Donald Trump will be sworn in as president later on Monday, taking over Joe Biden in the White House amid the ongoing ceasefire deal in Gaza and the war in Ukraine.
The ceremony will formalise Trump’s appointment as US leader and provide a glimpse into how his presidency might pan out via speeches, attendees, and his inaugural addresses that mark the occasion.
The New Arab provides all the details of this historic event.
When is the inauguration?
The ceremony will begin at around 11:30am local time (4:30pm GMT) following his procession to the Capitol.
Trump will take the oath of office, administered by Chief Justice of the United States John Roberts, at 12pm local time (5pm GMT) inside the Capitol building rather than outside due to the freezing temperatures in Washington DC.
He is then expected to make his address to the nation, which is expected to be a sharp change from his first presidential speech in 2017 when he spoke of a ‘broken America’ with a more upbeat and unifying message to the nation on Monday.
He will then travel to the White House where the president and his team will sign executive orders in the Oval Office.
He will also speak at three inaugural balls including the Commander in Chief Ball, Liberty Inaugural Ball, and the Starlight Ball.Â
How is this inauguration different?
The ceremony being held indoors is one obvious break from usual proceedings, so it is unclear if he will depart from protocol and not inspect troops at the East Front steps of the Capitol Building due to the weather conditions.
A number of world leaders will also attend the inauguration with the ceremony usually attended solely by domestic delegates and diplomats representing foreign states.
Which world leaders are attending?
Pro-Israel Argentina President Javier Milei will be present, as will other South and Central American right-wing leaders such as Ecuador’s President Daniel Noboa and possibly El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele.
His right-wing friend in Brazil, President Jair Bolsonaro was invited but will not attend due to a travel ban.
Italy’s National Populist Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni will likely attend, as will Former Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawieck, who is a powerful figure in the European right.
Another European right-winger, Viktor Orban, will not be in Washington despite an invitation and being a close ally of Trump.
Former UK PM Liz Truss and right-wing activist Laurence Fox are also expected to attend.
China President Xi Jinping will not be present but his deputy Vice President Han Zheng will.
There has been huge controversy over whether Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was not invited or spurned the ceremony.
Straight after the inauguration, a meeting is planned between US officials and foreign ministers from Japan, India, and Australia – the so-called ‘Quad’, seen as a counterweight to Beijing.
Entertainment
Country Rock will feature prominently at the event, following performances by Kid Rock and the Village People at a pre-inauguration rally on Sunday.
Lee Greenwood, whose patriotic anthem ‘God Bless the USA’ is usually played at Trump rallies will perform, while Carrie Underwood will sing ‘America the Beautiful’ during the swearing-in ceremony.
The public can watch the ceremony via a live feed from Washington’s Capital One sports arena, which holds up to 20,000, and Trump has promised to visit his supporters at the stadium at some point in the day.
Agencies contributed to this story
