Final preparations are underway in Washington DC as Donald Trump prepares to take the oath of office for his second term as President of the United States.
Today's Schedule
The swearing-in ceremony is set for noon EST at the U.S. Capitol. Due to forecasted cold weather, the event has been moved from its traditional location on the West Front to the Capitol Rotunda.
High-Profile Attendees
In a show of institutional continuity, all living former presidents have confirmed their attendance at the ceremony, though notably, most will skip the traditional luncheon afterward:
- Outgoing President Joe Biden and Dr. Jill Biden
- Former President Barack Obama
- Former President George W. Bush and Laura Bush
- Former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton
- Vice President Kamala Harris and Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff
International Delegation
The ceremony has drawn a significant international presence, including:
- Argentina's President Javier Milei
- Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni
- El Salvador's President Nayib Bukele (tentative)
- British Reform leader Nigel Farage
- Ecuador's President Daniel Noboa
- Australia's Foreign Minister Penny Wong
Chinese President Xi Jinping will be represented by Vice President Han Zheng. Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, who was invited, is expected to miss the ceremony due to ongoing hostage negotiations.
Constitutional Transition
Under the 20th Amendment, power will officially transfer at noon, when Biden's term ends and Trump's second term begins. The theme for this year's inauguration is "Our Enduring Democracy: A Constitutional Promise."
Ceremony Details
The Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies, chaired by Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), has organized eight key events:
- Procession to the Capitol
- Vice Presidential oath
- Presidential oath
- Inaugural address
- Farewell ceremony
- Signing ceremony
- Inaugural luncheon
- Military review
The traditional inaugural parade will be held indoors at Capital One Arena due to weather concerns.
Timeline
The ceremony begins at 11:30 AM EST with a musical prelude by the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Combined Choirs and the U.S. Marine Band.
Key moments include:
- Opening remarks by Sen. Klobuchar
- Interfaith prayers led by Cardinal Timothy Dolan and Rabbi Franklin Graham
- Performance of "Oh, America!" by Christopher Macchio
- Swearing-in of Vice President-elect J.D. Vance by Justice Brett Kavanaugh
- Military choir performance of "America the Beautiful"
- Presidential oath administered by Chief Justice John Roberts
- Trump's inaugural address
- Closing prayers from religious leaders representing multiple faiths
- National anthem performance
The entire ceremony is expected to last approximately one hour, similar to Trump's 2017 inauguration and Biden's 2021 ceremony.
Security measures are extensive around the Capitol complex, with multiple law enforcement agencies coordinating to ensure a safe transition of power.
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