Topline
President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration events kick off Saturday at his Virginia golf club and will feature four days of celebrations and pageantry surrounding Monday’s official swearing-in ceremony, with billionaires and three former presidents among those on the guest list.
President-elect Donald Trump speaks during a press conference at Mar-a-Lago on January 07, 2025 in … [+]
Key Facts
Reports of who is expected to perform and attend have been trickling out in recent days, with the latest news surrounding Michelle Obama’s absence and tech billionaires’ reported plans to attend.
The event will represent a bipartisan moment of acceptance of Trump’s latest election win and his iron grip on America’s political psyche, after the Covid-19 pandemic and Trump’s refusal to accept the 2020 election results—along with the Jan. 6 Capitol riots that occurred weeks earlier—dampened festivities surrounding the 2021 inauguration of President Joe Biden, which Trump did not attend.
Despite his inaugural committee raising $170 million, Trump’s inauguration, which will feature three inaugural balls, is a relatively small event compared to previous inaugurations, such as former President Barack Obama and former President Bill Clinton’s, according to CNBC.
What Day Is Trump’s Inauguration And What Time Does It Start?
The swearing-in ceremony for Trump and Vice President-elect JD Vance is scheduled for 12 p.m. EST Monday, but inauguration events officially begin Saturday.
What’s The Inauguration Schedule?
Here’s a full list of events for the weekend of the inauguration:
Saturday
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- Reception and fireworks at Trump’s golf club in Virginia
- Cabinet reception and vice president’s dinner
Sunday
- Wreath laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery
- Trump delivers remarks at a “victory rally” at Capitol One Arena in Washington
- Trump delivers remarks at a candlelight dinner
Monday
- Morning church service at St. John’s
- Tea at the White House with the Bidens and Trumps in the morning
- Main Event: Swearing-in ceremony at the Capitol
- Farewell for Biden and Harris
- Signing ceremony in the President’s Room in the Capitol, where Trump is expected to sign nominations and other documents in his first official acts
- Trump attends a luncheon hosted by the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies
- President’s Review of the Troops and Presidential Parade down Pennsylvania Avenue
- Oval Office signing ceremony at the White House
- Trump speaks at Commander in Chief Ball, Liberty Inaugural Ball and Starlight Ball
Tuesday
- A National Prayer Service concludes the official inaugural activities
How Can I Watch The Inauguration?
Major networks will stream the inauguration on live TV, and the White House will stream the events on its website.
Will Biden Attend The Inauguration?
Yes. Biden said in December he would “of course” attend Trump’s inauguration, despite Trump skipping Biden’s inauguration in 2021 after Trump refused to concede his election loss.
Will Kamala Harris Attend Trump’s Inauguration?
She’s expected to, according to the Associated Press, as is customary for outgoing vice presidents and losing presidential candidates.
Which Former Presidents Will Attend The Inauguration?
Barack Obama, George W. Bush and Bill Clinton will attend, according to multiple reports. Former First Lady Laura Bush and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will also attend the event alongside their husbands.
Will Michelle Obama Attend The Inauguration?
No. Her office said in a statement released Tuesday, without explanation, that she would not attend. Michelle Obama also did not attend the funeral of former President Jimmy Carter, citing a scheduling conflict.
Who Has Skipped Past Inaugurations?
At least six outgoing presidents—John Adams, John Quincy Adams, Martin Van Buren, Andrew Johnson, Woodrow Wilson and Trump—did not attend their successors’ inauguration ceremonies, according to the White House Historical Association. Most recently, Trump didn’t attend Biden’s inauguration after denying the outcome of the election, instead hosting a farewell at Joint Base Andrews before flying to Florida, while his Vice President Mike Pence attended.
Which World Leaders Will Attend—and Who Was Invited?
Several politicians from other countries are set to attend the inauguration or send envoys. No world leader has attended an inauguration since 1874, according to State Department records cited by CBS News, which reported that foreign ambassadors and their spouses typically represent their governments at the event. Thomas Balcerski, a presidential historian at Eastern Connecticut State University, told the Miami Herald it’s unprecedented for foreign leaders to attend inaugurations, observing world leaders wouldn’t be afforded the pageantry that’s typical with their visits to Washington and adding their attendance could be seen as “a requirement to curry favor and prove loyalty to President-elect Trump.”
- Argentinian President Javier Milei, who was the first foreign leader to meet with Trump after his win in November, is expected to attend, Bloomberg reported last month, citing a Milei spokesperson.
- Trump has also reportedly invited Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, according to NBC News. It’s unclear if Bukele will attend and Meloni said last week she would attend if her schedule allows.
- Chinese President Xi Jinping will send an official envoy to attend the inauguration in his place, according to the Financial Times.
- Indicted former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro also said on X that he has been invited and is trying to have his passport returned so he can attend.
- Far-right French politician Eric Zemmour and his partner, European Parliament member Sarah Knafo, have also been invited, Politico reported earlier this month, citing unnamed sources close to the couple, though it’s unclear if they will attend.
Which Billionaires Will Attend—other Than Elon Musk?
Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk (net worth: $423 billion), Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg ($205 billion) and Amazon founder Jeff Bezos ($232 billion) will attend the swearing-in ceremony and be seated together on the platform alongside Trump’s cabinet, NBC News reported. Musk is a key Trump ally, leading his administration’s Department of Government Efficiency. Bezos and Zuckerberg have drawn Trump’s ire in the past, but both Meta and Amazon said in December they were planning to donate $1 million to Trump’s inaugural fund, among several other large companies and founders.
Who Will Perform At The Inauguration?
Country singer Carrie Underwood will perform at the official ceremony, and the Village People—whose song “Y.M.C.A.” is a Trump rally staple—will perform at multiple inaugural events, including Sunday’s “victory rally.” Here’s a full list.
Will Flags Still Fly At Half-Staff During The Inauguration?
No. House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., announced Tuesday flags would be raised Monday despite a presidential order for flags to be lowered to honor Carter, who died in December. Trump repeatedly complained that the flags would still be lowered for his inauguration prior to Johnson’s announcement.
Are Banks, Post Offices And Stock Markets Closed On Inauguration Day?
In many cases, yes. This year, the inauguration will take place on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, meaning banks, post offices, the New York Stock Exchange and other employers that close on federal holidays will likely be shuttered. Government employees also typically get Inauguration Day off.
What Did George W. Bush Say During Trump’s Last Inauguration?
Bush said “that was some weird s—t” after Trump concluded his 2017 speech, New York magazine reported, citing three unnamed sources who say they heard the comment. Hillary Clinton later confirmed in an interview with Howard Stern she heard Bush make the statement, an apparent reference to tensions between the three after a bitter campaign in which Trump threatened to have Clinton thrown in jail.
Further Reading
All The Big Performers At Trump’s Inauguration Events: Carrie Underwood, Village People And More (Forbes)
Microsoft Donates Another $1 Million To Trump’s Record-High Inaugural Fund (Forbes)
