Donald Trump will promise a “thrilling new era” for America in his inaugural address at the US Capitol on Monday after he is sworn-in as the 47th commander-in-chief of the United States.
Trump will become the first president since Grover Cleveland to enter the White House for a non-consecutive second term, with the ceremony driven indoors for the first time since Ronald Reagan’s second inauguration in 1985 by the punishing sub-zero temperatures currently blasting Washington DC.
“I return to the presidency confident and optimistic that we are at the start of a thrilling new era of national success,” the Republican will say, according to pre-released excerpts of his speech.
“A tide of change is sweeping the country.”
On day one, the president-elect has plans in place to sign more than 200 executive orders – a record – covering everything from border security and energy, ending birthright citizenship, and renaming the Gulf of Mexico.
President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden greeted the incoming president and Melania Trump at the White House by saying: “Welcome home.”
Key Points
- Donald Trump to call for ‘revolution of common sense’ in inaugural address
- Trump to sign more than 200 executive orders on first day in office, report says
- How to watch Trump’s swearing-in ceremony as America’s 47th president
- What is today’s schedule of events?
- Why is Trump’s inauguration taking place indoors for the first time in 40 years?
Watch: Biden and Trump arrive at US Capitol
16:06
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Oliver O'Connell
President Biden and President-elect Trump arrive at the U.S. Capitol for the Inauguration. pic.twitter.com/sdzHkIIwOq
— CSPAN (@cspan) January 20, 2025
Emancipation Hall looked very different shortly before the last inauguration
16:05
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Oliver O'Connell
With Emancipation Hall acting as the overflow room for today’s indoor inauguration, HuffPost’s Igor Bobic notes that it looked very different just over four years ago before Joe Biden was sworn into office in the aftermath of the January 6 attack on the US Capitol.
What Emancipation Hall, the inauguration overflow room, looked like a week before the last inauguration (feat. then-Rep. Andy Kim walking around as stunned as I was) pic.twitter.com/tO7C0er8Lt
— Igor Bobic (@igorbobic) January 20, 2025
Which world leaders are dignitaries are attending the inauguration?
15:57
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Gustaf Kilander
As Donald Trump returns to the White House, here are some of the world leaders and other guests attending the inauguration:
China’s vice president attends Trump inauguration
15:55
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Oliver O'Connell
Don Jr’s children Don III and Kai Trump will watch from Emancipation Hall
15:48
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Oliver O'Connell
Today is the day! pic.twitter.com/yoSmnJtIqo
— Kai Trump (@kaitrump) January 20, 2025
Watch: Trump and Biden head to the inauguration at the US Capitol
15:46
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Oliver O'Connell
President Biden and President-elect Donald Trump depart the White House en route to the Capitol for the Inauguration. pic.twitter.com/tvsOyTUfbl
— CSPAN (@cspan) January 20, 2025
Biden and Trump depart White House for US Capitol
15:45
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Oliver O'Connell
Jake and Logan Paul and Conor McGregor are also guests at the inauguration
15:44
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Oliver O'Connell
Inauguration going great pic.twitter.com/VTl3j1JHLG
— Jake Paul (@jakepaul) January 20, 2025
Harris and Vance en route to Capitol
15:43
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Oliver O'Connell
Biden has written traditional letter to new president
15:40
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Oliver O'Connell
In the scene at the North Portico, when the Bidens were waiting for the Trumps to arrive, President Joe Biden was asked if he had written a letter to Donald Trump. He said: “Yes.”
When asked what he said, Biden said: “That’s between Trump and me.”
The letter is placed on the desk in the Oval Office, and the content is rarely disclosed by the new president.
Also, in answer to the question about “What’s your message today,” Biden first said “joy” then paused a bit and said “hope.”
Elon Musk takes his seat for inauguration
15:37
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Oliver O'Connell
Trump and Biden will share a limo ride to inauguration – four years after president-elect snubbed tradition
15:35
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Oliver O'Connell
Four years after President-elect Donald Trump snubbed President Joe Biden in the traditional transfer of power out of anger, the two will set aside any animosity to have tea and share a limousine ride to the Capitol for the swearing-in ceremony.
Ariana Baio reports.
As Bidens and Trump have tea, Oval Office redecoration gets underway
15:35
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Andrew Feinberg
Workers have begun the process of redecorating the Oval Office for President-elect Donald Trump as he and incoming first lady Melania Trump meet with President Biden and First Lady Jill Biden for tea.
The Independent spotted carts being pushed to and from the Oval by White House staff containing various framed paintings and other objets d'art, including what appeared to be a miniature of the equestrian statue depicting President Andrew Jackson that stands across the street from the White House in Lafayette Park.
No seat in the Rotunda?
15:32
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Oliver O'Connell
The second hottest ticket in town on Capitol Hill is Emancipation Hall — where Trump is expect to speak after being sworn in.
After Rotunda, second-hottest ticket is Emancipation Hall, where Trump is expected to speak shortly after being sworn in pic.twitter.com/VoQUXeGwuy
— Burgess Everett (@burgessev) January 20, 2025
Tech bros Mark Zuckerberg, Jeff Bezos and Tim Cook all sat together in church
15:30
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Oliver O'Connell
Tech bros Mark Zuckerberg, Jeff Bezos and Tim Cook were seen sitting together at the inaugural church service for President-elect Donald Trump on Monday.
The Meta CEO, Amazon founder and Apple CEO, respectively, were seen at the St. John’s Episcopal Church in Lafayette Square across from the White House on Monday. Also in pews were Google CEO Sundar Pichai and the former executive chairman of Fox Corp Rupert Murdoch.
Another addition to the Trump church crew was podcaster Joe Rogan.
Gustaf Kilander reports.
Trump allies gather at the Capitol
15:28
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Oliver O'Connell
Bernice King is glad Trump’s inauguration falls on her father’s holiday. She sees it as a wake-up call
15:22
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Oliver O'Connell
The youngest child of Rev. Martin Luther King Jr didn’t want Donald Trump to become the next president — but Dr Bernice King believes Trump’s inauguration taking place on the same day as the federal holiday honoring her father is a small win.
“I’m glad that if it was going to happen, it happened on the King holiday because Dr King is still speaking to us,” she told The Independent.
Michelle Del Rey reports.
15:18
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Oliver O'Connell
Watch: Bidens welcome Donald and Melania Trump back to the White House
15:16
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Oliver O'Connell
President Biden and First Lady Dr. Jill Biden welcome President-elect Donald Trump and Melania Trump to the White House on Inauguration Day. pic.twitter.com/ZfwafhfN1B
— CSPAN (@cspan) January 20, 2025
Markets optimistic as Trump returns to the White House
15:14
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Oliver O'Connell
In anticipation of President-elect Donald Trump becoming the 47th president of the United States, investors are confident that the U.S. stock market will see a positive reaction - similar to when he was inaugurated in 2017.
Trump is entering office with high economic expectations since he has promised lower inflation, lower taxes, increased domestic business, affordable housing, tariffs on foreign goods, looser regulations and more.
That, combined with his experience as a businessman, has made investors “enthusiastic” about his return to the White House.
Ariana Baio reports.
Bidens welcome Trumps to White House
15:02
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Oliver O'Connell
The Bidens stepped out onto the North Portico of the White House at 9:54 a.m.
Asked what his message is today, the president replied: “Joy.”
The Trump motorcade pulled up to North Portico at 9:54 a.m. Trump stepped out of SUV and Biden said: “Welcome home.”
The two presidents did not respond to shouted questions. The two couples walked inside at 9:55 a.m.
Trump texts ‘Meet the Press’ moderator reaction Biden’s pre-emptive pardons
14:57
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Oliver O'Connell
Kristen Welker, moderator of NBC News’ Meet the Press tweeted that Donald Trump texted her his reaction to President Joe Biden’s pre-emptive pardons of January 6 committee members, Dr Anthony Fauci, and Mark Milley.
“It is disgraceful. Many are guilty of MAJOR CRIMES! DJT”
NEW: President-elect Trump texted me his reaction to President Biden's preemptive pardons of the Jan. 6 committee and witnesses, Anthony Fauci and Mark Milley.
— Kristen Welker (@kwelkernbc) January 20, 2025
“It is disgraceful. Many are guilty of MAJOR CRIMES! DJT”
Trump administration to erase recognition of transgender people
14:49
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Andrew Feinberg
President-elect Donald Trump will sign a pair of executive orders intended to roll back the Biden administration's efforts to recognize and accommodate transgender people at the federal level and end federal efforts to promote Diversity, Equity and Inclusion programs, an incoming Trump White House aide has said.
In a briefing call with reporters ahead of Trump's inauguration, the incoming official said Trump would sign the orders shortly after taking office on Monday.
The first order would state that it is “the policy of the United States to recognize two sexes, male and female” as “sexes that are not changeable and ... grounded in fundamental and incontrovertible reality.”
“The definitions of these, sex means an individual's immutable biological classifications, either male or female and woman means biological female, man, biological male. Female is then being defined not through chromosomes, but female means a person belonging at conception to the sex that produces the large reproductive cell,” the official said, adding that the incoming administration is not defining sex by a person's chromosomes because “the binary nature of sex ... is deeper than [a person's genetic makeup].”
The official also said Trump would order the State Department, the Department of Homeland Security and other departments to "ensure that official government documents, including passports and visas, reflect sex accurately."
Harris and Emhoff greet the Vances
14:47
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Oliver O'Connell
Vice President Kamala Harris and Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff stepped onto the North Portico of the White House at 9:32 a.m.
The Vance motorcade pulled in a minute later. JD Vance and Usha Vance stepped up for a handshake, with Harris wishing the incoming vice president “congratulations.”
Before the Vances arrived, Harris was asked how she was feeling about this day, and she said, “This is democracy in action.”
The two couples posed for photos and then walked inside at 9:35 a.m.
Stressed about Trump’s return? You’re not alone
14:45
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Joe Sommerlad
As Donald Trump returns to the White House, Richard Hall speaks to therapists about how their (mostly liberal) clients are preparing for the chaos of a second term.
Bidens welcome Kamala Harris and Doug Emhoff to White House
14:44
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Oliver O'Connell
Trump allies gather for church service at St. John’s
14:41
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Oliver O'Connell
Trump entered the church at 8:46 a.m., wearing a white shirt, dark suit, and dark overcoat. He was accompanied by Melania Trump (wearing a dark suit and a wide-brimmed hat with a white band) and Barron Trump, though from the pool's limited vantage point, it was unclear whether others also came in with him.
Trump, Melania, and Barron took seats in the front pew. Just prior to their arrival, Jared Kushner also entered the church.
Among others the pool was able to spot in attendance: Mark Zuckerberg, Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez, and former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who are all sitting in the same row.
The church service ended after roughly 25 minutes, closing out with a rendition of “America the Beautiful.”
Trump, holding hands with Melania and trailed by Barron, exited the church at 9:16 a.m. He nodded acknowledgment to several attendees on the way out, and briefly patted Argentinean President Javier Milei on the arm.
Ivanka Trump, Jared Kushner, Lara Trump, Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump were among the family who followed the president-elect out.
Some others in attendance: Apple's Tim Cook, Rupert Murdoch, Sen. Marco Rubio, Sean Duffy, TikTok CEO Shou Chew, Elon Musk, Rep. Mike Waltz, Pam Bondi, Howard Lutnick, Doug Burgum.
Joe Biden posts a last White House selfie with Jill
14:37
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Oliver O'Connell
One more selfie for the road. We love you, America. pic.twitter.com/71k46uGADV
— President Biden (@POTUS) January 20, 2025
Tech bros and Trump family join president-elect at church service
14:36
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Oliver O'Connell
Trump executive order to address inflation and declare ‘national energy emergency'
14:35
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John Bowden
Donald Trump is set to sign several executive orders, including one to address inflation, one declaring a “national energy emergency” to cut regulations for energy production, and one to free up oil and gas reserves in Alaska.
According to an incoming White House official: “The president is set to sign a national energy emergency. And the rationale for this national energy emergency is that high costs of energy are unnecessary. They are by design. It is a cause of policy. We can address that, but it's intuitive for the American people over the past four years, and something that we immediately need to rectify our nation's prosperity.
“In addition to that, curtailing our energy production by design through policy under the previous administration is an unnecessary burden on the exercise of our foreign policy abroad, especially through American energy dominance.”
They continue: “And in addition, the National Energy emergency is crucial because we are in an AI race with China, and our ability to produce domestic American energy is so crucial such that we can generate the electricity and power that's needed to stay at the Global forefront of technology. The national energy emergency will unlock a variety of different authorities that will enable our nation to quickly build again, to produce more natural resources, to create jobs, to create prosperity, and to strengthen our nation's national security.”
Trump to sign 10 executive order on immigration
14:33
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Alex Woodward
An incoming White House official gave a summary of the 10 immigration executive orders.
They will declare a national emergency at the border to erect physical barriers and deploy military resources; reinstate “Remain in Mexico”; designate cartels as foreign terrorist organizations and Specially Designated Global Terrorists; freeze asylum claims; end birthright citizenship; “protect the American people from invasion” and deploy Homeland Security task forces to cooperate with state and local law enforcement; the death penalty for the murder of law enforcement officers and capital crimes committed by “illegal aliens” will be introduced and state attorneys general will be empowered to do the same at state level.
Immigration attorneys are waiting on the exact wording from the orders before deciding on the next steps for their clients and the many, many immigration-related cases pending across the country.
Read more about that here:
The man who became Trump’s most powerful weapon in his war on woke
14:30
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Joe Sommerlad
With ties to the controversial Project 2025 and as the kingmaker of the Supreme Court, faith-driven operator Leonard Leo is at the center of the new conservative movement declaring war on liberal America.
After their success with overturning abortion rights, a second Trump term is setting their sights on everything from gay marriage to access to contraception.
Alex Hannaford reports.
In pictures: US Capitol Rotunda awaits arrival of inauguration guests
14:24
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Oliver O'Connell
Nelly responds to backlash over performance at Trump inauguration ball: ‘I’m not doing this for money’
14:20
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Oliver O'Connell
Snoop is not the only rapper under fire for choosing to be part of the Republican’s celebrations.
Nelly, AKA Cornell Iral Haynes Jr, is set to perform at the Inaugural Liberty Ball in Washington today and spent his Saturday defending his decision on the Willie D Live podcast.
Tom Murray has this one too.
Putin congratulates Trump on taking office
14:15
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Oliver O'Connell
Russian President Vladimir Putin congratulated U.S. President-elect Donald Trump on taking office hours before Trump's inauguration in Washington and said he was open to dialogue with the new U.S. administration on Ukraine and nuclear arms.
Putin, who said he wanted to secure long-lasting peace in Ukraine rather than a short ceasefire, made the comments during a meeting of Russia's Security Council.
Reuters
In pictures: Trumps and Vances attend service at St. John's Church
14:13
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Oliver O'Connell
Last-minute plan to shift Trump’s inauguration indoors leaves lawmakers scrambling for seats
14:10
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Oliver O'Connell
Lawmakers have branded President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration a “s***show” after the ceremony was forced to move indoors where there aren’t enough chairs, according to a report.
Freezing weather threw inauguration plans into chaos last week, with Trump’s team announcing on Friday that the ceremony would be held inside the Capitol’s Rotunda — but there won’t be room for everybody.
Officials have had to scramble to attempt to squeeze hundreds of dignitaries, members of Congress, former presidents and first ladies, the media, and other VIP guests into the Rotunda, which is approximately 7,200 square feet.
“Simply put, there’s not enough room,” one senior Republican aide told Politico. “It’s a s***show.”
Rhian Lubin reports.
Sarah Huckabee Sanders, Tom Homan and Kellyanne Conway to speak at Capital One Arena
14:09
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Oliver O'Connell
The Governor of Arkansas, Sarah Huckabee Sanders, along with the "border czar," Tom Homan, and former White House advisor, Kellyanne Conway, are scheduled to deliver remarks today at the Capital One Arena, as reported by ABC News, citing sources acquainted with the planning procedures.
Elon Musk, who briefly addressed Donald Trump’s victory rally last night, will also be on the speaker list.
The newly inaugurated president will also attend a portion of the modified inaugural “parade,” which has been moved inside due to the freezing weather.
In the evening, Trump will participate in an Oval Office Signing Ceremony of more executive orders, followed by the Commander-in-Chief Ball, the Liberty Ball, and the Starlight Ball.
Trump vows to release secret files on major US assassinations ‘in days’ after decades of conspiracy theories
14:00
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Joe Sommerlad
The president-elect has pledged to release top secret files on some of the most notorious political assassinations in American history as soon as he takes office.
“In the coming days, we are going to make public remaining records related to the assassinations of President John F Kennedy, his brother Robert F Kennedy, as well as Dr Martin Luther King Jr and