A member of the U.S. Army Herald Trumpets participates in an inauguration rehearsal on the west facade of the U.S. Capitol on January 12, 2025 in Washington, DC.
Kevin Dietsch | Getty Images
Donald TrumpThe presidential transition team on Monday announced a schedule of official parties, gatherings and other events that will follow his inauguration as America’s 47th president next week.
The four-day schedule includes fireworks and three VIP events at Trump’s golf course outside Washington, DC, as well as a celebratory MAGA gathering ahead of his swearing-in ceremony.
It also includes three inaugural balls, a relatively small number by recent presidential standards — and one that seems even more modest given the record amount of money Trump’s inaugural committee has at its disposal.
The Trump Vance Inaugural Committee has raised more than $170 million and is on track to finish with more than $200 million to spend on inauguration events and operations, including news outlets NBC news have reported.
The non-profit committee is tasked with planning and hosting much of the festivities that traditionally accompany the transition of presidential power.
That doesn’t include Trump’s swearing-in at the Capitol or his inaugural address, both of which are paid for by a special joint congressional committee.
Outside of the balls, several of Trump’s events will be held at his golf course in Virginia, a break from recent inaugurations that have largely kept events within Washington, DC
Unlike in 2021, when President Joe Biden held a fireworks display over the National Mall in DC, the fireworks at the Trump Club will explode more than 20 miles from Capitol Hill, out of public view.
Trump’s second inaugural committee, like his first in 2017, will again be loaded with far more money than those of other recent presidents, while holding fewer events.
former president Barack ObamaThe 2009 inauguration, for example, included 10 official balls in addition to dozens of other unofficial events. His inaugural committee raised over 53 million dollarsa record at the time.
Former President Bill Clinton attended for the record 14 official balls during his second inauguration in 1997, which reportedly raised less than 24 million dollars.
President Joe Biden did not host any balls in 2021 due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Trump’s massive fundraising and relatively modest schedule mirror the circumstances of his 2017 inauguration, which raised $107 million and spent more than $97 million over just two days of events.
That unprecedented spike in spending was about $37,000 per minute, more than four times the $8,600 per minute spent during Obama’s first inauguration, OpenSecrets calculated in 2018.
The current Trump inauguration committee did not immediately respond to CNBC’s questions about fundraising and spending plans.
As Trump promises to overhaul U.S. economic policy — including imposing potentially hefty tariffs while cutting all sorts of other taxes and regulations — some top CEOs and companies are eager to warm up their once-cold relations with him.
This also applies to the inaugural committee, which received millions in donations from a number of companies, including many tech giants who refused to contribute to his 2017 inauguration.
Last week, outgoing Federal Trade Commission Chairwoman Lina Khan suggested as much to CNBC Amazon and Facebook parent Target maybe working on getting “deal honey” of the next Trump administration.
Likely in response to increased interest in currying favor with Trump, the inaugural committee is reportedly asking top donors to give at least $1 million — double what it asked for in 2017 — for a chance to meet directly with the president — or vice president-elect, the Guardian reported.
Here is the latest schedule of events provided by Trump’s inauguration committee:
Saturday, January 18, 2025
- President’s reception and fireworks at Trump Sterling
- Reception in the cabinet and the vice president’s dinner
Sunday, January 19, 2025
- Ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery
Ceremonial laying of wreaths on the tomb of the Unknown Hero - Make America Great Again Victory Rally
President Donald J. Trump speaks - Dinner by candlelight
President Donald J. Trump speaks
Monday, January 20, 2025
- John’s church service
- Tea at the White House
- Oath ceremony
US Capitol - Farewell to the former president and vice president
- A ceremony to leave the US Capitol
- Ceremony in the presidential signing room
- JCCIC congress lunch
- President’s review of troops
- Presidential parade
Pennsylvania Avenue - Signing ceremony in the Oval Office of the White House
- Commander-in-Chief Ball
President Donald J. Trump speaks - Inaugural Liberty Ball
President Donald J. Trump speaks - Star ball
President Donald J. Trump speaks
Tuesday, January 21, 2025
