On Monday, Donald Trump took the oath of office to be the 47th president of the United States.
Four years to the day since Trump concluded his first term, Trump will retake power as the leader of the free world. He is scheduled to take the oath of office during a ceremony at the U.S. Capitol at noon ET, 10 a.m. MT.
Trump’s first term ended in chaos, with a riot at the Capitol and a denial of the 2020 election results. This time, Trump returns to Washington after a decisive electoral victory and widespread support from his party. His approval rating sits as high as it did in early 2020, the highest mark of Trump’s presidency.
For the first time since 1985, a presidential inauguration ceremony will take place indoors, due to a cold front blowing across the eastern United States. The high for Monday’s forecast in Washington is 26 degrees, making it the coldest expected inauguration day in four decades.
Trump announced Friday his swearing-in ceremony would be conducted inside the Rotunda at the U.S. Capitol “because of the very cold weather.”
“There is an Arctic blast sweeping the Country,” Trump wrote on social media. “I don’t want to see people hurt, or injured, in any way.”
The tens of thousands of people who expected to attend the outdoor ceremony on the National Mall are instead encouraged to watch a livestream at Capitol One Arena in downtown Washington, a 22,000-seat facility.
The last-minute logistical change means that many dignitaries, including some members of Congress, may not be able to attend Trump’s oath of office ceremony in person.
For months, Trump has promised a series of executive actions on his first day in office, including efforts to crack down on immigration and to implement changes to domestic energy production.
Top Trump adviser Stephen Miller predicted there would be “over 100 executive actions” in Trump’s opening days in office, according to an interview he gave on Fox News last week.
Trump’s Day 1 orders are expected to include cutting restrictions on domestic oil drilling; walking back the Biden administration’s electric vehicle mandate; adjusting immigration policy at the U.S.-Mexico border; initiating a mass deportation operation; and pardoning those charged for their role in the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol, among other actions.
He will also sign an executive order on sex and gender that defines male and female, ends the housing of transgender inmates in federal women’s prisons, and directs government agencies to put an individual’s biological sex on government personnel records or U.S. passports, according to reporting from The Free Press.
Schedule of events
Trump held a series of celebratory events over the weekend, including a rally with his supporters on Sunday at Capitol One Arena with surprise guests The Village People.
As is customary for incoming presidents, Trump is expected to attend a morning worship service at St. John’s Episcopal Church, directly across from the White House. Afterward, he and his wife, Melania Trump, will join President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden for tea at the White House.
The swearing-in ceremony will begin around 11:30 a.m. ET, with music and invocations from several faith leaders. Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh will administer the oath of office to Vice President-elect JD Vance. Afterward, country music star Carrie Underwood will sing “America the Beautiful.” The U.S. Naval Academy Glee Club will also perform.
At noon ET, Trump will take the oath of office, administered by Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts. He will then deliver his inaugural address, followed by a benediction.
The farewell to Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris will follow. The new president will then be joined by members of Congress for the Signing Room Ceremony, where he traditionally signs nominations and executive orders.
The presidential parade is expected to begin at 3 p.m. ET, when the new president and his procession will travel from the Capitol to the White House. There, Trump will participate in the Oval Office Signing Ceremony.
At some point, Trump is expected to appear at Capitol One Arena to greet his supporters there.
Trump is scheduled to deliver remarks at three inaugural balls on Monday evening: the Commander in Chief Ball; the Liberty Inaugural Ball; and the Starlight Ball.
How to watch
- The Inauguration Day ceremonies will be broadcast live on all cable news networks, and online at C-SPAN.org.