Donald Trump will officially become the 47th president of the United States on Monday, January 20, on the West Front of the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C. Held on the third Monday of January, the inauguration will occur on the same day as Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, which marks the second time an inauguration has occurred on the same date as the holiday following the second inauguration of Bill Clinton in 1997.
The leaders of various tech companies have pledged donations and services for the inauguration. Open AI CEO Sam Altman said through a spokesperson that he will be making a $1 million personal donation. Mark Zuckerberg, the head of Meta and the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, sent $1 million. It is also reported in the Wall Street Journal that Amazon’s CEO, Jeff Bezos, has offered to stream the ceremony on Amazon Prime, and this will amount to a $1 million in-kind donation. Observers say these donations are intended to patch relationships, because some of these tech leaders had been in conflict with Trump in the past, and hopefully reduce regulatory pressure on their companies under the incoming administration.
Other contributors include Uber Technologies and its CEO Dara Khosrowshahi each agreed to donate $1 million to the inauguration, as well as Ford Motor Company and General Motors announced that they would donate $1 million each and provide a fleet of vehicles for the inauguration.
Activities begin on Saturday with a reception and fireworks display at Trump National Golf Club in Virginia. The day also features a Cabinet reception and a vice president’s dinner, setting the tone for a weekend of high-profile celebrations. While the events underscore Trump’s flair for grandeur, some observers have noted the focus on his personal brand.
unday’s events include a solemn wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery, honoring those who have served the nation. However, the day’s centerpiece, Trump’s ‘MAGA Victory Rally’ at Capital One Arena, has drawn mixed reactions, with some seeing it as an extension of his campaign style rather than a unifying inaugural event. The evening ends with a candlelight dinner, blending celebration with tradition.
n Monday, Inauguration Day, Trump’s schedule begins with a service at St. John’s Church and tea at the White House. At noon, Trump and Vice President-elect J.D. Vance will be sworn in, officially marking the transfer of power from President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris.
Following the ceremony, Trump will participate in a traditional signing of nominations in the President’s Room near the Senate chamber and attend a luncheon hosted by the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies. Later, he will lead the presidential parade down Pennsylvania Avenue, with a review of the troops, a hallmark of the day’s events.
The evening will feature three inaugural balls: the ‘Commander in Chief Ball,’ the ‘Liberty Inaugural Ball,’ and the ‘Starlight Ball.’ Trump is expected to address attendees at each, highlighting his plans for the nation as he steps into the presidency.
The weekend concludes on Tuesday with the National Prayer Service, a longstanding tradition intended to bring the nation together in reflection and hope.
Several members of the Democratic Party in the 119th Congress have decided to boycott the inauguration.
According to Rep. Steve Cohen of Tennessee: “[Trump] has said he is going to pardon some of the January 6 prisoners at his inauguration, and as one who was in the gallery and then locked in my office in the early morning as the insurrectionists tried to overthrow our government and beat police, some to the point of death, I cannot be a part of that spectacle.”
“I’ll be in town with my constituents honoring Dr. King’s legacy,” said Rep. Ayanna Pressley, Massachusetts in an interview. “I don’t think being there does that.”
