- Donald Trump’s inauguration day is here
- The former president will start his second term in office
- Find out how and when you can watch the action live
It’s Presidential Inauguration day. As such, many Americans will be keen to find out how Donald Trump’s second term in office starts off.
From Monday 20 January 2025, the soon-to-be former President Joe Biden will hand over the keys to the White House to his predecessor. The moment will mark Trump’s controversial return to power following his electoral defeat of Democratic hopeful Kamala Harris in late 2024.
Read more: Everything we know about Donald Trump’s inauguration
The event will take place in Washington DC. However, unlike previous Presidential Inaugurations, this one will happen indoors due to extreme cold weather in the capitol. What’s more, some flags will remain at half-mast in honor of the late President Jimmy Carter who passed away earlier this month aged 100.
With musical guests scheduled to perform throughout the day and beyond – and rumors that Trump plans to sign some executive orders before the day is through – there’s lots happening.
Read more: Donald Trump Inauguration day 2025: How to watch
Those eager to watch the action take place from the comfort of their sofas can do exactly that, with many media outlets covering the event – but when does it start?
Here’s what you need to know.
What time is the Inauguration today?
The 2025 Presidential Inauguration takes place on Monday 20 January 2025 with Trump’s swearing-in ceremony kicking off at 12.pm Eastern time.
Coverage is expected to begin slightly earlier than midday and will cover the President-Elect’s journey to St. John’s Church where he will attend a service.
For those not local to Washinton, swearing-in ceremony will take place at 9am Pacific time and 5pm Greenwich Mean Time.
Where is the Presidential Inauguration happening?
Trump’s second Presidential Inauguration will take place inside the Capitol Rotunda. It’s here where the President-elect will be sworn in.
The decision to hold the event indoors instead of outside is due to extreme cold weather conditions. It will be the first time the event has happened inside a venue in over 30 years, with the last indoor inauguration happening in 1985 during Ronald Reagan’s second term.
Another change to tradition involves the inauguration parade. Instead, guests can view proceedings from the nearby Capitol One Arena. It is believed that Trump will visit fans after the inauguration ceremony has taken place.
How to watch the Presidential Inauguration
Almost all traditional media outlets are expected to cover Trump’s presidential inauguration via extensive live coverage.
Online, networks like ABC, NBC and CBS will provide live coverage on their sites and apps with Rachel Maddow providing live coverage on MSNBC’s YouTube channel.
C-Span will cover the event via their YouTube channel, with CNN providing coverage via streaming service MAX. Fox News will provide viewing options through their streamer Fox Nation.
