On Jan. 20, following an embattled first term and tense election year — as well as two impeachments and a felony conviction, a first for any U.S. president — President-elect Donald Trump will be sworn into office for the second time.
Observers near and far are gearing up for the ceremony with bated breath, as many stand on guard for the President's remarks following his incitement to insurrection on Jan. 6, 2020 — an inflammatory speech that would later win him suspension from several online platforms and an impeachment in the U.S. House. But the President's successful election season may signal a much more calm presidential transition this time around.
Who will be at the Inauguration ceremony
The inaugural events will be a relatively smaller schedule of activities than previous years, pulling from a $170 million inauguration committee fund (boosted by some of the incoming leader's biggest tech allies, including Meta's Mark Zuckerberg). Inauguration ball performers will include a country lineup of Carrie Underwood, Rascal Flatts, Kid Rock, Billy Ray Cyrus, and Lee Greenwood. The Village People will be performing at events throughout the weekend, and opera singer Christopher Macchio will perform the national anthem during the ceremony.
Confirmed guests include President Joe Biden, President Barack Obama, President George W. Bush and First Lady Laura Bush, as well as President Bill Clinton and former presidential runner Hillary Clinton. Trump has also invited several international political leaders, which could see an unprecedented turnout of world leaders in the Inauguration ceremony's history. Argentinian President Javier Milei has confirmed his attendance, while Chinese President Xi Jinping will be sending an official envoy, Forbes reports. Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro has said he is attempting to gain entry into the country to attend the events, as well.
And Trump's tech circle will be front row, including Zuckerberg, Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, and, reportedly, OpenAI's Sam Altman.
How to watch the ceremony online
Inaugural events will begin on Saturday, Jan. 18, with the actual swearing-in ceremony taking place at 12 p.m. EST on Monday, Jan. 20.
The ceremony will be broadcasted live on all major networks (ABC, CBS, CNN, Fox News, MSNBC, NBC and PBS), as well as CSPAN.
For online streaming, viewers can tune into official YouTube livestreams, including ABC, CBS, PBS News Hour, and Fox News. NBC viewers can catch coverage on NBC News Now.
Viewers can also stream the Inauguration via the live news hubs on their favorite streaming platforms, like ABC for Disney+ and CNN for Max, or directly on the White House website.
When Trump's presidential powers come into play
Many tuning in to Monday's ceremony will be wondering when Trump will be able to execute his executive powers.
Starting from the time of election to inauguration day (about 75 days), the incoming Trump administration will have been beefing up a roster of transition staff and volunteers to aid in a smoother transfer of power, explains the Center for Presidential Transition, a nonpartisan nonprofit. During this time, the President-elect will have also announced his picks for prized appointments.
A post-inauguration "handover" phase then begins, while the new administration enters a 200-day blitz period with the goal of enshrining as many early policy wins as possible. On day one of his presidency, Trump will have the ability to sign executive orders and reverse existing policies, which he has already pledged to do. Experts anticipate the new President tackling tariffs, immigration, and environmental policy almost immediately — some of these priorities, including tariffs and any federal employee rollbacks, will have immediate effects, while others will act more symbolically.
Trump will also immediately gain executive clemency powers, allowing him to pardon and commute the sentences of individuals. Americans can also expect more appointment and staffing announcements in the post-inauguration period.
