Donald Trump uses eve of inauguration to celebrate return to power

19 January 2025, 12:54

The backs of Donald and Melania Trump watching fireworks
APTOPIX Trump Inauguration. Picture: PA

The US president-elect will attend a series of events on Sunday and give speeches to fire up his core support.

US President-elect Donald Trump is spending the eve of his inauguration at a series of Washington events that celebrate his return to power and his “Make America Great Again” movement as he prepares to move back into the White House at a time of deep national political divisions.

Washington has prepared in unprecedented ways to keep the unfolding events safe and secure. But unlike when Mr Trump helped spark a mob of his supporters to attack the Capitol and tried to retain power in 2021 after his loss to Democrat Joe Biden, officials are not expecting massive protests, unrest and violence this time.

Instead, the city is braced for crowds celebrating his second term and MAGA’s total control of the Republican Party.

It is a remarkable turnaround after Mr Trump left the nation’s capital four years ago in disgrace and skipped the inauguration of his successor.

Donald Trump waving, next to wife Melania, while officials salute
Donald Trump and his wife Melania after arriving in Washington (Alex Brandon/AP)

He blasted his way through the 2024 GOP presidential primary and won November’s election by an Electoral College margin unseen since Democrat Barack Obama was re-elected in 2012.

Yet even with that comfortable victory and his party in full, albeit narrow, control of Congress, the incoming president remains one of the most polarising figures in US history, with nearly as many fierce detractors as ardent supporters.

That means it could be difficult to fulfil post-election pledges about promoting bipartisanship while healing political differences. He told NBC News on Saturday that unity would be a theme of his inauguration speech on Monday at the Capitol, along with strength and fairness.

“January 20th cannot come fast enough!,” he posted on his social media site. “Everybody, even those that initially opposed a Victory by President Donald J. Trump and the Trump Administration, just want it to happen.”

Organisers work to move the Inauguration Day swearing-in ceremony into the Capitol Rotunda
Organisers work to move the Inauguration Day swearing-in ceremony into the Capitol Rotunda (J Scott Applewhite/AP)

Keeping to tradition, Mr Trump spent Saturday night at Blair House, the president’s official guest residence on Pennsylvania Avenue, across from the White House.

He arrived there after a party at his golf club in Sterling, Virginia, about 30 miles west of the city, that illuminated the night sky.

He addressed the crowd there, giving shout-outs to Virginia governor Glenn Youngkin, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, and declaring his Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff a “great negotiator” after his role in helping to negotiate a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas.

Soon after his remarks, Mr Trump stepped out on to a clubhouse balcony while guests gathered on the patio below him for a fireworks display and performance by tenor Christopher Macchio.

He arrived in Washington as organisers of Monday’s Inauguration Day ceremony were scrambling to move most of the outdoor events, including the swearing-in of the president and vice-president that traditionally takes place on the steps of the US Capitol, inside due to forecast sub-zero temperatures.

US flags hanging from the Capitol building
US flags hang from the Capitol ahead of President-elect Donald Trump’s upcoming inauguration (Jon Elswick/AP)

Sunday is Mr Trump’s first full day back in the capital since the election. It gives him a chance to enjoy the moment and fire up his core supporters before Inauguration Day’s heavy dose of official pomp, including the swearing-in at noon.

Mr Trump plans to place a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery before addressing a rally at Capital One Arena.

He is also expected to attend a candlelight dinner where he was expected to speak.

On his final full day in office, Mr Biden has scheduled a trip to South Carolina, a state that holds special meaning after his commanding win in the 2020 Democratic primary there set him up to achieve his life’s goal of being elected president.

Accompanied by his wife, First Lady Jill Biden, Mr Biden will visit a church in North Charleston to worship and speak on the legacy of the Rev Martin Luther King Jr, the White House said. Monday is also the federal holiday honouring the civil rights leader.

The president used his farewell address earlier in the week to warn of a growing “oligarchy” of ultra-rich interests gaining power and threatening the nation’s very democracy.

By Press Association

Latest World News

See more Latest World News

Three Israeli Hostages Released As Part Of Ceasefire Deal

Abuse suffered by Hamas hostages during their 500 days in captivity revealed

Garda

Man arrested after several people reportedly stabbed in Dublin

The plane was forced to make an emergency landing

easyJet flight forced to make emergency landing after pilot collapses on board

Donald Trump has spoken to Vladimir Putin

Trump confirms he 'spoke to Putin about ending war in Ukraine' as Russian president 'wants to see people stop dying'

displaced Gazans walking toward Gaza City on January 27, 2025, after crossing the Netzarim corridor from the southern Gaza Strip.

Israeli troops withdraw from key militarised corridor that splits Gaza in two as part of ceasefire deal

The bodies of Andrew Searle and his wife Dawn were discovered by a neighbour in Les Pesquiès, south of Villefranche-de-Rouergue, on Thursday afternoon.

Mysterious death of British couple in French villa suspected murder-suicide as investigators consider new theories

David Schwimmer has called for Elon Musk to ban Kanye West from X

Friends star David Schwimmer calls for Kanye West to be banned from X over 'hate-filled, ignorant' remarks

The NTSB recovers the debris of a Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk involved in a mid-air collision near DCA in Arlington, VA.

All major parts of DC plane and Black Hawk helicopter involved in mid-air collision recovered, investigators confirm

A Thai hostage who was freed from Hamas, Pongsak Thaenna, hugs a relative upon arrival at Suvarnabhumi International Airport

'We never gave up hope': Freed Thai hostages in tears of joy as they reunite with families after more than a year

'Make Europe Great Again' Rally In Madrid

'Make Europe Great Again': Far-right European political leaders praise Trump at Madrid meeting

Freed Palestinian prisoners are greeted by a crowd as they arrive in the Gaza Strip after being released from an Israeli prison following a ceasefire agreement between Hamas and Israel in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip.

Emotional scenes in West Bank and Gaza as Palestinians reunited with their families after release from Israeli prisons

Israeli hostage reunited with his family.

Emotional moment Israeli hostages reunite with families after being paraded on stage by Hamas

Police officers hold back protesters trying to block the road at the rally.

Protesters clash with police as thousands rally outside proposed site for new Chinese ‘mega-embassy’ in London

Hollyoaks star and country singer thought to be son of British couple shot dead in French villa ‘by UK gangsters’

Hollyoaks star breaks silence over death of mum found dead in French villa with her husband

The Government has ordered Apple to allow it to access encrypted files uploaded to the cloud by any Apple user worldwide, it has been reported.

UK Government orders Apple to give it access to users’ encrypted data in 'unprecedented attack on privacy'

The wreckage of the small commuter plane that crashed in western Alaska has been found

Missing Alaska Bering Air plane found with all 10 people on board confirmed dead