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Inauguration live updates: Donald Trump, Joe Biden enter Capitol after traditional meeting
Savannah Kuchar
Marina Pitofsky
Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy
USA TODAY
WASHINGTON − President-elect Donald Trump has arrived at the Capitol building, walking alongside President Joe Biden into his second inauguration ceremony where he will become the 47th president of the United States.
At noon on Monday, Trump is scheduled to be sworn in before lawmakers, distinguished guests and family members, who were all seen filing into the Capitol rotunda. The ceremony was moved indoors due to inclement weather.
Trump and former first lady Melania Trump met with Biden and first lady Jill Biden at the White House on Monday morning, a traditional gathering of the outgoing and incoming presidents on Inauguration Day.
Vice President-elect JD Vance and his wife, Usha Vance, also met with Vice President Kamala Harris and second gentleman Doug Emhoff.
Follow along with the USA TODAY Network for live updates.
Donald Trump arrives at his inauguration ceremony
The president-elect and incoming first lady Melania Trump were seen entering the inauguration ceremony before Donald Trump will be sworn in as the 47th U.S. president.
− Marina Pitofsky
Joe Biden and Kamala Harris enter Capitol rotunda
Joe Biden and Kamala Harris, the outgoing president and vice president, have arrived at the inaugural ceremony. Trump defeated Harris in the 2024 race for the White House, but she presided over Congress’ certification of his win in her role as vice president.
− Marina Pitofsky
Donald Trump’s children take their seat
Donald Trump’s children − Donald Trump Jr., Eric Trump, Ivanka Trump, Tiffany Trump and Barron Trump, have taken their seats at their father’s second inauguration.
− Marina Pitofsky
Supreme Court justices enter
The justices of the United States Supreme Court entered the Capitol rotunda. Chief Justice John Roberts will preside over the inauguration ceremony.
− Marina Pitofsky
What did Joe Biden say to Donald Trump?
As Joe Biden and Jill Biden welcomed Donald Trump and Melania Trump back to the White House on Monday, Jill Biden told him “welcome home.”
− Joey Garrison, Marina Pitofsky
Clintons, Bushes, Obama enter Capitol rotunda
Former President Bill Clinton and former first lady Hillary Clinton entered the Capitol rotunda on Monday ahead of the inauguration ceremony. Former President George W. Bush and former first lady Laura Bush followed the Clintons, before former President Barack Obama.
The crowd at the ceremony applauded as the former presidents and first ladies took their seats.
Former first lady Michelle Obama said earlier this month that she would not be in attendance at the event.
− Marina Pitofsky
Trump’s Cabinet picks, top allies enter the Capitol rotunda
Donald Trump’s top Cabinet picks, including Pete Hegseth, Doug Burgum, Kristi Noem, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and others, have entered the Capitol rotunda for the inauguration ceremony.
Some of Trump’s top allies, including Elon Musk, Vivek Ramaswamy, Joe Rogan and Jeff Bezos, also filed in ahead of the proceedings. Musk and Ramaswamy are set to lead the Department of Government Efficiency, a new initiative aimed at cutting government spending.
− Marina Pitofsky
What’s the Inauguration Day schedule?
The Trump Vance Inaugural Committee, National Park Service, Washington D.C. tourism department, Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies and Reuters have laid out a general schedule of the day, though not every event has a specific start time or location. All times provided are in ET.
5 a.m.: Security screening opens at the Capitol.
8 a.m.: An open, non-partisan service will be held at the St. John’s Episcopal Church in downtown Washington, D.C. After that, Donald and Melania Trump will head to the White House for tea with President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden. Traditionally, the sitting president then escorts the incoming president to the Capitol.
Around 9:30 a.m.: Live music and opening remarks begin. Carrie Underwood’s performance of “America the Beautiful” will occur before Trump’s swearing-in.
Around 10 a.m.: Official guests begin arriving.
11:30 a.m.: Those with tickets should arrive by 11:30 a.m.
12 p.m.: In line with the Constitution’s assertion that the transfer of power happens at exactly noon on Jan. 20, Trump will take the presidential oath during the swearing-in ceremony.
The swearing-in ceremony is traditionally when the new president also delivers their inaugural address.
A little after 12 p.m.: The official farewell and ceremonial departure of the former president and vice president. Typically, they leave in a helicopter.
Then comes the president’s signing room ceremony, during which the president, accompanied by aides and members of Congress, heads to the president’s room off of the Senate chamber and signs nominations, memorandums, proclamations, or executive orders.
Next is the JCCIC congressional luncheon at the Capitol’s Statuary Hall, which is attended by the president and vice president and their guests, Senate leaders and members of JCCIC.
After lunch, the new president and vice president head to the east front steps of the Capitol for the president’s review of the military troops.
3 p.m.: The presidential parade kicks off. Previously scheduled to take place on Pennsylvania Avenue and proceed to the White House, the procession was moved inside at Capital One Arena, due to cold weather. The parade includes ceremonial military regiments, citizens’ groups, marching bands and floats.
After this, Trump returns to to the White House for the Oval Office signing ceremony where performs an inaugural signing.
Finally, Trump will attend and deliver remarks at three separate balls: the Commander in Chief Ball, the Liberty Inaugural Ball and the Starlight Ball.
– Mary Walrath-Holdridge
Donald Trump to declare federal government recognizes two sexes — male and female
Donald Trump will declare shortly after taking office on Monday that the federal government only recognizes two sexes — male and female — a move that reverses protections for transgender people put in place under Joe Biden.
Trump will make the declaration as part of a flurry of executive orders he is planning to sign after his noon inauguration. An incoming White House official who described the measure said it is about “restoring sanity.”
The State Department, Department of Homeland Security and other agencies will be tasked with enforcing the directive, which applies to passports, visas and other government documents, according to the incoming White House official.
– Erin Mansfield and Francesca Chambers
Trump to declare border emergency, use US military to ‘repel forms of invasion’
Donald Trump on Monday is expected to declare a national border emergency and order the U.S. armed forces to “repel forms of invasion” at the U.S.-Mexico border, including illegal migration and drug trafficking, according to incoming administration officials.
The 10 executive orders – previewed by incoming White House officials who spoke anonymously before he was set to be sworn in at noon – appear to lay the groundwork for the sprawling crackdown on immigration Trump promised during his campaign.
Under the emergency declaration, the administration will suspend refugee resettlement, finish building the border wall, suspend entry of nationals from “countries of concern” and attempt to end the constitutionally guaranteed right to citizenship for children born in the U.S. to some foreign nationals.
The incoming administration also plans to use the military to target drug cartels as “global terrorists” and use the military to combat them, though officials declined to provide details on the rules of engagement.
– Lauren Villagran and Bart Jansen
Guests file in for Trump’s second inauguration
Guests are beginning to enter the Capitol ahead of Trump’s inauguration. Spotted together: former Republican House Speakers Newt Gingrich, John Boehner and Kevin McCarthy.
– Marina Pitofsky
Mike Pence to attend Donald Trump’s inauguration
Former Vice President Mike Pence said he will attend Trump’s inauguration on Monday, sharing in a post on X “This is a day when every American does well to celebrate our democracy and the peaceful transfer of power under the Constitution of the United States.”
Pence and Trump publicly split in the wake of the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot. Trump called on Pence to intervene in Congress’ certification of the 2020 election, power the then-vice president insisted he never had as a violent mob of Trump’s supporters breached the Capitol building.
– Marina Pitofsky
Joe and Jill Biden welcome Donald and Melania Trump back to the White House
The first couples meet: Joe and Jill Biden invited Donald and Melania Trump to the White House ahead of inauguration proceedings, a traditional moment in America’s historic peaceful transition of power.
JD Vance and Kamala Harris are also meeting, along with their spouses, Usha Vance and Doug Emhoff.
– Marina Pitofsky
‘Excited for America’: Family travels from Mississippi to Washington, DC
Les Green, 56, of Hernando, Mississippi, stood at a normally busy intersection in downtown Washington D.C. in freezing temperatures on Monday. But the street was quiet ahead of the inauguration, and it marked the closest spot to the Capitol he was allowed by security.
Green, who was accompanied by his wife and two sisters, said he was excited to be in the nation’s capital on the historic day.
They stood at the corner and prayed for soon-to-be President Trump.
“We are here to pray for President Trump and for the restoration of America,” he said. “We’re here because we believe that God is bringing a resurrection of the values of the moral state that made our country great.”
“We’re just so excited for America,” he said.
– Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy
Michelle Obama won’t be attending Trump’s inauguration on Jan. 20, her office says
Former First Lady Michelle Obama won’t be attending Trump’s inauguration on Jan. 20., her office said. Her office did not provide a reason for why she will skip the inauguration.
“Former President Barack Obama is confirmed to attend the 60th Inaugural Ceremonies. Former First Lady Michelle Obama will not attend the upcoming inauguration,” the Office of Barack and Michelle Obama said in a statement.
George W. Bush’s office confirmed that the former president and former First Lady Laura Bush will attend Trump’s inauguration. Former President Bill Clinton’s office also confirmed he will be attending.
– Sudiksha Kochi and Phillip M. Bailey
Trumps, Vances arrive for traditional church service, joined by Zuckerberg, Bezos
Trump, former first lady Melania Trump and their son Barron Trump were seen arriving at St. John’s Episcopal Church in downtown Washington, D.C. for a Monday morning service. A church service has for decades been a traditional part of Inauguration Day morning.
Vice President-elect JD Vance and his wife, Usha Vance, were also in attendance, as were other members of the Trump family, such as Eric Trump, Ivanka Trump and their spouses and children.
Other inauguration guests were also seen entering the church, including Meta founder Mark Zuckerberg, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and former United Kingdom Prime Minister Boris Johnson.
– Marina Pitofsky
Follow along as we fact check Trump, inauguration reactions
Join the USA TODAY Fact Check Team as we fact check Trump and reaction from around the country as he is sworn in as president.
The USA TODAY Fact Check Team will be monitoring the inauguration ceremonies and how leaders and social media users respond. Follow along as we sort fact from fiction and add context where it’s needed.
Live updates: Fact-checking Trump’s presidential inauguration
– Eric Litke
Trump will call for ‘revolution of common sense’ in inauguration speech
Trump will call for a “revolution of common sense” during his second inaugural address, according to multiple reports.
“I return to the presidency confident and optimistic that we are at the start of a thrilling new era of national success. A tide of change is sweeping the country,” the president-elect is expected to say. “My message to Americans today is that it is time for us to once again act with courage, vigor and the vitality of history’s greatest civilization.”
– Marina Pitofsky
More:Donald Trump wins the White House. Mark the historic win with a new commemorative book
Civil rights activists call for action as King holiday and inauguration fall on same day
While Trump is being sworn in as president for the second time on Monday, civil rights activists plan to take a different oath just a few blocks from the White House.
They will remember the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., whose federal holiday named in his honor also falls on that day, by pledging to challenge any efforts by the Trump administration to dismantle hard-fought gains in civil rights.
For these activists, Trump represents everything King worked against, and for them, it would dishonor King’s legacy to remain silent ‒ on this of all days.
“Everything that Dr. King stood for, Donald Trump has stated clearly he wants to dislodge,” said the Rev. Al Sharpton, president of the National Action Network, which is hosting a rally at a historic Black church near the White House.
– Deborah Barfield Berry
What channel will the inauguration be on?
All major broadcast networks, including CNN, NBC and MSNBC, ABC, CBS, Fox News, News Nation and BBC, have plans to show Trump’s inauguration, many beginning coverage as early at 7 a.m. ET. See a rundown of TV networks’ broadcast plans.
USA TODAY will be streaming event live beginning at 10 a.m. ET.
– Amy Haneline
Vendors flock to Washington from ‘all over the world’
Jeff Barbour, 58, has been selling merchandise for special events in Washington, D.C. for more than 20 years. This inauguration weekend, he’s selling custom-ordered T-shirts, sweatshirts, stickers and hats – all with Trump’s face on them.
For Barbour, it’s just another day on the job. He’s counting on two rushes of shoppers: the early morning crowd that buys hats and hoodies to keep warm, and the evening crowd that will buy a souvenir to take home. There were dozens of Trump merchandise vendors surrounding the Capitol One Arena on Sunday, a niche market that has come to be expected at Trump events. Barbour said competition between vendors is tense.
“They (vendors) come from all over the world because they know it’s big,” he said. “Anything with over 100,000 people, they come from all over.”
Barbour sells event merchandise no matter who the headliner is, but he said he also likes Trump.
“I don’t have nothing against him. He never did anything to me,” he said. “Only thing he did was made my pockets a little fatter, so you can’t be mad at that.”
– Victoria Moorwood
What time does the inauguration start?
The Trump Vance Inaugural Committee, National Park Service, Washington D.C. tourism department, Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies and Reuters have laid out a general schedule of the day, though not every event has a specific start time or location.
According to those reports, security screening opened at the Capitol at 5 a.m. ET. Live music and opening remarks begin around 9:30 a.m. ET. Carrie Underwood’s performance of “America the Beautiful” will occur before Trump’s swearing-in, which happens at exactly noon.
– USA TODAY Staff
History buff?Test your inauguration knowledge with our quiz
Anthony Fauci, Liz Cheney receive preemptive pardons from Biden hours before Trump becomes president
Anthony Fauci, Liz Cheney and Gen. Mark Milley all received preemptive pardons from Biden on Monday for potential targets of President-elect Donald Trump in an unprecedented move to shield some of the incoming president’s top foes from criminal prosecution.
Biden also granted pardons to the lawmakers and staffers from the House committee that investigated the Capitol attack on Jan. 6, 2021, a panel the president-elect has railed against for years.
“These public servants have served our nation with honor and distinction and do not deserve to be the targets of unjustified and politically motivated prosecutions,” Biden said in a statement.
– Holly Rosenkrantz
Which president’s assassin was also at their inauguration?
John Wilkes Booth can be seen in a photograph of former President Abraham Lincoln’s second inauguration.
Six weeks later, the actor and Confederate sympathizer shot and killed Lincoln inside Ford’s Theatre.
More:Documents reveal that Abraham Lincoln pardoned Biden’s ancestor during Civil War: Report
Has the inauguration been held indoors before?
Trump’s second inauguration was moved inside the Capitol rotunda, due to bitter cold conditions in Washington Monday.
Then President Ronald Reagan’s second swearing-in in January 1985 marks the last time the ceremony took place inside.
In 1909, William Taft’s presidential inauguration was held in the Senate chamber due to 10 inches of snow outside.
More:Trump’s inaugural ceremony moved indoors due to forecast of intense cold
Who gave the longest inauguration speech? The shortest?
Former President William Henry Harrison holds the record for the longest inaugural address, at 8,445 words and one hour and 40 minutes, on March 4, 1841.
Harrison also went down in history for having the shortest presidential term. At 68 years old, the ninth president died a month after taking office from pneumonia thought to be the result of bitter cold conditions during his inauguration.
Meanwhile, the briefest inauguration award goes to first President George Washington, who offered just 135 words before his second oath of office.
– Savannah Kuchar
When was the first inauguration?
Former President George Washington was sworn in during the country’s first inauguration on April 30, 1789.
Starting with the second president, John Adams, inaugurations were typically held on March 4. The ceremony moved to its current traditional date, Jan. 20, starting with former President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1937.
– Savannah Kuchar
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