Watch — Inauguration Day: President Trump sworn in as 47th president
Share this post:
WASHINGTON — Donald Trump, who overcame impeachments, criminal indictments and a pair of assassination attempts to win another term in the White House, was sworn in Monday as the 47th U.S. president, taking charge as Republicans claim unified control of Washington and set out to reshape the country’s institutions.
Trump’s swearing-in ceremony, moved indoors due to intense cold, began at noon.
His family surrounded him after his swearing-in. He kissed his wife, Melania, on the cheek — this time making it past the brim of her hat.
President JD Vance was sworn in by Justice Brett Kavanaugh and Chief Justice John Roberts swore in Trump for a second term as president.
It is the third time a president has been sworn in on the federal holiday honoring the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. Presidents Bill Clinton and Barack Obama also were sworn in for their second terms on the holiday.
The holiday honoring the civil rights leader was established nearly 40 years ago. It is observed on the third Monday of January every year.
Sen. Amy Klobuchar said the coincidence is “a further reminder we must strive to uphold the values in our Constitution.”
Watch events live
The bipartisan leaders of the 60th Inaugural Committee kicked off the ceremony by highlighting the importance of American democracy as the country is close to celebrating 250 years.
“Our great American experiment, grounded in the rule of law, has endured. So as we inaugurate a new president and vice president, let us remember that the power of those in this room comes from the people,” said Klobuchar, the committee chair.
Her Republican counterpart, Sen. Deb Fischer, echoed that sentiment. “Our democracy promises the American people the power to change, to chart their own destiny,” Fischer said. “That’s the beauty that is the importance of democracy. It allows endurance, the permanence of a nation and never change.”
Trump used his own Bible, which was given to him by his mother, and the Lincoln Bible for his swearing-in ceremony.
The Lincoln Bible was provided during Lincoln’s 1861 inauguration by William Thomas Carroll, clerk of the Supreme Court. That’s because Lincoln’s family Bible was still packed and on its way to Washington from Springfield, Illinois, along with the Lincoln family’s other belongings.
In 2017, Trump stacked a family Bible atop Lincoln’s while taking the oath. He’s set to do the same with his own Bible and Lincoln’s this time.
That recalls Obama, who also used the Lincoln Bible during his first swearing-in in 2009. During his second in 2014, he paired it with a Bible that had belonged to the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.
Earlier Monday, the staff of the White House residence began the work of moving out one president and preparing the mansion for a new president as soon as the outgoing and incoming presidents leave for the inauguration at the Capitol. They had about five hours to do it.
The White House chief usher is the staff person who oversees the process and will have worked with Melania Trump to coordinate the move. One former White House usher describes the process as “organized chaos.”
While reciting the presidential oath of office is mandated by the Constitution, using a Bible isn’t.
Theodore Roosevelt didn’t use one when he was sworn in following the assassination of William McKinley in 1901. John Quincy Adams used a law text for his 1825 inauguration.
And, sworn in aboard Air Force One after John Kennedy’s assassination in 1963, Lyndon B. Johnson used a Catholic missal.
Also, who holds the Bible during the inaugural ceremony isn’t spelled out. Lady Bird Johnson set a tradition that has continued until today when she became the first incoming-first lady to hold the Bible for her husband Lyndon’s second inauguration in January 1965.
Prior to that, the Bibles were often held by an unknown official — people not easily identified in historical photographs.
Former presidents in attendance
The former presidents in attendance — Obama, Bush and Clinton — drew applause from the audience.
Two former first ladies were there, too, but Michelle Obama skipped the inauguration.
She wasn’t with the former U.S. leaders and their spouses at former President Jimmy Carter’s state funeral earlier this month either. No explanation has been given for her absences.
While former Vice President Mike Pence is in attendance at Trump’s inauguration, his wife, former second lady Karen, is not.
Karen Pence snubbed the Trumps earlier this month at former President Jimmy Carter’s funeral, where she ignored Melania Trump’s efforts to shake her hand.
Trumps arrive at the White House
President-elect Trump and his wife, Melania, met President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden, on a gold-trimmed red carpet, exchanging greetings and posing for photos ahead of a private meeting over tea and coffee.
“Welcome home,” Biden said to Trump after the president-elect stepped out of the car.
Biden wrapped his hand around Trump’s upper arm to escort him inside the mansion.
The private meeting is another presidential transition tradition.
It’s a stark departure from four years ago, when Trump refused to acknowledge Biden’s victory or attend his inauguration.
Chesapeake Crab Cake, Greater Omaha Angus Ribeye Steak and wine from Monticello are on the menu for the inaugural luncheon.
That’s according to the joint congressional committee on inauguration ceremonies headed by Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn.
It says the luncheon after the swearing-in ceremony is the 11th to be held at the Capitol’s National Statuary Hall, and will include more than 200 guests including the president, vice president, family, U.S. Supreme Court justices, Cabinet Member-designees and members of Congressional leadership.
For dessert, there’s Minnesota Apple Ice Box Terrine with sour cream ice cream and salted caramel.
Biden and Trump share a limo
Both men shared the same vehicle, along with Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar, chair of the bipartisan Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies.
Biden and Trump have been the bitterest of rivals for years. But the outgoing and incoming president taking the same vehicle to the inauguration ceremony keeps with political traditions.
Biden and Trump departed the White House after spending about 35 minutes in a private meeting.
Congressional leaders arrive at the Capitol
Asked how he felt today, Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer said: “Feel great about the Bills.”
The New Yorker had a royal blue cap in hand. The House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Republican, said it’s “bright, sunny outside and bright in our heart.” Johnson said he expects “a lot” of executive orders from Trump. House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries smiled and waved but declined comment.
“Feel great,” said House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La.
Republicans and Democrats sat among each other as lawmakers did not have designated seats and took selfies before the official inaugural ceremony began.
Putin congratulates Trump
Speaking during a video call with members of Russia’s Security Council just before Trump’s inauguration, Putin said that “we hear the statements from Trump and members of his team about their desire to restore direct contacts with Russia, which were halted through no fault of ours by the outgoing administration.”
“We also hear his statements about the need to do everything to prevent World War III,” Putin said in televised comments. “We certainly welcome such an approach and congratulate the U.S. president-elect on taking office.”
Putin said Moscow is open to discussing a prospective peace settlement in Ukraine, adding it should lead not to a short truce but a lasting peace and take into account Russia’s interests.
N.Y. governor orders flags to be raised
The move came after a Hochul spokesperson said last week that flags would remain at half-staff following the death of former President Jimmy Carter.
Flags will be returned to half staff on Tuesday, Hochul said in a statement.
“Regardless of your political views, the American tradition of the peaceful transition of power is something to celebrate,” said Hochul, a Democrat.
Iauguration ceremony begins in the Capitol Rotunda
The University of Nebraska-Lincoln Combined Choirs kicked off the inaugural ceremonies Monday with a musical prelude. The students wore all black with a red scarf embossed with their university logo.
Their voices echoed into the Capitol dome where in just a few hours Trump will be sworn in as the 47th President.
Trump to sign actions focused on energy and inflation
Trump plans on Monday to sign actions to increase domestic oil production including a measure with a focus on Alaska.
That’s according to an incoming administration official who spoke on condition of anonymity under terms set by the transition team in a phone call with reporters.
Trump also plans to sign a memorandum that seeks an all-of-government approach to bringing down inflation.
The incoming official declined to provide specifics, but it’s unclear just how Trump can reduce energy and household costs without sacrificing growth or corporate profits.
JD Vance arrives at the White House
Outgoing Vice President Kamala Harris greeted the vice president-elect when he arrived.
Usually, only the president-elect comes to the White House on Inauguration Day before the swearing-in.
Harris and Vance have not yet had a formal one-on-one meeting after the outgoing vice president did not invite him to visit the official residence on the grounds of the U.S. Naval Observatory.
Harris and Vance were accompanied by their spouses and all shook hands and posed for a picture.
Key people from Trump’s first administration at indoor event
The lineup will include Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders, who served as Trump’s press secretary, along with former aide Kellyanne Conway and Texas Rep. Ronny Jackson, who was Trump’s White House physician.
Former White House adviser Peter Navarro, who served prison time related to the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol and is returning to Trump’s administration as a senior counselor for trade and manufacturing, is also expected to give remarks.
Kash Patel, Trump’s pick to lead the FBI, and Trump’s “border czar” Tom Homan will also attend.
The crowd inside the Capital One Arena cheered enthusiastically when the Jumbotrons began broadcasting President-elect Donald Trump and his wife, Melania, on their way to the White House.
Some chanted “USA! USA!” but it didn’t catch on with the half-full crowd, drowned out by the speakers playing The Killers song “Mr. Brightside.”
Bidens post final selfie from White House
“One more selfie for the road. We love you, America,” the post on the social platform X read.
Prayer offered for Trump
The prayer for Trump and Vice President-elect JD Vance asked that God give them “wisdom and strength to know and to do.”
Trump’s team released the video online on Monday ahead of his swearing-in and it portrays him as an outsider who overcame his legal problems to win a comeback to the White House, ushering in a new chapter for America.
The video stitches together footage of his courthouse appearances for his criminal trial last year, his mug shot from another criminal case in Georgia and images of prosecutors and judges involved in some of the other cases he faced, along with images of his visits to UFC matches, his campaign and the Republican National Convention.
In a voice-over, Trump tells his supporters they have to “never ever, ever give up” and “treat the word impossible as nothing more than motivation.”
The video was first reported by Fox News Digital.