CBS News reported that on the evening of January 18 local time, President-elect Donald Trump arrived in Washington, D.C., beginning a series of events lasting several days to celebrate his second inauguration, eight years after his first swearing-in ceremony.
Trump's plane landed at Dulles Airport at 7:20 p.m., before heading to the Trump Sterling Golf Club in Virginia for a celebratory reception with fireworks. At the airport, Trump appeared in his usual manner, waving and pumping his fists in the air, but did not answer questions from the press.
He was joined by former First Lady Melania and son Barron. The mother and son left Palm Beach, Florida, where Mr. Trump has lived and run his transition campaign after winning the 2024 US presidential election.
An Arctic storm and record-breaking cold are expected to make this year’s inauguration the coldest in 40 years. In response, Trump announced that the swearing-in ceremony and remarks would be moved outdoors to the Capitol Rotunda. “I don’t want to see anyone get hurt… Do what President Ronald Reagan did in 1985,” he wrote on Truth Social.
More than 250,000 ticketed guests are expected to watch the inauguration live on screens, as the Capitol Rotunda only has room for 600 people.
The inauguration is not only a political event, but also a party for entertainment and business: Carrie Underwood, Billy Ray Cyrus, Kid Rock and Nelly are among the performers. High-profile CEOs like Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos and Mark Zuckerberg are also in attendance, along with stars like Jon Voight and Hulk Hogan.
On January 19, Mr. Trump will lay a wreath at Arlington National Cemetery before attending a rally at Capital One Arena. On January 20, the inauguration will conclude with a gala dinner, followed by a speech at an indoor parade due to an Arctic storm and severe weather.
While 2017 protests, like the Women's March, which attracted more than 500,000 people, became iconic, this year's was a toned-down affair. The People's March returned with a more diverse message, focusing on women's, LGBTQ, immigration and climate issues, but was noticeably smaller in scale.
Despite mixed opinions, this event marked an important milestone in Mr. Trump's tumultuous political journey. From the dense presence of supporters to scattered protests, this inauguration once again affirmed Mr. Trump as an important figure in the American political landscape.
