President-elect Donald Trump will be inaugurated as the nation's 47th president on Monday, January 20.
Trump will recite the presidential oath of office with Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts in front of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., at noon ET.
Vice President-elect JD Vance will be sworn in first.
How to Watch Trump's Inauguration
Inauguration Day proceedings will air live on ABC, CBS, CNN, CSPAN, NBC, Fox News and PBS.
Congress Set to Certify Trump's Electoral College Victory on January 6
The congressional joint session to count electoral votes on Monday is anticipated to be far less eventful than the certification four years ago in 2021, which was disrupted by a violent mob of Trump supporters who stormed the U.S. Capitol building in an attempt to halt the count and overturn the election results in which Trump lost to Democrat Joe Biden. Trump claimed without evidence that the election was stolen from him due to widespread voter fraud.
Federal law mandates that Congress meet on January 6 to open sealed certificates from each state that contain the record of their electoral votes. These votes are brought into the chamber in special mahogany boxes designated for this occasion. Bipartisan representatives from both chambers read the results aloud and conduct an official count.
Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris, who lost to Trump in November's presidential election, in her role as president of the Senate, will oversee the session and declare the victor.
The joint session is the last official chance for objections, beyond any challenges in court. Harris has conceded and never disputed Trump's win.
How Presidential Election Certification Has Changed Since 2021
Following the riot and Trump's alleged efforts to disrupt the certification process, Congress tightened the rules for certification. The revised Electoral Count Act, passed in 2022, explicitly defines the vice president's role, particularly after Trump pressured Mike Pence, his vice president, to object to his defeat—an action extending far beyond Pence's ceremonial duties. Pence resisted Trump and ultimately confirmed his own defeat.
The updated law clarifies that the vice president does not have the authority to determine the election outcome on January 6.
Trump to Host Major Rally in D.C. on Eve of Inauguration
Trump is holding "a victory rally you'll never forget" for 20,000 supporters the day before his inauguration in Washington, D.C.
The "Make America Great Again Victory Rally" will start at 3 p.m. at Capital One Arena on Sunday, January 19. Doors will open at 11 a.m., and people are able to register for up to two tickets per phone number for the rally, according to the Trump Inauguration website.
Order of Inauguration Day Events
- Procession to the Capitol: After a brief meeting, Trump and President Biden will proceed together to the Capitol for the swearing-in ceremonies.
- Swearing-in ceremony for Trump and Vance.
- Trump's inaugural address.
- Honorary Departure for outgoing President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden.
- Signing Ceremony: The first official actions taken by Trump will occur in the President's Room just off the Senate chamber in the U.S. Capitol. Trump will gather there with aides and members of Congress to sign nominations, along with any memorandums, proclamations or executive orders.
- Inaugural Luncheon
- Inaugural Pass in Review parade: Trump and Vance will make their way to the East Front steps of the Capitol where they will review military troops before leading a procession of ceremonial military regiments, citizens' groups, marching bands and floats down Pennsylvania Avenue to the White House.
- Inaugural balls and celebrations.
Flags Will Be at Half-Staff During Trump's Inauguration
Flags will be lowered to half-staff during Trump's inauguration.
Biden ordered U.S. flags to fly at half-staff for 30 days from last Sunday in honor of former President Jimmy Carter, the longest-lived American president who died at 100. That means flags will remain lowered when Trump is sworn in.
U.S. flag code requires flags to be flown at half-staff for 30 days from the death of a sitting or former president.
Biden's proclamation is in effect until sunset January 28. In a Truth Social post on Friday, Trump railed against the flag flying at half-staff on his big day.
"The Democrats are all 'giddy' about our magnificent American Flag potentially being at 'half mast' during my Inauguration," he wrote on Truth Social. "They think it's so great, and are so happy about it because, in actuality, they don't love our Country, they only think about themselves."
He added: "Look at what they've done to our once GREAT America over the past four years - It's a total mess! In any event, because of the death of President Jimmy Carter, the Flag may, for the first time ever during an Inauguration of a future President, be at half mast. Nobody wants to see this, and no American can be happy about it. Let's see how it plays out. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!"
Trump's Inauguration: Historically Speaking
Trump won the 2024 election against Harris in November. He defeated Hillary Clinton in the 2016 election before losing to Biden in 2020.
Trump is now set to become the second president to win two non-consecutive terms, following Grover Cleveland, the 22nd and 24th president, serving from 1885 to 1889 and from 1893 to 1897.
Trump's Inauguration Day will coincide with this year's observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, a federal holiday since 1986. Trump will also be the second president sworn into office on the holiday following Bill Clinton (1997) in his second inauguration.
What Is the Theme of the 60th U.S. Presidential Inaugural Ceremonies
Last month, the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies (JCCIC) announced the theme of the 60th Inaugural Ceremonies: "Our Enduring Democracy: A Constitutional Promise."
The JCCIC said the theme "recognizes the Founders' commitment to future generations of Americans to preserve the continuity and stability of our democratic system of government."
What Happens Next
The JCCIC made a limited number of inauguration tickets available to the public through members of Congress, which will be available to the public in the weeks leading up to the event. Tickets are free.
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