Last Updated:
Donald Trump Inauguration: The US Capitol where Trump’s inauguration will take place is representative of the remarkable political comeback he made in November.
US President-elect Donald Trump | File Image/AP
Donald Trump Inauguration: Donald Trump is set to take charge as the 47th President of the United States of America on January 20, with a grand inauguration event on the cards inside the Capitol premises.
Significantly, the US Capitol where Trump’s inauguration will take place is representative of the remarkable political comeback he made in November. It’s the same place where his supporters launched an attack four years ago over his 2020 electoral loss.
Trump’s return as US President is also rare in American history as he is only the second president to have come to power, lost the re-election and then won again. The first on the list to do so was Grover Cleveland in the late 1800s.
His first term as US commander-in-chief saw many firsts and marked several conventions upended, including some that have become a staple of American democracy. In 2020, Trump expressed confidence that he won the election and not Democrat Biden and skipped the latter’s inauguration event, becoming the first ex-president to have done so in 150 years.
Why Is There A Gap Between US Elections & Inauguration?
Elections in the US are held in November and results of the same become clear soon after the voting day.
Formally, the incumbent president invites the president-elect to the White House to congratulate on winning the polls and discuss a smooth and effective transformation of power.
Inauguration events in the US follow a set of rules shaped by tradition over the years. A 1933 constitutional amendment mandates that the inauguration takes place on January 20 (or January 21 if the 20th falls on a Sunday), with the official oath administered at noon.
According to US rules, the oath is typically administered by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, and Monday will mark John Roberts’s second time officiating for Trump.
It’s held two months after the presidential election to allow the incoming and outgoing presidents and administrations to ensure a smooth transition of power.
Trump’s Inauguration Moved Indoor
President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration will take place inside the US Capitol on Monday rather than outdoors because of severe cold, the first time in 40 years that US presidential inaugural ceremonies will be moved indoors.
“There is an Arctic blast sweeping the Country. I don’t want to see people hurt, or injured, in any way,” Trump said on his Truth Social platform on Friday. “Therefore, I have ordered the Inauguration Address, in addition to prayers and other speeches, to be delivered in the United States Capitol Rotunda,” he added.
The last time an inauguration was moved indoors because of the bitter cold was in 1985 for former Republican President Ronald Reagan’s second swearing-in when the afternoon wind chill fell into the range of minus 10 to minus 20 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 23 to minus 29 degrees Celsius).
Vice President-Elect JD Vance To Take Oath First
Vice President-elect JD Vance will take the oath of office first, followed by Trump, who will then deliver his inaugural address, laying out his plans for the next four years. The Republican rang in his first term in 2017 with a particularly dark speech evoking “American carnage.”
Later, in the President’s Room, Trump will meet with aides and Members of Congress to sign nominations, as well as occasional memorandums, proclamations, or executive orders.
Trump Inauguration: Guest List
The Republican has extended invitations to several tech moguls for his inauguration, alongside traditional guests like his cabinet nominees. According to US media, billionaires Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, and Mark Zuckerberg will be in attendance, along with Shou Chew, the head of Chinese social media giant TikTok.
Trump has sought closer ties with these tech leaders, and his campaign benefited from disinformation circulating on platforms like TikTok, Musk’s X, and Zuckerberg’s Facebook and Instagram.
Outgoing President Joe Biden will also attend the ceremony, despite Trump’s refusal to appear at Biden’s swearing-in after defeating Trump in 2020. Additionally, all living former presidents — Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, and Barack Obama — will be present, accompanied by their spouses, except Michelle Obama.
This means Hillary Clinton, whom Trump defeated in the 2016 presidential election, and Vice President Kamala Harris, whom he defeated in November, will also be in attendance.
Heads of state are not traditionally invited, but Trump has sent invitations to a handful of foreign leaders, including some who share his right-wing politics. Far-right Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni will attend, her office confirmed Saturday.
Hungary’s Viktor Orban, Argentine President Javier Milei and China’s Xi Jinping have also been invited, but not all will attend.
