Donald Trump will take the oath of office on Monday, making a stunning comeback as president of the United States.
Following his loss in the 2020 election, many believed Trump’s political future was over. Additionally, critics questioned whether scandal would overshadow his legacy.
After all, his false allegations of election fraud stooped the US Capitol on January 6, 2021. Then, he faced four criminal indictments: one for allegedly withholding classified documents, one for falsifying business records, and two for accusations of election interference.
Trump, however, won his most significant victory in a November election by winning both the symbolic popular vote and the Electoral College.
His latest inauguration is set to bring together several former critics-turned-allies, among them powerful members of the country’s tech elite.
What happens during a US presidential inauguration, who will be attending, and what can it tell us about Trump’s return to power? In this brief explanation, we answer all of those questions.
What is an inauguration?
In the United States, a presidential inauguration is when a president-elect takes the oath of office and formally begins their four-year term.
To swear in, the president-elect usually places their hand on a bible, although some have opted for another book of spiritual or political significance.
After reciting the oath of office, the new president offers inaugural remarks to a gathered crowd of supporters, government officials and foreign dignitaries.
What is stated on the office oath?
The oath comes from Article II in Section I of the US Constitution.
It reads: “I do solemnly swear that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States”.
What book will be Trump’s official book?
Trump wore the same bible as Abraham Lincoln during his first inauguration in 1861. Additionally, his late mother, Mary Anne MacLeod Trump, gave him a second bible.
According to reports in the media, Trump will likely use both his mother’s book and the Lincoln bible this year.
Trump has also used the occasion to promote sales of the special edition “Inauguration Day” bible, which is currently priced at $699.99.
In a website promotional video, Trump states that “the biggest thing we have to bring back to America is God” to restore it to its former glory.
The inauguration will take place when and where?
The inauguration will be held at 12pm Eastern Time (17: 00 GMT) on January 20, 2025.
The ceremony was originally supposed to take place outdoors, on the west front of the US Capitol, facing a park called the National Mall, in Washington, DC.
But icy temperatures forced Trump to reconsider. On Friday, citing safety concerns, he announced that the ceremony would be moved indoors to the Capitol’s rotunda, under its 88-metre-high (288-foot) dome.
That enclosed space, however, will limit the number of attendees. Although the original outdoor event had nearly 250, 000 seats available, Trump has urged his supporters to instead watch a live broadcast at Capitol One Arena, where he will make an appearance later in the day.
What will be the temperature?
As a polar vortex sweeps across the US, early predictions suggested Trump’s second inauguration might be one of the coldest in recent years.
As of Friday, the National Weather Service projected temperatures on Monday at noon to hover around -6 degrees Celsius, or 22 degrees Fahrenheit.
Has the Capitol Rotunda ever hosted a president’s inauguration?
Just one. Ronald Reagan, who had previously assumed office in 1985, also faced icy conditions. The temperature hit -14 degrees Celsius, or just 7 degrees Fahrenheit, even lower than what’s forecast for Monday.
So, like Trump, Reagan made the decision to move his inauguration indoors, to the Capitol Rotunda.
Other presidents, however, have held their ceremonies in other parts of the Capitol, like inside the Senate chamber, though outdoor ceremonies have become increasingly standard.
Who will be attending?
Although powerful people have always attended presidential inaugurations, the number of attendees for this year has grown.
Three former presidents — Barack Obama, George W Bush and Bill Clinton — will all be in attendance. So will the leaders of the outgoing administration,  , President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris.
On the campaign trail, both Biden and Harris faced Trump. While Biden won his 2020 match-up with Trump, he dropped out of the 2024 race, and Harris, who took his place, ultimately lost.
Trump’s guest list also includes a who’s who of far-right leaders from around the world. The Argentine president Javier Milei, the prime minister of Italy, Giorgia Meloni, the president of the United States, Eric Zemmour, and Nigel Farage, a member of the British Parliament, are all expected to attend.
Given the legal proceedings he faces at home, former Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro attempted to attend, but the Supreme Court of his country determined that he was a flight risk.
Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, Jeff Bezos, Tim Cook, Apple’s Tim Cook, and Mark Zuckerberg, one of the most well-known businessmen, will also play a role in Trump’s re-election.
Despite being hesitant and directly criticized in the past, critics have interpreted the tech billionaires’ presence as a sign that the sector has embraced Trump.
Though he previously called the January 6 insurrection a “shameful day”, Apple’s Tim Cook reportedly donated $1m to Trump’s inauguration ceremony.
Cook is not alone. In a sign of the business world’s efforts to win favour with the incoming administration, Trump’s inauguration fund had raised a record $170m as of January 8.
By the time the ceremony unfolds, some insiders expect the total to top $200m.
These funds help pay for both the inauguration itself and related expenses, such as parades and private balls.
Google, Amazon, Microsoft and Meta have said they would donate $1m, along with Sam Altman, the CEO of OpenAI, who donated $1m.
Other big donors include the pharmaceutical company Pfizer, the financial services company Intuit, the stock-trading app Robinhood, and automakers like Ford and General Motors.
Trump’s previous inauguration also racked up a record haul of donations, topping $106.7m. By contrast, Biden only received $61.8m in donations for his 2021 ceremony.
Who will perform at the inauguration?
Trump famously struggled to find performers for his 2017 inauguration — but this year, that’s not the case.
Country singer Lee Greenwood will reprise his hit song “God Bless the USA,” which is a well-known addition to Trump’s soundtrack for the campaign trail, while pop star Carrie Underwood will sing the song “America the Beautiful.”
Meanwhile, opera singer Christopher Macchio will offer his rendition of the national anthem.
The disco song YMCA, a Trump favorite, will also be performed by Village People.
What was the US flag’s controversy?
Former US president Jimmy Carter passed away on December 29 at the age of 100. In accordance with tradition, 30-day mourning days were held on federal buildings.
But that 30-day period overlapped with the inauguration, and Trump objected to having half-mast flags waving over his ceremony.
Trump wrote on social media this month that “the Democrats are all “giddy” about the possibility of our magnificent American flag being “half mast” during my inauguration. No American can be happy about it, and no one wants to see it.
Mike Johnson, the Republican speaker of the House of Representatives, ultimately sided with Trump, requesting the flags be pulled up to full height on Monday. He did, however, specify that they would be lowered again the following day.
This marks a break in presidential tradition. In the past, flags have been raised throughout the duration of the day’s mourning, as was the case in 1973, when President Richard Nixon took the second oath of office while honoring Harry Truman as one of his aides.
Will there be protests?
In opposition to his far-right policies, demonstrators took to the streets in protest of Trump’s administration when he took office in 2017.
On the day of Trump’s first inauguration, more than 200 protesters were detained, but almost all of the charges against them were dropped.
Then, on the day after, nearly 500, 000 people joined the Women’s March on Washington, marking one of the largest single-day protests the city has ever seen. Nationwide, nearly four million people participated in the local versions of the Women’s March.
This time around, however, the reaction appears more muted. Few people anticipate demonstrations of the same magnitude as those in 2017 despite the fact that protests are expected to occur.
What about security?
Security is expected to be high, especially after the attempt on Trump’s life last July, when he was shot in the ear while campaigning in Butler, Pennsylvania.
Nearly 48 kilometres, or 30 miles, of fencing have been set up around the Capitol, the most ever installed. The barrier is two meters (7 feet) high, making it impossible for people to cross it.
An estimated 25, 000 law enforcement agents are also expected to be patrolling the capital, including 7, 800 National Guard members.
City authorities in Washington, DC, have said that there will be road closures near the inauguration, and ticket-holders will have to pass through a security screening before entering any related event.
What is the anticipated crowd size?
Donald Trump’s inauguration day crowd is no exception to the rule. The crowd size is a big deal to him.
Although this was untrue, Trump spent weeks insisting that he had attracted the largest inaugural crowd ever.
About 220, 000 tickets have been released for this year’s inauguration, with space available for about 250, 000.
Source: Aljazeera
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