President Donald Trump’s inauguration ceremony in 2017. Photo:
Getty
After winning the 2024 Presidential Election, Donald Trump will be sworn in as the 47th president of the United States on Inauguration Day.
The president-elect will take over the role alongside vice president-elect J.D. Vance, who will become the 50th vice president. The public festivities will start at 9:30 a.m. EST in Washington D.C. on Jan. 20 and will include musical performances and multiple speeches. However, due to extremely cold temperatures expected on Inauguration Day, the main swearing-in ceremony will be held inside the Capitol building.
Country star Carrie Underwood will take the stage for the swearing-in ceremony. Trump himself will address the nation with the traditional inaugural address.
The ceremony will be streamed by the White House as well as by major news outlets, including ABC, CNN, NBC and Fox News.
From who will perform to who will attend, here’s everything to know about the 2025 presidential inauguration.
A worker walks along the platform stage on the West Front of the US Capitol building, where the presidential inauguration traditionally takes place, on Jan. 17, 2025,. Mandel NGAN / AFP via Getty
The 60th presidential inauguration ceremony will take place on Jan. 20, 2025, starting at 9:30 a.m. EST in Washington D.C.
The ceremony will be held indoors due to extremely cold temperatures expected in the area, Trump announced on Truth Social on Jan. 17. According to the president-elect, the Inauguration Address, prayers and other speeches will be delivered in the United States Capitol Rotunda, rather than on the West Front of the Capitol. The rotunda, which is enclosed by the dome of the Capitol, will be out of sight from the public.
U.S. President Donald Trump takes the oath of office as his wife Melania Trump holds the bible on Jan. 20, 2017 in Washington, DC. Getty
Inauguration Day is an American tradition in which the president-elect takes an oath to become the country’s next leader and steps into the position immediately after. The day will kick off at 9:30 a.m. with musical performances, followed by opening remarks at 11:30 a.m.
Before Trump makes his public appearance, he will take part in a service at St. John’s Church followed by tea at the White House.
At 12 p.m., Trump will officially be sworn in as the next U.S. president when he places his hand on the Bible and takes the presidential oath of office, which per the Constitution reads, “I do solemnly swear (or affirm) 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.”
Vance will also take an oath of office before he becomes vice president. Trump will then address the nation in his inaugural address, in which he will lay out his goals for the next four years of his presidency.
Next, Trump will head into the President’s Room, where he will sign key documents before attending a lunch hosted by the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies. Later, he will make his way to the White House to participate in the Oval Office signing ceremony.
He will then attend three separate balls — the Commander-in-Chief Ball, the Liberty Inaugural Ball and the Starlight Ball — and give a speech at each.
Barack Obama; Joe Biden; Jeff Bezos. Getty(2); NBCUniversal/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty
Per tradition, the outgoing president and their partner attend the inauguration, meaning President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden are expected to attend, though Trump chose to forego Biden’s inauguration in January 2021.
In addition to the president-elect and vice president-elect’s families, outgoing Vice President Kamala Harris and second gentleman Doug Emhoff are also expected at the ceremony.
Additionally, many U.S. government officials will also make an appearance at the event, including former presidents and first ladies. However, this year, Michelle Obama confirmed she will not join her husband, former President Barack Obama, at the ceremony.
“There’s no overstating her feelings about [Trump]. She’s not one to plaster on a pleasant face and pretend for protocol’s sake,” a source close to Michelle said of why the former first lady is forgoing the day. “Michelle doesn’t do anything because it’s expected or it’s protocol or it’s tradition.”
Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi also confirmed she will not be present.
Three tech billionaires — Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg and Jeff Bezos — will also be joining around 200,000 attendees at the ceremony, per NBC. The outlet confirmed they will have a prominent spot seated alongside other notable guests such as Trump’s Cabinet nominees and elected officials.
Carrie Underwood performs at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony in 2023. Kevin Mazur/Getty Images
The swearing-in ceremony will see three musical performances, including Underwood, Christopher Macchio and Lee Greenwood. Underwood will sing “America the Beautiful,” while Macchio will perform the national anthem.
“I love our country and am honored to have been asked to sing at the Inauguration and to be a small part of this historic event,” the American Idol winner said in a statement to PEOPLE. “I am humbled to answer the call at a time when we must all come together in the spirit of unity and looking to the future.”
The Village People will perform at the Liberty Ball alongside Jason Aldean and a surprise musical guest.
The Commander-in-Chief Ball will feature performances by Rascal Flatts and Parker McCollum, while the Starlight Ball will see Gavin DeGraw take the stage.
Presidential Inaugural Parade. Photo by Mike Coppola/Getty Images
The White House and various news channels will stream the inauguration live. Fox News and ABC will start airing their coverage as early as 9 a.m.
Meanwhile, NBC will kick off its programming with a special edition of the Today show starting at 7 a.m. EST. and a new program starting at 10 a.m. led by Savannah Guthrie and Lester Holt.
CNN will start airing its The Inauguration of Donald Trump special live coverage starting at 7 a.m. with anchors Anderson Cooper and Jake Tapper.
