President Donald Trump’s inauguration, marking the commencement of his second term, is scheduled for today. This event signifies the formal transfer of presidential power from the Biden administration back to the Trump administration. The 20th Amendment mandates that a president’s term concludes at noon on January 20th, with the president-elect sworn in shortly after.
The Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies, headed by Senator Amy Klobuchar, a Democrat from Minnesota, meticulously plans the day’s events. These include the procession to the Capitol, the vice president’s swearing-in, the president’s swearing-in, the inaugural address, the departure of the outgoing president and vice president, a signing ceremony for nominations and orders, the inaugural luncheon, a military troop review, and the presidential parade, relocated to Capital One Arena due to anticipated cold weather. The theme for this inauguration is “Our Enduring Democracy: A Constitutional Promise.”
The inauguration ceremony is expected to commence around 11:30 a.m. Eastern Time, culminating in Trump’s swearing-in at approximately noon. Initially planned for the West Front of the U.S. Capitol, the ceremony has been moved indoors to the Capitol Rotunda due to predicted cold temperatures in Washington, D.C.
While the exact duration of the inauguration ceremony remains undetermined, previous inaugurations, such as Trump’s in 2017 and Biden’s in 2021, lasted approximately one hour.
The Trump-Vance Inaugural Committee has released the schedule of events. The ceremony will open with musical performances by the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Combined Choirs and “The President’s Own” U.S. Marine Band. Following an invocation by Cardinal Timothy Dolan and Reverend Franklin Graham, opera singer Christopher Macchio will perform “Oh, America!”
Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh, appointed by Trump in 2018, will administer the vice presidential oath to JD Vance. Country music star Carrie Underwood, accompanied by the Armed Forces Chorus and the U.S. Naval Academy Glee Club, will then perform “America the Beautiful.”
Chief Justice John Roberts will administer the presidential oath of office to Donald Trump. The Naval Academy Glee Club will perform “The Battle Hymn of the Republic,” followed by President Trump’s inaugural address.
The ceremony will conclude with a benediction from several religious leaders, including Rabbi Dr. Ari Berman, Imam Husham Al-Husainy, Pastor Lorenzo Sewell, and Father Frank Mann. Christopher Macchio will return to perform the national anthem.
