Even if your plan for Donald Trump’s second presidential term is to donate a lot of money to abortion funds and then dissociate as necessary, it’s worth it to stay on top of what’s going on in Washington—especially come Inauguration Day.
Indeed, this Monday is set to be jam-packed with appearances from the likes of Carrie Underwood, the Village People, Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg, and—notably—neither Nancy Pelosi nor Michelle Obama. Read on for everything we know so far about Trump’s second inauguration.
When is the inauguration?
Opening remarks and musical performances are scheduled to start at 9:30 a.m. EST on Monday, January 20, with Trump’s official swearing-in ceremony beginning at 12 p.m. EST.
Is the inauguration always on the same day?
Yes! As dictated by the 20th amendment of the Constitution, Inauguration Day is always on January 20, no matter what day of the week it is—or, indeed, if it coincides with Martin Luther King Jr. Day, as it does this year.
How can I watch the inauguration?
The proceedings will air across major netfworks including ABC, CNN, Fox News, and NBC.
Where is the inauguration?
The first event of the day—a church service—will be held at the historic St John’s Church, Lafayette Square in Washington, D.C., followed by tea at the White House just one block away. Then, Trump and his vice president, J.D. Vance, will be sworn in at the U.S. Capitol building, after which Trump will attend a lunch hosted by the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies and be honored with a parade, scheduled to head from the Capitol building down Pennsylvania Avenue to the White House.
Who will perform at the inauguration?
American Idol winner Carrie Underwood will be on the ground at Monday’s ceremony, singing “America the Beautiful” alongside the Armed Forces Chorus and the U.S. Naval Academy Glee Club. Additionally, country singer Lee Greenwood is set to perform “God Bless the U.S.A.,” while opera tenor Christopher Macchio will perform the National Anthem.
Other events surrounding the inauguration will also feature performers, such as Trump’s victory rally on Sunday, with the likes of Kid Rock, Billy Ray Cyrus, and The Village People expected to take the stage; and the Inauguration Day balls following Monday’s ceremony, which promise appearances from Jason Aldean, Rascal Flatts, Gavin DeGraw, Parker McCollum, and others.
Who will (and won’t) attend the inauguration?
While key Democrats like Michelle Obama and Nancy Pelosi are skipping this year’s inauguration, outgoing President Joe Biden and Trump’s key 2024 opponent Kamala Harris are reportedly planning to attend, as, of course, are the Trump and Vance families and former presidents Barack Obama, George W. Bush, and Bill Clinton. Former first lady Laura Bush and former secretary of state Hillary Clinton will also reportedly be in attendance, in addition to tech CEOs Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, and Mark Zuckerberg.
What’s the forecast in D.C. for Inauguration Day?
Trump’s second inauguration day will be the coldest in 40 years, thanks to an Arctic blast sweeping through Washington, D.C., that will plunge temperatures into the low 20s. Hopefully, attendees will take a cue from Senator Bernie Sanders at Trump’s last inauguration and remember their mittens.
