On January 20 (Eastern Standard Time), Donald Trump, the newly elected President of the United States, will officially take office as the 47th President, alongside Vice President Vance, who will also be sworn in on the same day. The inauguration ceremony marks the formal power transfer between administrations and includes key events such as the oath of office, musical performances, and celebratory parades.

Inauguration Schedule

Trump's second inauguration will begin with a ceremonial event at St. John's Church, Lafayette Square, followed by refreshments at the White House.

9:30 AM EST (10:30 PM HKT): Musical performances and opening remarks will take place on the main stage on the west lawn of the Capitol.

12:00 PM EST (1:00 AM HKT): Trump will take the oath of office, administered by Chief Justice John Roberts, inside the Capitol building due to anticipated severe weather in Washington, D.C.

Post-ceremony, Trump will sign key documents in the Presidential Office near the Senate.

Trump will then attend a luncheon hosted by the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies.

A parade used to take place, with participants marching along Pennsylvania Avenue from the Capitol to the White House, but it has now been cancelled.

In the evening, Trump will attend three inaugural balls: the "Commander-in-Chief Ball," the "Freedom Inaugural Ball," and the "Starlight Ball," where he is expected to deliver speeches.

Over 18 inaugural events are set to take place in Washington, D.C., over the course of two days.

Notable Attendees

According to reports, Trump has broken precedent by inviting various global leaders to his inauguration. Some attended personally, while others sent representatives.

China: Vice President Han Zheng will attend as a special representative of President Xi Jinping.

Outgoing U.S. Leaders: Former President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, and their spouses will attend.

Former Presidents: Barack Obama and George W. Bush will attend, while Michelle Obama and Nancy Pelosi have declined.

Other Leaders: Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Argentine President Javier Milei will attend, while Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban will not.

Tech Tycoons & Executives: Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, Mark Zuckerberg, and TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew are also on the guest list.

Officials estimate that 200,000 people will gather in Washington, D.C., on the day of the event.

Performers at the Inauguration

The inauguration will feature a star-studded lineup of performers, including:

• Carrie Underwood (Country Singer)
• Lee Greenwood (Country Singer)
• Christopher Macchio (Tenor)

The Village People, whose hits like Y.M.C.A. and Macho Man were frequently played at Trump's campaign rallies.

Who's Paying for the Inauguration?

Trump's inauguration comes with a hefty price tag. According to the nonprofit group OpenSecrets, the event's costs are estimated to average US$37,000 per minute, more than four times the US$8,600 per minute spent on Barack Obama's first inauguration.

U.S. taxpayers will partially cover the expenses, with the rest funded by Trump's Inaugural Committee. High-profile donors include:

Jeff Bezos, Mark Zuckerberg, Apple CEO Tim Cook, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, and Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi, each pledging $1 million.

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