Trump Returns to the White House with the Slogan “Unity, Strength, and Justice”
The inauguration ceremony will be attended by numerous government officials. President Joe Biden, along with former U.S. presidents Barack Obama, George W. Bush, and Bill Clinton, confirmed their attendance. First Ladies Jill Biden, Laura Bush, and Hillary Clinton will also be present, while Michelle Obama will be absent. Vice President Kamala Harris, who ran against Trump in the last presidential election and lost, will also attend.
Global Attendance Several world leaders will attend the inauguration, including Argentine President Javier Milei, Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya, and Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar. Chinese Vice President Han Zheng will also attend, representing President Xi Jinping, who declined the invitation but sent his deputy as a special envoy—a gesture seen by some as a positive shift from Beijing’s usual practice of sending only its U.S. ambassador to such events. Over 20 Democratic lawmakers, including former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Ilhan Omar, and Adam Smith, have announced their absence from the event.
Notable tech executives, including Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg, and TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew, will also be present. Other attendees include OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, Google CEO Sundar Pichai, and Apple CEO Tim Cook.
Star-Studded Celebration The inauguration will feature performances by country music star Carrie Underwood, who will sing “America the Beautiful,” and Christopher Macchio, who will perform the national anthem. Other celebrities such as Kid Rock, Billy Ray Cyrus, Rascal Flatts, Caitlyn Jenner, Amber Rose, and Megyn Kelly will also participate.
Thousands in the Capital Local and federal law enforcement agencies anticipate over 200,000 attendees in Washington, D.C., for the inauguration events. Nearby shops are selling Trump-themed merchandise and memorabilia amid a festive atmosphere that has lasted throughout the weekend. Some event schedules were adjusted due to a cold wave sweeping the capital.
The main events, including the oath-taking ceremony, will be moved indoors to the Capitol Rotunda. Trump announced on his Truth Social platform plans to use large television screens for public viewing, prayers at St. John’s Church in Lafayette Square, and his inaugural address.
After his speech and oath, Trump will attend a lunch hosted by the Joint Congressional Committee, followed by three evening events: the Commander-in-Chief Ball, the Freedom Ball, and the Starlight Ball—traditional parts of the inauguration festivities. On Tuesday morning, the 47th U.S. president will participate in an interfaith prayer service at Washington National Cathedral.
Trump’s private jet landed at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland, accompanied by his wife Melania and other family members, to kick off the celebrations that will continue through Tuesday morning.
The president-elect’s agenda includes a visit to Arlington National Cemetery to lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, followed by a public rally near the National Mall. There, Trump will deliver a rousing speech under the slogan “Make America Great Again.”
Tech billionaire Elon Musk and Trump’s friend Dana White will also speak at the event. In the evening, Trump will attend a dinner hosted by his prominent donors and business leaders. He plans to visit California during his first week in office, addressing the recent wildfires in Los Angeles that have claimed over 20 lives and caused millions of dollars in damage.
