Donald Trump is sworn in because the forty seventh president of the USA by Chief Justice John Roberts as Melania Trump holds the Bible throughout the sixtieth Presidential Inauguration within the Rotunda of the US Capitol in Washington, Monday, Jan. 20, 2025. —Photograph by Morry Gash / Pool / Agence France-Presse
WASHINGTON, United States — Donald Trump’s inauguration needed to be moved indoors Monday on account of a very frigid wintry spell throughout a lot of the USA, inflicting important modifications to the occasion after years of tedious planning.
However the climate wasn’t the one uncommon facet of the forty seventh president’s swearing-in ceremony.
Listed below are some memorable moments from a historic event.
READ: ‘Expensive good friend’: Nations react to Trump inauguration
Trump unloads
Whereas Trump refused to attend Joe Biden’s 2021 inauguration, the departing president was eager to revive custom by exhibiting his face.
Article continues after this commercial
He could nicely want he hadn’t bothered, as Trump tore into his report, denouncing what the brand new Republican president mentioned had been a “betrayal” of Individuals by a “radical and corrupt institution.”
Article continues after this commercial
They had been apparently getting alongside high quality throughout the earlier formalities, with Biden unaware that his successor was about to eviscerate his legacy.
However the veteran Democrat might solely smile in disbelief — and infrequently grimace — whereas his vice chairman Kamala Harris regarded stony-faced, as Trump launched broadside after broadside.
“From this second on, America’s decline is over,” Trump declared.
Awkward air kiss
The brand new president and first girl tried to have a good time their return to the White Home with a public show of affection however weren’t capable of make contact due to Melania’s wide-brimmed hat.
The Eric Javits headpiece bumped up in opposition to the incoming president’s brow as he leaned in, irritating his efforts to land the smacker and forcing the couple to air kiss as they clasped fingers.
The second instantly went viral, with one wag on X commenting: “I’ve simply realized why Melania is sporting that wide-brimmed hat — it made it not possible for Trump to land his tried kiss. Sensible lady.”
Who’s operating Silicon Valley?
By no means was the convergence of cash and politics extra apparent than in Trump’’s inauguration viewers, the place Silicon Valley princelings rubbed shoulders with Washington’s elite.
Round a dozen billionaires had been current for the ceremony, with some commentators on social media placing their complete worth at round $1 trillion — the approximate GDP of Switzerland.
Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos, Meta founder Mark Zuckerberg, Google chief Sundar Pichai, Apple boss Tim Prepare dinner, and the world’s richest man — Tesla CEO Elon Musk — had been all sitting close by as Trump was sworn in.
Bye bye bible
Trump didn’t place his hand on a bible or the US Structure as he took the presidential oath — both as a result of he had determined to interrupt with protocol or maybe as a result of he simply forgot.
The incoming first girl, Melania Trump, was standing beside him holding a Trump household bible and the so-called Lincoln Bible, which was utilized by the sixteenth president in 1861 and by Barack Obama in 2009 and 2013.
However Trump stood along with his left arm planted by his facet as he raised his proper hand for the oath of workplace.
Touching sacred texts isn’t a authorized requirement — the Structure merely calls for that presidents declare fealty to it “by oath or affirmation.” It doesn’t specify what they need to be doing with their fingers.
“However no spiritual take a look at shall ever be required as a qualification to any workplace or public belief beneath the USA,” the constitution doc states.
Absentees
Washington’s model of royalty was additionally out in power as three former presidents — Invoice Clinton, George W. Bush, and Barack Obama — attended, together with a few ex-vice presidents, Mike Pence and Dan Quayle.
Joe Rogan even managed to wangle a seat — presumably a thank-you for the precious assist he gave Trump throughout the election marketing campaign because the host of the world’s largest podcast.
However there have been notable absences, together with former first girl Michelle Obama and former Home Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
Your subscription couldn’t be saved. Please strive once more.
Your subscription has been profitable.
Each girls attended Trump’s 2017 inauguration, though Trump himself skipped Biden’s 2021 swearing-in. Pence’s spouse Karen, who pointedly snubbed Trump this month at Jimmy Carter’s funeral, additionally gave Monday’s ceremony a miss.