what to expect when the new president of America is sworn in

Donald Trump will become president of the United States for the second time on Monday in a day of pomp and circumstance that marks the peaceful transfer of power after a rare return to politics.

About 250,000 people are expected to brave the cold and descend on downtown Washington to see Trump become the 47th president of the United States. He will be only the second president in the nation’s history to serve two non-consecutive terms, after Grover Cleveland in the late 1800s.

How will the day go?

The festival will begin in the morning with a service at St John’s church. Trump will then head to the White House to have tea with President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden before heading to the US Capitol for the swearing-in ceremony. While there is a parade on the way, the sun will be covered by fancy, black balls that start all over Washington.

What happens during the oath ceremony?

The main event will take place in the Rotunda of the US Capitol after the ceremony was moved indoors due to the bitter cold, which is predicted to be -5C during the ceremony. It is the first inauguration held indoors since 1985, when severe cold weather hit Ronald Reagan’s second inauguration. Traditionally, the ceremony is held on the marble terrace on the west side of the Capitol building, facing the National Mall.

After some music and invocation, vice president JD Vance will take his oath of office, placing his hand on a family Bible that belonged to his maternal grandmother, carried by the deputy of the Supreme Court of the United States Brett Kavanaugh.

Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court John Roberts will administer the presidential oath, written in the constitution, to Trump. The president-elect will place his hand on the two Bibles he used at his first inauguration: one given to him by his mother in 1955, and the other used by Abraham Lincoln in 1861.

Trump will officially become president when he takes the oath of office, at approximately 12pm EST.

Trump will then deliver his inaugural address, setting out his vision for the next four years. In 2016, his 1,434-word speech struck a dark note when he declared that “the carnage in America stops right here”.

Former presidents and first ladies, lawmakers, Trump, Vance and their families and friends will fill the Capitol to witness the ceremony, along with tech executives and billionaires including X owner Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos and Mark Zuckerberg. TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew is expected to attend the launch as he fights to get his viral app off the ground in the US.

Although foreign leaders rarely attend the polls, Beijing confirmed that China’s vice president Han Zheng would attend after Trump extended an invitation to President Xi Jinping.

Will Trump make any policies on the day?

Trump is expected to sign about 100 executive actions after he is sworn in. He vowed to be a “dictator on day one” and while on the campaign trail, Trump made a number of promises that would come true on his first day in office. They range from starting a mass deportation program to sweeping import tariffs, pardoning those accused of the January 6 2021 Capitol riots, and rolling back energy and climate regulations.

On Sunday, he again promised to delay the executive order restriction against TikTok.

There are two opportunities during his busy inauguration day schedule to fulfill this commitment. While at the Capitol, he will go to the president’s signing chamber, outside the Senate chamber, for a signing ceremony that may include orders or proclamations. Later, he will have an opportunity during a signing ceremony in the Oval Office.

It is also possible for him to explain the policy during his inaugural address.

How tight is the security for the event?

Security is always tight for a presidential inauguration, but it will be tighter than in the past because of the “high threat environment”, according to the Secret Service. There were two attempts on Trump’s life during the campaign last year, including a shooting that injured his ear.

About 25,000 law enforcement officers and soldiers will protect the event, including the Secret Service, the Metropolitan Police Department and the National Guard.

More than 30 miles of barbed wire went up, more than any other special national security event. Law enforcement agencies will also patrol from the air with drones.

Officials said there have been no direct threats to the inauguration but the US Capitol Police have warned that “one image” is the biggest potential danger during the event.

Who will sing at the party?

Country music star Carrie Underwood, who rose to fame after competing on American Idol, headlined the inauguration. He will perform “America the Beautiful” between Vance and Trump’s swearing-in. Country singer Lee Greenwood will also sing, and the swearing-in ceremony will end with the United States national anthem by opera singer Christopher Macchio.

Later in the evening, rapper Nelly, country band Rascal Flatts and disco group The Village People will be among the opening acts. Trump performed the final hits “YMCA” and “Macho Man” on the campaign trail.

The high-profile music show is a stark contrast to when Trump was first inaugurated, when his band struggled to attract stars. As a sign of America’s deep political divisions, there was a backlash against Underwood and The Village People. The disco group said in a Facebook post that “we know this will not be pleasant for some of you to hear, however, we believe that music should be made without politics”.