what to expect after the swearing in of the new US president

Donald Trump will become US president for a second term on Monday in a day of pomp and circumstance that marks the peaceful transfer of power after his extraordinary political comeback.

Approximately 250,000 people are expected to brave the cold weather and come to downtown Washington to see Trump become the 47th President of the United States. He will be only the second president in the country’s history to serve two non-consecutive terms, since Grover Cleveland in the late 19th century.

How will the day go?

The extravaganza will begin in the morning with a service in the church of St. Ivan. Trump will then go to the White House for tea with outgoing President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden before heading to the US Capitol for the swearing-in ceremony. Along with the parade, the day will be marked by lavish black-tie inaugural balls across Washington.

What happens during the swearing-in ceremony?

The main event will take place in the rotunda of the US Capitol after the ceremony was moved inside due to extremely cold temperatures, which are forecast to be around -5C during the ceremony. It’s the first inauguration to be held indoors since 1985, when a cold snap hit Ronald Reagan’s second inauguration. Usually, the ceremony takes place on the marble terrace on the west side of the Capitol building, facing the National Mall.

After some music and invocations, Vice President-elect JD Vance will take his oath of office, placing his hand on a family Bible that belonged to his maternal great-grandmother, and is handled by US Supreme Court Associate Justice Brett Kavanaugh.

US Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts will then administer the presidential oath, written into the constitution, to Trump. The president-elect will rest his hand on the same two Bibles he used during his first inauguration: one given to him by his mother in 1955 and the other used by Abraham Lincoln in 1861.

Trump will officially become president when he takes the oath of office, around 12 noon EST.

Trump will then deliver his inaugural address, laying out his vision for the next four years. In 2016, his 1,434-word speech had a dark tone as he declared that “the American carnage stops right here.”

Former presidents and first ladies, lawmakers, Trump, Vance and their families and friends will fill the Capitol to witness the ceremony, along with tech executives and billionaire allies including X owner Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos and Mark Zuckerberg. TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew is expected to attend the inauguration as he struggles to get his viral app back up and running in the US.

Although foreign leaders do not usually attend inaugurations, Beijing confirmed that Chinese Vice President Han Zheng would attend after Trump extended an invitation to President Xi Jinping.

Will Trump make any policy that day?

Trump is expected to sign about 100 executive actions after he is sworn in. He promised to be a “dictator on day one,” and during the campaign Trump made a series of promises that he would fulfill on his first day in office. They range from starting a mass deportation program to imposing sweeping tariffs on imports, pardoning those accused of rioting at the Capitol on January 6, 2021, and rolling back energy and climate regulations.

On Sunday, he also promised an executive order for a delay ban against TikTok.

There are two opportunities during his busy inauguration day schedule to make good on those promises. While at the Capitol, he will go to the Presidential Signing Room, off the Senate floor, for a signing ceremony that could include executive orders or proclamations. He’ll get his chance later during a signing ceremony in the Oval Office.

It is also possible that he will outline policy during his inaugural address.

How much is the insurance for the event?

Security is always strong for presidential inaugurations, but will be tighter than in the past because of the “higher threat environment,” according to the Secret Service. During the election campaign last year, there were two assassination attempts on Trump, including a shooting that injured his ear.

Approximately 25,000 law enforcement officers and military personnel will secure the event, including the Secret Service, the Metropolitan Police Department and the National Guard.

More than 30 miles of rock barriers were erected, more than for any previous national special security event. Law enforcement agencies will also patrol from the air with drones.

Officials said there were no specific threats to the inauguration, but Capitol Police warned that a “lone actor” was the biggest potential danger during the event.

Who will perform at the ceremony?

Country music star Carrie Underwood, who rose to fame after competing on American Idol, is the inaugural headliner. He will perform “America the Beautiful” between Vance’s and Trump’s swearing-in. Country singer Lee Greenwood will also perform, and the swearing-in ceremony will end with a performance of the American national anthem by opera singer Christopher Macchio.

Later in the evening, performers at the inaugural balls will include rapper Nelly, country band Rascal Flatts and disco group The Village People. Trump made “YMCA” and “Macho Man” campaign anthems for the latter.

The high-profile musical lineup is in stark contrast to Trump’s first inauguration, when his team struggled to attract stars. In a sign of America’s deep political divide, there was a backlash against Underwood and The Village People. The disco group said in a Facebook post that “we know this won’t make some of you happy, however, we believe music should be performed regardless of politics.”