Donald J. Trump will be sworn-in as president for the second time in just seven days after his sentencing in the hush money case.
Kamala Harris certified the 78-year-old’s win in Congress last Monday, four years after the Capitol Riot and clearing the way for him to take the keys to the White House again.
On January 20, 2025 at noon, he will cement a spectacular political comeback after his historic election win that was two years, two months and five days in the making.
It followed a unprecedented campaign where he survived two assassination attempts and saw his first opponent drop out over concerns of his age and mental acuity.
Thousands will gather in the nation’s capital to watch him take the oath of office as President Joe Biden, 82, leaves the 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue after four years.
The historic day will be draw to a close with glitzy inaugural balls, where the 47th president will dance with the incoming First Lady Melania Trump.
DailyMail.com answers some of the key questions on the day Trump will return as the commander-in-chief.
When is Trump’s 2024 inauguration date?
The 20th Amendment mandates that a new president’s term starts at 12 p.m. on January 20th the year following a presidential election.
The inauguration takes place on January 21st if the 20th falls on a Sunday. It requires them to take the oath of office.
Beyond that, inaugural festivities are guided by tradition – with a luncheon, a parade and balls generally all part of that special day.
Is the presidential inauguration a federal holiday?
Inauguration Day is a federal holiday – but this year it lands on the same day as another federal holiday, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, the annual celebration of the civil rights icon.
Federal workers won’t get an extra day off despite it being a double holiday.
President Donald Trump (left) takes the oath of office on January 20, 2017 alongside first lady Melania Trump (center) and son Barron (right). He’ll retake the oath of office on Monday, January 20, 2024, which is also Martin Luther King Jr. Day
President Barack Obama (right) and first lady Michelle Obama (left) hosted Melania and Donald Trump (center) to the White House on inauguration morning after the Trump attended a church service across the street at the historic yellow St. John’s Episcopal church
What happens the morning of inauguration?
Eight years ago when Trump was sworn-in, he and first lady Melania Trump started their day at church – at the historic yellow St. John’s Episcopal just outside the White House.
They were then greeted on the White House’s North Portico by President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama.
From there they headed to the U.S. Capitol ahead of the noon swearing-in.
It’s tradition for the departing president to leave a letter for the incoming president on the Resolute Desk.
Despite Trump breaking tradition by being one of four presidents to skip a successor’s inauguration – the others were John Adams, John Quincy Adams and Andrew Johnson – he did leave a ‘shockingly gracious’ letter behind for the Democrat, according to Biden biographer Chris Whipple.
Four years ago the Trumps departed from the White House’s South Lawn ahead of Biden’s swearing-in ceremony and the outgoing president made remarks at Joint Base Andrews before heading to Mar-a-Lago.
Typically the former president and first lady fly off in a Marine One-type helicopter from the east side of the U.S. Capitol after the swearing-in occurs.
Can you get tickets to Trump’s inauguration?
The Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies – the bipartisan group charged with organizing the swearing-in ceremony and the inaugural luncheon – makes tickets to the inauguration available to the public.
Trump supporters must request their tickets through their member of Congress.
Already, congressional offices are predicting the demand will outstrip the supply.
It’s likely more people will come to Trump’s inauguration than they did in 2017 (left). Trump made a big deal about his inaugural crowd size, forcing press secretary Sean Spicer to say he had bigger numbers than President Barack Obama in 2009 (right)
How many people are expected to attend Trump’s 2025 inauguration?
Eight years ago, Trump made a big deal about his inaugural crowd size, despite it being visibly smaller than that of President Barack Obama when the Democrat was sworn-in in 2009.
Obama was the country’s first black and biracial president in history.
Trump memorably had his new press secretary, Sean Spicer, chastise the press one day after the swearing-in for pointing out Trump’s smaller crowd.
Spicer claimed ‘this was the largest audience to ever witness the inauguration – period – both in person and around the globe.’
It’s likely Trump’s crowd will be larger this year from eight years ago, simply because he’s grown his support.
This time around the Republican won the popular vote – the first GOP nominee to do so in 20 years.
He’s also hosting an indoor rally for the MAGA faithful a day before.
That will take place Sunday, January 19 at the Capital One Arena in D.C.’s Chinatown neighborhood.
First lady Melania Trump (left) dances with President Donald Trump (right) at A Salute To Our Armed Services Inaugural Ball on January 20, 2017 – one of three official balls planned for inauguration night that the president and first lady attended
President Donald Trump (left) and first lady Melania Trump (right) appear at the Freedom Ball at the Washington Convention Center. The convention center’s large size has allowed for thousands to attend inaugural balls in past years
Who will attend Trump’s presidential inauguration balls?
There are a number of balls already being planned around Washington over inauguration weekend but the president and first lady generally only attend the official balls Monday night.
Eight years ago, the Trumps stopped by the Liberty and Freedom Balls at the Washington Convention Center before heading to the ornate National Building Museum for A Salute To Our Armed Services Inaugural Ball, which was dedicated to the troops.
It’s unclear what Trump’s team have planned yet for the balls.
In the past, different balls have had varying degrees of exclusivity.
Top donors and supporters have generally been invited to the smaller, more lavish affairs, while at the same time, the Washington Convention Center’s huge size has allowed thousands to attend balls in the past.
Beyonce famously sang Etta James’ ‘At Last’ at the Neighborhood Inaugural Ball in 2009.
During the 2013 inauguration, for example, thousands of Obama supporters were invited to attend ‘The Inaugural Ball’ at the convention center – but the space wasn’t decorated, Cheez-Its and pretzels were served, and there was a cash bar.
Still the crowd heard from Alicia Keys, the band Fun and saw the Obamas dance to ‘Let’s Stay Together’ sung by Jennifer Hudson, among other acts.
Mainstream musical acts have generally stayed clear of the MAGA movement besides mainstays like Kid Rock and country musicians.
No inaugural balls took place in 2021 for President Joe Biden’s swearing-in due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Instead the Bidens and Vice President Kamala Harris and her family participated in the traditional inaugural parade from the Capitol to the White House and press secretary Jen Psaki held her first press briefing.
