Donald J. Trump's Inauguration as the 47th President of the United States
On Monday, 20 January 2025, the United States will witness Donald J. Trump's second inauguration, this time as the 47th POTUS.
The inauguration is a formal event to mark the beginning of a new presidency, and it involves a ceremonial induction into office. It is usually held around two and a half months after the presidential elections, and its core component is the president-elect taking the oath of office, which is mandated by the United States Constitution.
Most inaugurations have been held in Washington D. C., more specifically at the west front of the Capitol, the seat of Congress as the legislative branch of the U. S. government, facing the National Mall with its iconic Washington Monument and the distant Lincoln Memorial.
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| Inauguration of President Barack H. Obama, 2013, https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/photos-and-video/photo/2013/01/panoramic-view-west-front-us-capitol |
Inaugurations are social events as much as political ones, often with hundreds of thousands of spectators descending onto Washington and parades as well as other social gatherings. Often, the event is used by protesters to express their opposition to or concern about the president-elect and their politics. However, they are also an opportunity to unite all state representatives, regardless of political affiliation, as well as to invite foreign dignitaries.
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| Donald J. Trump taking the oath of office as the 45th President of the United States, Jan 20, 2017, https://www.nbcnews.com/podcast/inside-impeachment/transcript-president-s-oath-n1111861 |
The vice-president-elect first pledges allegiance to the Constitution of the United States, and after that the president-elect recites the oath:
"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."
Besides the oath of office, other ceremonial elements are also central to the proceedings, among them the inaugural address, which is the speech the newly inaugurated presidents deliver and in which they set out their objectives for their presidency and outline the vision they build their presidency on. Some speeches have entered cultural memory owing to the orator's eloquence and their memorable statements. Among them is John F. Kennedy's "And so my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you - ask what you can do for your country."
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| Inauguration of John F. Kennedy, 1961; https://teachingamericanhistory.org/document/inaugural-address-2/ |
Due to projected low temperatures and wind gusts, caused by a polar vortex, this year's inauguration ceremony has been moved into the U. S. Capitol and will be held in its Rotunda.
CNN: Trump's inauguration to be moved indoors
Another important element of the inaugural events is the presidential parade which usually takes place on Pennsylvania Avenue in the heart Washington D. C. Again, due to the weather conditions, it will be relocated to the Capitol One Arena.
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| President Ronald Reagan and his wife Nancy during the Inaugural Parade, 1981 |
After that, the newly inaugurated president heads to the White House, the official presidential residence for the 4-year-term. The Oval Office, the official workplace of the president, will be the place for another ceremony.
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| President George W. Bush in the Oval Office of the White House, 2003; https://www.georgewbushlibrary.gov/bush-family/george-w-bush |
The day of the inauguration draws to a close with a series of inaugural balls which cater to a diverse audience: military service members, supporters, and the big donors whose financial contributions have made all of this possible, in the first place.
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| Bill and Hillary Clinton at the Inaugural Ball, 1993 |
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