Trump Takes Oath Of Office

Topline

President Donald Trump was inaugurated Monday as the 47th president—the oldest to ever be elected and only second in history to serve two non-consecutive terms—amid a day of traditions marking the transfer of power that’s expected to be attended by three former presidents and several billionaires.

Donald Trump is sworn in as the 47th US President in the US Capitol Rotunda in Washington, DC, on … [+] January 20, 2025. (Photo by SAUL LOEB/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

POOL/AFP via Getty Images

Timeline

12:11 p.m.Trump speaks for the first time after being sworn in as president, vowing, “our sovereignty will be reclaimed, our safety will be restored, the scales of justice will be rebalanced, the vicious, violent and unfair weaponization of our Justice Department and our government will end.”

Touching on the assassination attempts against him, Trump said, “I was saved by God to make America great again,” and also mentioned the wildfires in California and hurricane damage in North Carolina, telling the audience, “our country can no longer deliver basic services . . . my recent election is a mandate to completely and totally reverse a horrible betrayal.”

Acknowledging that it’s Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Trump thanked Black and Hispanic voters who voted for him and said, “in his honor, we will strive together to make his dream a reality. We will make his dream come true.”

12:01 p.m. ESTTrump is sworn in by Chief Justice John Roberts.

12 p.m. ESTJD Vance is sworn in as vice president.

11:55 a.m. ESTPresident Joe Biden preemptively pardoned three of his siblings and two in-laws, in one of his final acts as president.

11:45 a.m. ESTTrump walked into the Capitol Rotunda for the swearing-in ceremony, kissing Melania Trump and shaking hands with Biden and Trump’s father-in-law, Viktor Knavs.

11:42 a.m. ESTVice President-elect JD Vance enters the Capitol Rotunda.

11:41 a.m. ESTBiden and Vice President Kamala Harris enter the Capitol Rotunda for the swearing-in ceremony.

11:39 am ESTIncoming First Lady Melania Trump enters the Capitol Rotunda and is seated next to her son, Barron Trump.

11:12 a.m. ESTTrump Biden have arrived at the Capitol for the swearing-in.

11:10 a.m. ESTElon Musk, Meta founder Mark Zuckerberg, Google CEO Sundar Pichai, Apple CEO Tim Cook and Amazon’s Jeff Bezos—tech leaders who have courted alliances with Trump—were given prime seats near Trump’s family and cabinet members at the ceremony.

10:50 a.m. ESTTrump administration appointees and cabinet nominees, including Attorney General nominee Pam Bondi, Department of Government Efficiency heads Vivek Ramaswamy and Musk, White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles and Director of National Intelligence nominee Tulsi Gabbard, entered the Capitol Rotunda ahead of the swearing-in ceremony.

10:50 a.m. ESTFormer Vice President Mike Pence—whose relationship with Trump soured after he refused to toss out Joe Biden’s 2020 election win—arrived for the ceremony, where a number of celebrities and high-profile guests were spotted in the crowd, including Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, YouTubers Jake and Logan Paul and UFC fighter Conor McGregor.

10:40 a.m. ESTTrump and President Joe Biden departed the White House in the same limousine en route to the Capitol for the swearing-in ceremony.

10:15 a.m. ESTFormer Republican House Speakers Kevin McCarthy, Calif., John Boehner, Ohio, and Newt Gingrich, Ga., arrive at the Capitol Rotunda for the swearing-in ceremony—along with Musk, Bezos and other tech industry billionaires.

10:13 am ESTTrump blasted the pre-emptive pardons Biden issued Monday for Jan. 6 committee members and witnesses, including Dr. Anthony Fauci and Gen. Mark Milley, as “disgraceful” in a text to NBC News.

9:56 a.m. ESTThe Trumps arrived at the White House for tea with Biden and First Lady Jill Biden, with Biden telling the Trumps “welcome home” as the exited their vehicle and were greeted by the Bidens.

9:43 a.m. ESTVice President-elect JD Vance and his wife Usha arrived at the White House and are greeted by outgoing Vice President Kamala Harris and Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff.

9:34 a.m. ESTMusk, Zuckerberg, Pichai, Cook and Bezos attended a morning church service with Trump at St. John’s to kick off the Inauguration Day activities.

8:43 am ESTThe Trumps arrive at St. John’s Church, after departing Blair House—a guest house near the White House where incoming presidents traditionally stay—alongside Vice President-elect JD Vance and his wife, Usha Vance.

8:27 a.m. ESTNew York City Mayor Eric Adams will attend the inauguration after a last-minute, same-day invitation from the Trump administration, Deputy Mayor of Communication Fabien Levy said. Adams, a Democrat, attended a dinner with the Trumps last week amid rumors Trump may pardon the mayor on charges including bribery and wire fraud.

8:00 a.m. ESTMembers of Trump’s family and entourage were photographed arriving at the church, including his daughter Ivanka Trump, billionaire Elon Musk and former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani.

What Will Trump Say In His Inauguration Speech?

Trump is expected to call for a “revolution of common sense,” according to speech excerpts provided to several media outlets. “My message to Americans today is that it is time for us to once again act with courage, vigor, and the vitality of history’s greatest civilization,” he will say.

What Time Is Trump’s Inauguration—and How Can I Watch?

Trump’s swearing-in will take place at noon. It will be carried live by most TV networks and streamed by the White House. More details on the schedule are available here.

Are Joe Biden And Ex-Presidents Attending The Inauguration?

Outgoing President Joe Biden will attend the ceremony, along with former Presidents Barack Obama, George W. Bush and Bill Clinton.

Who Else Is Attending The Inauguration, And Who Is Performing?

Beyond members of Trump’s family and administration, a litany of political heavyweights usually attend the swearing-in. This year, a handful of tech industry titans are also expected to attend, including billionaires Musk, Zuckerberg, Bezos and Sam Altman, along with TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew. Country singer Carrie Underwood is scheduled to perform “America the Beautiful,” one of several artists who’s slated to participate (here’s a full list).

Who Will Administer The Oaths Of Office?

Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts will administer the presidential oath to Trump, and Justice Brett Kavanaugh will administer the oath to Vice President-elect JD Vance.

Where’s Michelle Obama—and Where’s Nancy Pelosi?

Neither are expected to attend. Michelle Obama’s office cited a scheduling conflict, and Pelosi’s office did not give an official reason. The former speaker, who has a long-running feud with Trump, broke her hip last month.

Key Background

The three-day event officially began Sunday with a wreath laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery, followed by a “victory rally” at Capitol One Arena in Washington. Monday’s events begins with a morning church service at St. Johns, followed by tea at the White House with the Bidens. Trump will be sworn in shortly after Biden’s term ends at 12 p.m. EST in a ceremony that was moved indoors to the Capitol Rotunda due to weather predictions that Monday will be the coldest inauguration day in decades. The swearing-in ceremony will be followed by a farewell to Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, a signing room ceremony and a presidential parade, which will be held inside for the first time since 1985 at Capitol One Arena. Trump will attend three inaugural balls, and is expected to speak at each, Monday night. A National Prayer Service will conclude the official inaugural events Tuesday.