Jan. 20 (UPI) — Donald Trump has taken his oath as 47th president of the United States in Washington, D.C., on Monday.
The inauguration ceremony began at 11:45 a.m. EST at the Capitol Rotunda. President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden greeted Trump and his wife, Melania, as they arrived at the White House.
Vice President Kamala Harris and Vice President-elect J.D. Vance also greeted each other before the ceremony.
“Welcome home,” Biden told the Trumps as they arrived at the White House.
Inside the Executive Mansion, they participated in a tea.
They then went in a motorcade to the Capitol.
Ceremony
Trump took the oath, administered by Chief Justice John Roberts, at 12:05 p.m. EST. His children and wife stood by with Biden and Harris looking on.
Sen. Amy Klobuchar, chair of the inaugural ceremony committee, delivered the first speech during the inaugural ceremony. She noted that inauguration day, always held on Jan. 20, falls on Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
“A further reminder we must strive to uphold the values enshrined in our Constitution,” Klobuchar said. “Equal justice under law.”
Archbishop Timothy Dolan and Rev. Franklin Graham delivered the ceremony’s invocation. Dolan evoked the history of the United States from first President George Washington to the birth of King.
Associate Justice Brett Kavanaugh administered the Vance’s oath of office with Vance’s wife and son at his side.
Location and attendees
The inauguration ceremony was not held at its usual location at the National Mall due to cold weather.
The National Mall is across Constitution Ave. NW, where Trump, as the 45th president, held a “Stop the Steal” rally on Jan. 6, 2021. Following the rally, Trump supporters marched to the U.S. Capitol Building and rioted, interrupting the certification of the election temporarily. More than 1,200 people were indicted.
The move to the Rotunda, with about 800 seats, has prompted many would-be attendees who traveled to Washington for the event to watch at other locations, including the Capital One Arena. Many lawmakers from both sides of the political aisle are in attendance as are many of Trump’s nominees for cabinet positions.
Billionaire donors Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg, Jeff Bezos and Tim Cook are also in attendance with seats close to the swearing in. They arrived through the west door of the Rotunda where cabinet nominees also arrived.
Former Presidents Barack Obama, George W. Bush and Bill Clinton will also be in attendance.
Trump was not at the inauguration for Biden four years ago.
Beginning the ceremony, former Vice Presidents Dan Quayle and Mike Pence were introduced. Karen Pence is not in attendance. Former President Clinton and former presidential nominee Hilary Clinton were introduced and escorted to their seats next, followed by former President Bush and former first lady Laura Bush and former President Obama.
Members of the U.S. Supreme Court were introduced next.
First lady Jill Biden and second gentleman Doug Emhoff were introduced together. President Biden and Vice President Harris entered the Rotunda after first lady Melania Trump and second lady Usha Vance were introduced.
