Donald Trump became the 47th president on January 20, 2025. He was sworn in at 12:05 p.m. EST in the Capitol Rotunda by Chief Justice John Roberts. The event was heavily secured. Four years earlier, the Rotunda was the site of a riot aimed at blocking certification of Joseph Biden’s election.
Ceremony and Attendees
- President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden hosted a brief tea at the White House, greeting Trump and Melania before moving to the Capitol.
- Vice President Kamala Harris joined Vice President-elect J.D. Vance. Associate Justice Brett Kavanaugh administered Vance’s oath, with Vance’s wife and son alongside.
- Sen. Amy Klobuchar, leading the inaugural committee, opened the ceremony at 11:45 a.m. She highlighted Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
- Archbishop Timothy Dolan and Rev. Franklin Graham gave the invocation.
- Former Presidents Barack Obama, George W. Bush, and Bill Clinton attended with their wives. Dan Quayle and Mike Pence arrived separately. Karen Pence was absent.
- Billionaire donors Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg, Jeff Bezos, and Tim Cook took seats near cabinet nominees.
- The Armed Forces Chorus performed “Oh America” with Christopher Macchio, followed by Carrie Underwood’s rendition of “America the Beautiful” with the Armed Forces Choir and the U.S. Naval Academy Glee Club.
Executive Orders and Statements
Soon after noon, Trump declared national emergencies at the southern border and on energy. He said he would:
- “Halt illegal entry” and send “millions of criminal aliens” back.
- Reinstate “remain in Mexico.”
- Station troops at the border.
- End “catch and release.”
- Establish an official stance that “only two genders” exist.
He called for renaming the Gulf of Mexico the “Gulf of America” and voiced intentions to seize control of the Panama Canal, citing an unfounded claim of Chinese influence. He credited himself for a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas, though that deal predated his new term.
Tone and Reaction
Trump labeled January 20, 2025, “liberation day” and said his life was saved after an assassination attempt so he could “make America great again.” He vowed to end what he called the “vicious, violent weaponization” of the Justice Department. Supporters cheered; critics eyed the pledges warily. Overflow crowds watched from Capital One Arena. Some welcomed the ceremony’s orderly proceedings, while others pointed to the administration’s immediate, hard-line tactics.
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