed administration” and promised to “end the reign of a failed and corrupt political establishment.”
“Tomorrow, at noon, the curtain closes on four long years of American decline and we begin a brand-new day of American strength and prosperity, dignity and pride,” he told supporters.
Eight years ago, stars avoided Trump inauguration. This time it’s different
Carrie Underwood might not be Beyoncé or Garth Brooks in the celebrity superstar ecosystem. But the singer’s participation in President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration is nevertheless a sign of the changing tides, where mainstream entertainers, from Nelly to The Village People are more publicly, more enthusiastically associating with the new administration.
Eight years ago, Trump reportedly struggled to enlist stars to be part of the swearing-in and the various glitzy balls that follow. The concurrent protest marches around the nation had more famous entertainers than the swearing-in.
There were always some celebrity Trump supporters, like Kid Rock, Hulk Hogan, Jon Voight, Rosanne Barr, Mike Tyson, Sylvester Stallone and Dennis Rodman, to name a few. But Trump’s victory this time around was decisive and while Hollywood may always skew largely liberal, the slate of names participating in his inauguration weekend events has improved.
Kid Rock, Billy Ray Cyrus, The Village People, Lee Greenwood all performed at a MAGA style rally Sunday. Those performing at inaugural balls include the rapper Nelly, country music band Rascal Flatts, country singer Jason Aldean and singer-songwriter Gavin DeGraw.
Trump plans to sign a lot of executive orders today
Trump forecast signing as many as 100 executive orders on his first day, possibly covering deportations, the U.S.-Mexico border, domestic energy, Schedule F rules for federal workers, school gender policies and vaccine mandates, among other Day 1 promises made during his campaign. He’s also promised an executive order to give more time for the sale of TikTok.
Trump has asked Rep. Jeff Van Drew, R-N.J., to write an order stopping the development of offshore windmills for generating electricity.
Many of the Republican’s measures are likely to draw Democratic opposition.
And in several major cases, the orders will largely be statements of intent based off campaign promises made by Trump.
Capitol flag at full height for Trump
The U.S. flag over the Capitol will be flying at full-staff for Donald Trump’s swearing-in.
That’s despite an order from President Joe Biden that flags be lowered for 30 days following the Dec. 29 death of former President Jimmy Carter.
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