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President-elect Donald J. Trump was sworn in as the 47th president of the United States on Jan. 20 for his second term, eight years after his first inauguration.
Inauguration Day for presidents traditionally begins at noon on Jan. 20 following the election year. At that time, the current president officially transfers power to the incoming one, who takes the presidential oath at the U.S. Capitol after the vice president is sworn in.
The oaths taken by the president and vice president are the only constitutionally mandated tasks of the inauguration, and they are typically administered by the Chief Justice of the United States. While this practice is not required by law, it is upheld as a long-standing tradition.
Before the 60th inaugural ceremony began, attendees entering the Capitol included former President Barack Obama, Capitol Architect Thomas Austin, Sen. Bernie Sanders, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg, Tesla CEO Elon Musk, and Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos.
This high-profile attendance drew backlash on social media platforms. “Welcome to Oligarchy,” user @sloupsoup posted on TikTok. Another TikTok user, @realhousewifeok0, wrote, “No wonder they moved it inside…so many CEOs.”
Despite the presence of numerous corporate leaders, many other politicians and citizens attended. The inauguration room was filled to capacity, with additional crowds gathering in a separate area of the Capitol to watch the ceremony on television.
Earlier this week, President Trump announced that his inauguration would take place indoors due to weather conditions. However, rumors circulated online suggesting the decision was tied to security concerns stemming from an attempted assassination last year. The last indoor inauguration occurred in 1985, when President Ronald Reagan moved the ceremony inside due to extreme cold.
Former presidents, vice presidents, and their spouses were announced into the ceremony in chronological order. Former First Lady Michelle Obama did not attend, as she had stated earlier in the week. The Supreme Court justices and Chief Justice were present, followed by members of President Trump’s immediate family, including his children and in-laws. President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris were sworn in prior to President Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance.
“Our theme this year is our enduring democracy,” ceremony speaker Amy Clovershire said. “It is the moment when leaders, elevated by the will of the people, promise to be faithful to our Constitution, to cherish and defend it.”
Vice President J.D. Vance, accompanied by his wife and children, took the oath, followed by President Donald Trump, who was joined by First Lady Melania Trump and their children. After being sworn in, Trump was formally announced as the 47th president of the United States and delivered his inaugural address.
“The golden age of America begins right now,” Trump said.
In his speech, Trump pledged to “take back America,” criticizing the U.S. justice system as incompetent and lacking integrity. He promised to address issues such as border security, announcing plans to declare a national emergency at the southern border and initiate mass deportations.
“Send criminal aliens back to the places where they came,” Trump said.
He also addressed California’s ongoing wildfire crisis, blaming government inefficiency.
“Where we are watching fires still tragically burn, they are raging through the houses of the wealthiest and most powerful individuals…they don’t have a home any longer,” Trump said.
Trump outlined additional priorities for his presidency, including reinstating military personnel discharged for refusing COVID-19 vaccines, rolling back environmental regulations to expand fracking, and reversing green energy policies.
“Drill, baby, drill,” Trump said.
Addressing what he called a “racial and gender crisis,” Trump declared plans to recognize only two genders and proposed renaming the Gulf of Mexico as the “Gulf of America.” He also announced ambitions for a U.S. mission to Mars to plant the American flag.
Trump concluded his address with a promise to improve the country, followed by a performance of “America the Beautiful” by Carrie Underwood.
“January 20, 2025, is Liberation Day,” Trump said, echoing Clovershire’s remarks about the enduring strength of democracy. He framed the day as not just a personal victory but a pivotal moment for Americans to reclaim their voice and constitutional freedoms.
