Donald Trump, the United States President-elect, will be sworn in for a second term on Monday, January 20, as the 47th President of the United States.
To mark the occasion, Trump will host a “Make America Great Again Victory Rally” on Sunday, January 19, at 3 p.m. ET (1900 GMT) at the Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C. This campaign-style rally will be his first major speech in the capital since January 6, 2021, when he encouraged supporters to protest his election defeat.
When is the inauguration ceremony?
The inauguration ceremony will take place on Monday, January 20, inside the Capitol Rotunda in Washington, D.C. Trump will take the oath of office at midday local time (5 p.m. GMT), following the swearing-in of Vice President-elect JD Vance.
Who is invited to the ceremony?
The guest list for a U.S. presidential inauguration typically includes a mix of government officials, dignitaries, and invited guests. For the first time in U.S. history, the following foreign leaders have been invited to attend a presidential inauguration.
- Giorgia Meloni, Prime Minister of Italy
- Javier Milei, President of Argentina
- Han Zheng, Vice President of China, representing President Xi Jinping
- Nayib Bukele, President of El Salvador
- Salome Zourabichvili, former President of Georgia
- Benjamin Netanyahu, Prime Minister of Israel
- Viktor Orbán, Prime Minister of Hungary
- Liz Truss, former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
Notably, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine was not extended an invitation, though President-elect Trump has expressed openness to his attendance.
Moreover, former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro was invited but requires the return of his confiscated passport to attend.
What happens at the Inauguration?
The day’s events will begin with a formal procession to the Capitol, during which the outgoing president traditionally accompanies the incoming president to the swearing-in ceremony.
The Vice President-elect will be sworn in first, followed by the President-elect, who will take the oath of office with his hand placed on a Bible, typically held by his spouse. The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court will oversee the ceremony.
After taking the oath, Trump will deliver his inaugural address. He and former First Lady Melania Trump will then depart the ceremony by helicopter.
Following the inauguration, Trump will carry out his first presidential actions in the President’s Room of the Senate chamber, signing executive orders or nominations. The day will conclude with an inaugural luncheon, including speeches and toasts to commemorate the start of his second term.
