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President-elect to be sworn-in at Capitol rotunda as freezing conditions blast Washington DC
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Donald Trump will promise a “thrilling new era” for America in his inaugural address at the US Capitol on Monday after he is sworn-in as the 47th commander-in-chief of the United States.
Trump will become the first president since Grover Cleveland to enter the White House for a non-consecutive second term, with the ceremony driven indoors for the first time since Ronald Reagan’s second inauguration in 1985 by the punishing sub-zero temperatures currently blasting Washington DC.
“I return to the presidency confident and optimistic that we are at the start of a thrilling new era of national success,” the Republican will say, according to pre-released excerpts of his speech.
“A tide of change is sweeping the country.”
On day one, the president-elect has plans in place to sign more than 200 executive orders – a record – covering everything from border security and energy, ending birthright citizenship, and renaming the Gulf of Mexico.
President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden greeted the incoming president and Melania Trump at the White House by saying: “Welcome home.”
With Emancipation Hall acting as the overflow room for today’s indoor inauguration, HuffPost’s Igor Bobic notes that it looked very different just over four years ago before Joe Biden was sworn into office in the aftermath of the January 6 attack on the US Capitol.
As Donald Trump returns to the White House, here are some of the world leaders and other guests attending the inauguration:
Guests include Chinese vice president, leaders of Italy, Argentina, Ecuador and heads of European far-right parties
The 17-year-old shares one notable hobby with her incoming president grandfather: golf
In the scene at the North Portico, when the Bidens were waiting for the Trumps to arrive, President Joe Biden was asked if he had written a letter to Donald Trump. He said: “Yes.”
When asked what he said, Biden said: “That’s between Trump and me.”
The letter is placed on the desk in the Oval Office, and the content is rarely disclosed by the new president.
Also, in answer to the question about “What’s your message today,” Biden first said “joy” then paused a bit and said “hope.”
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