After beating Vice President Kamala Harris in the 2024 election, Donald Trump is finally expected to subscribe to the oath of office on Monday, January 20, 2025.
The businessman-cum politician is expected to be sworn in inside the U.S. Capitol, a break away from the tradition, due to extreme cold temperatures. The last time the investiture was moved inside due to cold weather was in 1985.
Authorities in the US have stated that over 5,000 people are expected to witness the historic return of Donald Trump to the helm of power after losing the re-election bid to the outgoing President Joe Biden in the 2020 polls.
4 former presidents
Apart from the usual crowd comprising of lawmakers and other officials, the four living presidents are expected to grace the installation at the US Capitol.
The four include Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, Barack Obama and outing Head of State Joe Biden.
Outgoing Vice President Kamala who conceded defeat after a tight race against Trump is also expected to attend the much-awaited instatement ceremony.
Tech titans
Tech heavyweights who have in recent times thrown their weight behind the President-elect are expected to grace the event. The troop of tech investors are expected to be led by Tesla’s boss Elon Musk who heavily invested and openly endorsed Trump.
His influence played a big part in Trump’s campaign as he heavily capitalised on the X platform to popularise Trump’s candidature.
Apart from Musk, Meta’s boss Mark Zuckerberg, Amazon’s Jeff Bezos and Apple’s Tim Cook are expected to witness Trump taking over the instruments of authority from Biden.
Amid controversies surrounding TikTok in the US, Shou Chew is expected to be present.
TikTok users in the US experienced hours of blackout after the platform deactivated its services following a Supreme Court decision. However, the platform went back online following an intervention from the incoming POTUS.
Foreign leaders invited
Unlike at the inaugurations of President Biden and former President Barack Obama, several other world leaders will be in attendance.
According to US authorities, several heads of state are expected to jet in to attend the inauguration ceremony. Some of the leaders share close ties with the President-elect while others are not his close allies but signals are his willingness to extend an olive branch to them.
Notable leaders expected at the Capitol include Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Argentina’s President Javier Milei, El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele and Ecuador’s President Daniel Noboa.
The US had also invited President Xi Jinping but he will be represented by Vice President Han Zheng while Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be represented by Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar.
Former Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawieck, who recently became leader of the right-wing European Conservatives and Reformists party in the EU parliament, will also attend.
Nonetheless, a few other foreign leaders will miss the inauguration due to some engagements and travelling challenges.
It is not yet clear if African leaders have been invited to the inauguration ceremony.
Leave a Reply