- Trump will become the 47th president today
- Carrie Underwood and Village People are performing
- Vice-president JD Vance will also be formally sworn in
The day has arrived for Donald Trump to be sworn in as President of the United States for the second time.
The inauguration marks the transfer of power from outgoing president Joe Biden to Trump and takes place in Washington DC on January 20.
However, one thing isn’t going Trump’s way. Flags will still be flying at half-mast for the inauguration following the death of Jimmy Carter in late December. This is custom for 30 days after a former president dies.
What will happen during the ceremony?
The ceremony takes place at the Capitol building and sees both Trump and Vice President JD Vance be sworn in.
Vance will take his oaths first, followed by Trump, and Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts will oversee this. This will take place around midday local time.
Trump will then recite the following: “I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the office of president of the United States, and will, to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.”
Trump will then give the first speech of his second term.
After this, there will be a signing ceremony and the inaugural luncheon. Later, Trump will lead the inaugural procession down Pennsylvania Avenue, which goes from the US Capitol to the White House.
Who is performing?
Carrie Underwood has confirmed that she is set to sing America The Beautiful after Vance takes his oath of office to Axios.
American rapper Nelly will also perform, with Kid Rock, Billy Rae Cyrus and Greenwood set to perform throughout a four-day celebration in Washington.
Opera singer Christopher Macchio will sing the National Anthem, with additional musical contributions from singer-songerwriter Lee Greenwood, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s choirs and the United States Marine Band.
Read more: Carrie Underwood named Trump inauguration performer- Pubity
The Village People will also perform at one of Trump’s inaugural balls, as Trump is a known fan of their hit YMCA.
The group wrote on Facebook, “We know this won’t make some of you happy to hear however we believe that music is to be performed without regard to politics.”
“Our song YMCA is a global anthem that hopefully helps bring the country together after a tumultuous and divided campaign where our preferred candidate lost.”
Where can I watch the inauguration?
All major news broadcasters, such as Fox News, CNN, NBC and ABC will be airing the Inauguration live. Broadcast schedules are always subject to change though, so it’s a good idea to check your local listings or official websites for accurate and up-to-date information.
Read more: Can Trump run for president in 2028?
If you’re away from your TV, the likes of The New York Times, CNBC and The Washington Post are expected to live stream the event on their YouTube channels, as they have for past inaugurations – if you’re feeling nostalgic. The White House’s own live stream is another likely option to catch all the proceedings unfold.
CNN usually offers a live watchalong on its Facebook page for anybody who wants to get interactive and chat with other people watching live in tandem. Meanwhile on X (formerly Twitter), trending hashtags will give you the quickest look at breaking news from first-hand witnesses in Washington D.C.
Who isn’t attending?
The former First Lady Michelle Obama recently confirmed that she does not plan to be present. Her team has issued a statement that she will not sit alongside her husband, President Barack Obama.
All the living ex-residents of the Oval Office will be in attendance. Along with Barack, this includes Bill Clinton and George W Bush. They will be joined by their wives, Laura and Hilary respectively.
Michelle already missed out on the funeral of former President Jimmy Carter last week. Barack was seen sitting next to Trump at the ceremony.
