Donald Trump inauguration: What to expect, who is attending; all you need to know

Trump is the second President in over 230-plus years of American democracy to have returned to power after losing the re-election, and then returning to the White House. Another leader other than Trump to have served non-consecutive presidential terms was Grover Cleveland, the 22nd and 24th President in the 1880s and 1890s.

In 2021, Trump skipped the inauguration ceremony of his successor – and now would-be predecessor – President Biden, insisting that the 2020 election had been “stolen” from him. This was the first time in 150 years that any former US President had boycotted the formal transfer of power.

The outgoing president, Joe Biden, has said he has plans to attend the ceremony.

Who are invited to the ceremony

By tradition, foreign leaders are not invited to attend the inauguration due to security concerns, but Trump has broken the precedent and invited several leaders. According to American news website Axios, it is one of three events where Trump is scheduled to address the audience.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will be representing the PM Narendra Modi-led government at the Centre. PM Modi and Trump met on several occasions during the latter's previous presidency from 2017-2021 and share a cordial bond. Reliance Industries Chairman Mukesh Ambani and his wife Nita Ambani are also said to attend the event. The couple met Trump during his pre-inauguration event in Washington on Sunday.

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg will be co-hosting a black-tie reception on Monday night before the inaugural balls. UFC stars are expected to attend the event.

Alex Bruesewitz, the CEO of X Strategies LLC in Palm Beach and a media advisor to Trump's inner circle, played a key role in VIP outreach for the inauguration. He has helped assemble a star-studded lineup for this weekend's events.

Bruesewitz told Axios that celebrities who met Trump in person, and those who listened to his podcasts, found him to be charming and funny, not angry or crazy as the media shows.

Argentina's president, Javier Milei, a strong supporter of Trump's, has said he will attend, according to reports.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has said she hopes to attend. Chinese President Xi Jinping is not attending, despite an invitation, but is sending a senior envoy.

Trump adviser Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, Jeff Bezos, executive chairman of Amazon and Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Meta Platforms, are also attending.

Top celebrities to attend and perform at the swearing are Christopher Macchio, an opera singer, will perform the national anthem. Carrie Underwood will sing America the Beautiful. Lee Greenwood will perform his iconic God Bless the USA. American disco group, The Village People will also appear at the event. Country group Rascal Flatts is set to perform at the Commander-in-Chief Ball. Singers Kid Rock and Billy Ray Cyrus will join the Make America Great Again Rally on Sunday.

The day of the US President's inauguration

A Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies (JCCIC), consisting of members from the House and Senate, formed every four years, plans and hosts the event. The United States Secret Service is designated as the primary federal entity responsible for security.

However, the majority of the more than 200,000 ticketed guests “will not be able to attend the ceremonies in person”, the Joint Inaugural Committee has said, Indian Express has reported . The Rotunda can accommodate at least 600 attendees, and only “those with tickets for the Presidential Platform and members of Congress will be able to attend in person," it said

Trump wrote on Truth Social that DC’s indoor 20,000-seat Capital One Arena would be opened for live viewing of the swearing-in, and for the Presidential Parade. “I will join the crowd at Capital One, after my Swearing In,” he said.

The parade is normally held from the Capitol down Pennsylvania Avenue to the White House, and features ceremonial military regiments, citizens’ groups, and marching bands.

To start his day, Trunp will attend the traditional traditional service at St John’s Episcopal Church, located across Lafayette Park from the White House. Thereafter, President Biden and the First Lady will host the incoming President and First Lady for tea. At the Capitol, there will be some musical performances and religious ceremonies. After the President and Vice President J D Vance are sworn in, Trump will give his Inaugural Address.

There will be a formal farewell for President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, followed by the Signing Ceremony at the President’s Room off the Senate chamber, where Trump will gather with aides and Members of Congress to sign nominations and some memorandums, proclamations, or executive orders.

The President and Vice President will attend the Inaugural Luncheon organised by the JCCIC.

The oath taking ceremony

The most important part of the inaugration ceremony is the the oath-taking, the only event mentioned in the US Consituttion. The text of the oath has remained the same since 1884: “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.”

Trump and Vance will place their hands on the Bible, a an integral part of the oath. Trump will use a Bible given to him by his mother in 1955, and the Lincoln Bible, a velvet-bound volume used at Abraham Lincoln’s inauguration in 1861, reported BBC.

The Indian Express report citing the White House Historical Association said, “George Washington took the oath with his hand on a Bible, and almost all other presidents have followed suit. Most use a special family Bible, leaving it open to a passage that has particular meaning for them. Traditionally, the Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court administers the oath.”

The presidential oath will be administered by Chief Justice John Roberts, and the vice-presidential oath by Justice Brett Kavanaugh, according to a report by the AP.