The United States has held presidential inaugurations every four years since its first president, George Washington, was sworn in back in 1789.
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Intended to mark the peaceful transfer of power and serve as a unifying event for the nation, the ceremony features some elements that are consistent regardless of party affiliation, such as the oath of office, while the invited speakers may send out different signals and performances may vary widely in tone.
Donald Trump will be sworn in as the 47th president of the United States on January 20. Here’s what you need to know.
Where will it be?
Since Ronald Reagan’s inauguration in 1981, the ceremony has typically taken place on the west front of the US Capitol building. Due to extreme cold weather forecast this year, the ceremony will be held inside the Capitol in a domed, circular room called the Rotunda, which hosts around 600 people. Reagan’s ceremony was also hosted there in 1985.
Trump has said that the 20,000-seat Capital One Arena in Washington will be open for live viewing. The inaugural parade, typically held outdoors, will also be moved to the arena.
Who will attend?
The sitting US president and other living former presidents and their families typically attend the presidential inauguration. Trump declined to attend US President Joe Biden’s inauguration in 2021, arguing that the 2020 election, in which Biden defeated Trump, had been stolen from him.