By James Oliphant
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Donald Trump will be sworn in as president of the United States on Jan. 20, ushering in his second term in office and capping one of the most astounding political comebacks in American history.
Inauguration Day is, by tradition, largely dedicated to pomp and circumstance. One president leaves the White House, and another moves in. But Trump also has pledged to sign a flurry of executive orders on subjects ranging from border security to oil and gas production on his first day in office.
Here is what we know about Inauguration Day so far:
WHEN IS THE INAUGURATION?
Trump will take the oath of office, likely administered by U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts, at 12 p.m. ET (1700 GMT) in front of the U.S. Capitol.
Trump will then deliver his inaugural address. In interviews, he has said he intends it to be uplifting and unifying. That would mark a departure from his first speech in 2017, which detailed a broken country he described as “American Carnage”.
The outgoing president, Democrat Joe Biden, has said he plans to attend the ceremony and witness the transfer of power, a courtesy Trump did not afford him four years earlier.
Thousands of spectators without tickets are expected to fill the National Mall and watch the ceremony on large video screens.
WHO IS INVITED?
Trump has broken with precedent and invited several foreign leaders to the ceremony. Historically, they have not attended the inaugural due to security concerns and have sent diplomats in their stead.
Argentina’s president, Javier Milei, a strong supporter of Trump’s, has said he will attend. Another Trump backer, Hungary’s Viktor Orban, has said he is considering coming.
Chinese President Xi Jinping is not expected to attend, despite an invitation.
PARADE TO THE WHITE HOUSE
After a lunch with congressional leaders at the Capitol, Trump will proceed down Pennsylvania Avenue in a motorcade to the White House, accompanied by a procession of military regiments, school marching bands, floats and citizens’ groups. The new president and his guests will then observe the rest of the parade from a reviewing stand.
GETTING TO WORK
Trump has vowed to use the afternoon to sign more than two dozen executive orders – dictates that do not require congressional approval – that will seek to roll back many of the Biden administration’s policies.
He is expected to sign orders that give immigration officers more latitude to arrest migrants with no criminal records, send more troops to the U.S.-Mexico border and restart construction of the border wall.
The orders will include a drive to increase energy production and follow through on Trump’s oft-stated campaign vow to “drill, baby, drill”.
Trump also is likely to issue the first wave of pardons for defendants convicted by the federal government for their participation in the Jan. 6, 2021, siege of the U.S. Capitol.
PARTYING AT NIGHT
There will be a series of inaugural galas held in locations throughout Washington that evening, some of which Trump may attend.
The official events are financed by Trump’s inauguration committee, which is chaired by longtime Trump allies Steve Witkoff, a real estate developer, and Kelly Loeffler, a former U.S. senator. Amazon.com, led by founder Jeff Bezos, and Meta Platforms , helmed by Mark Zuckerberg, have said they will donate $1 million each to the committee.
Large donations to the committee must be reported to the Federal Election Commission. Trump raised a record $106.7 million for his 2017 inauguration festivities.
(Reporting by James Oliphant; Editing by Colleen Jenkins and Lisa Shumaker)
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