Every four years, America’s president is sworn in on Inauguration Day, whether newly elected or returning to office, in a long-established ceremony shaped by the incoming leader’s personal touches.
What does that mean for Donald Trump’s inauguration? Queue the Village People and social media titans – and forget the mittens and scarves, following a last-minute decision to move the ceremony indoors.
Here’s a preview of the pomp and circumstance set to unfold on Monday when Trump is sworn in as the 47th president.
– The Oath –
The US Constitution mandates that each new president’s term begins at noon on 20 January (or the following day if it falls on a Sunday) and that the president takes the oath of office.
In recent years, presidents have been sworn in on an enormous temporary platform on the Capitol’s scenic West Lawn. This year, due to a frigid weather forecast, the ceremony will take place inside the Capitol Rotunda.
The oath is traditionally administered by the Supreme Court Chief Justice, and Monday will mark John Roberts’s second time officiating for Trump.
The new president will also deliver an inaugural address, outlining his plans for the next four years. Trump famously rang in his first term in 2017 with a particularly dark speech evoking “American carnage.”
Incoming Vice President JD Vance will also be sworn in.
– The Guests –
In a particularly Trumpian twist, the Republican has invited a number of tech moguls to attend the inauguration, joining more traditional guests such as his cabinet nominees.
Billionaires Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, and Mark Zuckerberg will attend, along with Shou Zi Chew, the head of Chinese social media giant TikTok, according to US media.
Trump has cultivated closer ties with the tech magnates, with his campaign benefitting from disinformation spread on platforms such as 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 when he won the presidency in 2020.
All living former presidents – Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, and Barack Obama – will attend, as will their wives, except for Michelle Obama.
This means Hillary Clinton, whom Trump defeated in the 2016 presidential election, will be present alongside Vice President Kamala Harris, whom he unseated in November.
Heads of state are not traditionally invited, but Trump has extended invitations to a select group of foreign leaders, including some who share his right-wing politics.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni will attend, her office confirmed on Saturday. Hungary’s Viktor Orbán, Argentine President Javier Milei, and China’s Xi Jinping have also been invited, though not all are expected to attend.
– A Move Indoors –
Crowd size has always been a focus of Trump’s, but the last-minute decision to move the event indoors may temper his usual bragging rights.
More than 220,000 tickets were being distributed to the public before Trump announced on Friday that freezing temperatures would necessitate a shift to the Capitol Rotunda, which can only accommodate about 600 people.
Trump said supporters could watch a live feed from Washington’s Capital One sports arena, which holds up to 20,000 – and he promised to drop in later.
“This will be a very beautiful experience for all,” the president-elect said.
– The Orders –
Trump plans to sign multiple executive orders on his first day in office, aimed at undoing many of the Biden administration’s policies.
Among other promises, he has pledged to launch a mass deportation programme and expand oil drilling. He has also suggested he may immediately begin pardoning the January 6 rioters who ransacked the Capitol in 2021.
Immediately after the inauguration, a meeting is scheduled between US officials and foreign ministers from Japan, India, and Australia – the so-called “Quad,” which the Biden administration positioned as a counterweight to China’s growing influence.
– The Music –
Trump’s first inauguration in 2017 was marked by a lack of celebrity performers, with few A-list musicians willing to be associated with him.
This time, Trump’s second inauguration is faring better in the entertainment department.
Country star Carrie Underwood will sing “America the Beautiful” during the swearing-in ceremony.
Other performers include country singer Lee Greenwood, whose patriotic anthem “God Bless the USA” is a staple at Trump rallies.
A pre-inauguration rally on Sunday will feature performances by the Village People – whose 1970s-era hit “Y.M.C.A.” has become another
Trump event staple – alongside Kid Rock and Billy Ray Cyrus.
Country musicians Jason Aldean, Rascal Flatts, and Gavin DeGraw will also perform at Trump’s three official inaugural balls.
– The Galas –
Trump is expected to attend all three official inaugural balls on Monday night, while more than a dozen others are planned.
Additionally, Trump will host a “Make America Great Again Victory Rally” on Sunday evening at Capital One Arena.
AFP
