Donald Trump, after defeating Vice President Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential election, is set to be sworn in as the 47th President of the United States on Monday, January 20, 2025. This marks a historic comeback for Trump, who lost his re-election bid in 2020 to outgoing President Joe Biden.
Ceremony Moved Indoors
The inauguration ceremony will take place inside the U.S. Capitol due to extreme cold temperatures, a departure from the traditional outdoor event. The last time such a move occurred was in 1985 during Ronald Reagan’s second inauguration.
Authorities have indicated that over 5,000 attendees are expected at the ceremony to witness Trump’s return to power.
Former Presidents to Attend
The event will be attended by the four living former U.S. presidents: Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, Barack Obama, and outgoing President Joe Biden. Outgoing Vice President Kamala Harris, who conceded defeat after a tightly contested election, is also expected to attend.
Tech Titans in Attendance
A host of tech industry leaders who supported Trump’s campaign are set to attend the event. Tesla CEO Elon Musk, a prominent supporter of Trump’s candidacy, played a crucial role in amplifying his campaign on the X platform (formerly Twitter).
Other tech heavyweights expected include Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, and Apple CEO Tim Cook. Amid recent controversies surrounding TikTok in the U.S., the platform’s CEO, Shou Zi Chew, will also be present.
TikTok faced temporary service disruptions in the U.S. following a Supreme Court ruling but resumed operations after Trump’s intervention, signaling his intent to address the issue during his administration.
Foreign Leaders Invited
Several world leaders have been invited to the ceremony, signaling Trump’s willingness to strengthen diplomatic ties. Notable attendees include Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Argentina’s President Javier Milei, El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele, and Ecuador’s President Daniel Noboa.
China’s President Xi Jinping and India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi will not attend but will send representatives—Vice President Han Zheng and Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, respectively. Former Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki, now the leader of the right-wing European Conservatives and Reformists in the EU Parliament, will also be present.
While some foreign leaders will miss the event due to travel challenges and prior engagements, it remains unclear if any African leaders have been invited to the inauguration.
Trump’s inauguration is expected to draw global attention as he begins his second term at the helm of the world’s most powerful nation.
