Donald Trump heading to Washington ahead of Monday’s inauguration

18 January 2025, 08:34

Trump Inauguration
Trump Inauguration. Picture: PA

The president-elect will travel to the nation’s capital from Florida.

Donald Trump will return to Washington on Saturday to kick off days of pageantry to herald his second inauguration as president, four years after he departed the city under the shadow of an attack by his supporters on the US Capitol.

The ritualistic changing of power will get under way as Washington’s solemn pomp is paired with Mr Trump’s brand of party: a fireworks showcase at one of his luxury golf properties, guests including tech industry titans, friends from the business world and conservative media stars, and thousands of his supporters streaming in from around the country.

With a blast of Arctic air expected to leave the nation’s capital facing frigid temperatures on Inauguration Day, organisers were also scrambling to move inside most of Monday’s outdoor events, including the swearing-in ceremony.

Mr Trump, a Republican, left office in 2021 as a political pariah after his refusal to accept his loss led a mob to overrun the US Capitol.

Donald Trump
President-elect Donald Trump (John Bazemore/AP)

He then broke tradition by skipping Democrat Joe Biden’s inauguration as his successor.

In a stark contrast with Mr Trump, Mr Biden will adhere to one of the most potent symbols of the democratic handover, welcoming Mr Trump to the White House and joining him on the ride to the Capitol before he takes the oath of office.

The first time Mr Trump was sworn into office eight years ago, the former reality TV star billionaire came in as an outsider disrupting Washington’s norms, delivering a dark inaugural address as his swearing-in drew large protests and some clashes in the street.

This time, the protests are expected to be far less noticeable, eclipsed by the ceremonies and celebrations around Mr Trump’s taking power.

As one more marker of Mr Trump’s remarkable comeback, the events surrounding his inauguration will be more celebrity-studded than the last time, along with a noticeable turnout by a cadre of tech-world billionaires.

Country music stars Carrie Underwood, Billy Ray Cyrus and Jason Aldean, disco band the Village People, rapper Nelly and musician Kid Rock are all scheduled to perform at inauguration-related ceremonies and events.

Actor Jon Voight and wrestler Hulk Hogan are also expected to make appearances, as are a crew of Trump-embracing business executives: Tesla and X chief executive Elon Musk, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, Meta chief executive Mark Zuckerberg and TikTok chief executive Shou Zi Chew.

Showbiz Village YMCA
Seventies charts stars Village People (PA)

The pageantry begins on Saturday, when the president-elect leaves his Florida home to head to Washington.

Mr Trump’s advisers have not detailed how he will spend the first part of the day, and the only public event on Mr Trump’s schedule is an evening reception and fireworks show at Trump National Golf Club in Sterling, Virginia, outside the city.

While Mr Trump holds court at his club, Vice President-elect JD Vance will attend a reception for Cabinet members and host a dinner in Washington.

On Sunday, the eve of his inauguration, Mr Trump is scheduled to participate in a wreath-laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery before heading to a rally at Capital One Arena in Washington.

The rally will be followed by a private dinner.

On Inauguration Day, Trump will start with the traditional prayer service at St John’s Episcopal Church before heading to the White House for a customary tea with the outgoing president and first lady.

Mr Trump then heads to the Capitol, where his ceremony has been moved indoors as temperatures are set to plummet and make it the coldest Inauguration Day in 40 years.

Biden
President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden (Alex Brandon/AP)

It is not quite clear how the ceremony will be adapted to the Capitol Rotunda, but only a fraction of the original crowd will be allowed in.

Eight years ago, Mr Trump’s critics were wrestling with whether to attend his inauguration, contemplating whether to buck long-standing practice and send a signal to the divisive new president.

This year, much outspoken resistance to Trump has faded away, though there will be two notable absences: former first lady Michelle Obama and former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

Neither gave an explanation as to why she was skipping the ceremony.

After Mr Trump takes the oath of office and delivers his inaugural address, there will be a ceremonial farewell to Mr Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris.

As the new Republican government takes power, Mr Trump will head to a signing ceremony at the Capitol to approve some of his first official acts, followed by a congressional luncheon and review of US troops.

The planned traditional parade down Pennsylvania Avenue has morphed into an indoor event because of the cold, with Mr Trump again planning to speak to his gathered supporters before he heads to the White House for a signing ceremony in the Oval Office.

A trio of glitzy balls will follow in the evening, punctuated by musical performances.

Mr Trump’s arrival in Washington will once again be accompanied by protests and vigils on issues such as abortion, immigration rights and, this time, the Israel-Hamas war, but the feel and the force of those demonstrations are expected to be different from the outset of his first term.

The Women’s March, spurred by women outraged over Mr Trump’s win in 2017, drew more than 500,000 people to Washington and millions more in cities around the country, marking one of the largest single-day demonstrations in US history.

The march is returning on Saturday, rebranded as the People’s March, with organisers saying their focus will be less on Mr Trump and more on broader goals around women’s and reproductive rights, LGBTQ rights, immigration, climate and democracy.

It is expected to draw about 50,000 people, far fewer than eight years ago.

By Press Association

Latest World News

See more Latest World News

The damaged shield

'Risk of radioactive leak' after Russian 'high explosive' drone hits Chernobyl, causing 'significant damage'

The woman was attacked by a shark

Horror as woman loses both hands after being mauled by shark as husband desperately fights it off

United States Vice-President JD Vance, second right, meets with Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, third left, during a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference in Munich

'Putin is a liar': Zelenskyy's warning to Trump as Ukraine's leader voices concern over 'risky' phone calls with Russia

JD Vance

Free speech is 'in retreat' across Europe, claims JD Vance - as US brands it a 'bigger threat than Russia'

Hostages (L-R) Sasha Trufanov, Sagui Dekel-Chen, and Yair Horn,

Hamas confirms names of Israeli hostages due for release on Saturday

Danielle McLaughlin's killer Baghat was finally found guilty today

Indian man is found guilty of raping and murdering Irish backpacker Danielle McLaughlin in a field in Goa

Starmer welcomes Volodymyr Zelenskyy, President of Ukraine, to Downing Street

Starmer tells Zelenskyy Ukraine remains on 'irreversible path to NATO membership' as leaders share phone call

Kayaker Adrian Simancas after being briefly swallowed by a humpback whale

Kayaker breaks silence over 'terrifying' moment he was swallowed whole by humpback whale - then spat back out

Pope Francis

Pope Francis to be admitted to hospital for bronchitis treatment

One Briton has died in a car crash in New Zealand

One Brit dead and three fighting for lives after car crashes into tourists’ hired bikes in New Zealand

A drone hit the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant in Ukraine

Russian 'high explosive' drone hits Chernobyl causing 'significant damage' to shelter protecting world from radiation

JD Vance has warned the US could take military action against Russia.

US threatens Russia with military action if Ukraine peace talks fail as Putin hits Chernobyl with 'high-explosive warhead'

Donald Trump has been accused of 'appeasement'

Ukraine’s future at stake as world leaders gather in Munich - with Trump accused of ‘appeasing’ Putin

Near-Earth asteroid, artwork

NASA scientist reveals list of countries that face being hit by huge 'city killer' asteroid the size of Big Ben

This illustrative image shows Russian President Vladimir Putin (left) and United States President Donald Trump (right).

Donald Trump is 'setting preconditions for withdrawing from NATO', his former advisor tells LBC

Naya Rivera

Glee star Naya Rivera's heartbreaking final words to her son before she drowned revealed