What is Inauguration Day?
Donald Trump will return to the White House on Monday after he officially becomes the 47th president of the United States. Inauguration day includes a swearing-in ceremony, musical performances, celebratory parade and formal balls. Monday also happens to be Martin Luther King Jr Day, a federal holiday, when Americans remember and celebrate the former civil rights leader’s commitment to racial equality, social justice and non-violent protest.
So what’s on the agenda?
Monday will begin for Trump with a service at St John’s, a historic Washington DC church. That is followed by tea at the White House with the outgoing president Joe Biden. The swearing-in of Trump and JD Vance (as vice-president), as well as the inaugural address in which the president will set out his goals for the next four years, was originally scheduled to take place on the West Lawn of the US Capitol building (at approximately 5pm Irish time). However, on Friday evening it was announced that Trump had decided to take the oath of office from inside the Capitol Rotunda due to forecasts of very cold weather. The swearing-in was last moved indoors in 1985, when Ronald Reagan began his second term.
What will happen?
Wherever it takes place, John Roberts, the chief justice of the US supreme court, is expected to administer the oath to the incoming president. Trump will then go to the President’s Room to sign key documents, before attending a lunch hosted by the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies. Afterwards, his entourage will move from the Capitol building down Pennsylvania Avenue to the White House - though that too may be affected by the weather. Later the same evening, Trump will appear at three inaugural balls – the Commander-in-Chief Ball, the Liberty Inaugural Ball and the Starlight Ball. He will probably make speeches at all three.
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Key part of the day?
The biggest moment is usually when the president-elect recites the oath of office: “I do solemnly swear that I will faithfully execute the office of president of the United States, and will, to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the constitution of the United States.”
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Who’s attending?
Heads of state and governments are not traditionally invited to the US presidential inauguration day, but Trump has notably invited several foreign leaders – including Argentinian president Javier Milei and Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni. Also invited, though unlikely to attend, are Hungarian prime minister Viktor Orbán and Chinese president Xi Jinping. Former DUP MP Ian Paisley has said he will attend the inauguration, as will Reform UK leader Nigel Farage.
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And the entertainment?
Big Trump supporter Kid Rock will join Billy Ray Cyrus, Lee Greenwood and The Village People at the Make America Great Again Rally at Capital One Arena in Washington DC on Sunday. The swearing-in ceremony on Monday will feature Carrie Underwood, who will sing America The Beautiful, and opera tenor Christopher Maccio, who’ll sing the American national anthem. Country singer Jason Aldean, a five-time Grammy nominee, is set to perform at The Liberty Ball on Monday night, alongside a “surprise musical guest”.
