By Maya Liquigan

January 20,2025

Piles of personal items including purses and backpacks pile up on the ground outside of the Capital One Area security screening area as they are not permitted inside in Washington D.C. on Monday, Jan. 20, 2025.

Throngs of people who didn’t make it inside the Capital One Arena to watch the swearing-in, cheered and chanted “USA” when Donald Trump appeared on a big screen outside at the start of the noon ceremony transferring power to him.

Reid Beck from North Carolina waited outside on Sunday, Jan. 19 for seven hours trying to get into Trump’s victory rally at the same arena. He never got in so decided to skip the line the next day and instead just congregate with other supporters.

“This is a historic moment for America, that we have a president that actually cares about people and not just about himself and the rich elite but a president that genuinely loves America,” Beck said.

Trump took the oath and was sworn in by Chief Justice John Roberts with his family surrounding him. First Lady Melania Trump held two Bibles, but her husband did not put his hand on either one. The first was a personal Bible, and the second was the Lincoln Bible that President Abraham Lincoln used in 1861 when he took the oath of office.

During his speech, Trump declared that the “golden age of America begins now,” adding that the country will be respected again as it flourishes. He also acknowledged the fact that his inauguration landed on Martin Luther King Jr. Day and stated that his administration will “strive together to make his dream a reality.” 

He vowed to send troops to the U.S.-Mexico border, stop foreign wars and take back the Panama Canal from Panama. 

At the Capitol Rotunda, where the swearing-in took place, business leaders sat in front of Trump’s cabinet picks. They were allowed to bring spouses but congressional leaders were not. After the ceremony, leaders from both parties and guests of the new president gathered in the Statuary Hall for the inaugural luncheon to celebrate the new administration. 

Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Tom Cotton was among those guests and was greeting billionaires in the room such as Meta owner Mark Zuckerberg and Jeff Bezos, founder of Amazon and owner of The Washington Post.

Trump also announced that he wants the U.S. to plant its flag on Mars and said he “will pursue our manifest destiny into the stars.” This statement led Elon Musk of SpaceX to throw his hands up in the air in celebration. 

Beck said he felt anxious and excited for what will happen with Trump returning to office for a second term. 

“I believe that we will see the world take a turn for calmness because I believe the world is better when America is the strongest,” he said. “We’ve had four years of a weak America and we’re about to have four years of the most strongest military.” When asked what specific policies Trump has that he supports he said, “Gosh there’s a lot…nothing off the top of my head.” 

Ruth Douglas from Pennsylvania was at Trump’s last inauguration in 2017 and said this year’s crowd was “bigger and better,” she said. She also was at the Jan. 6 terror attack on the capital that left five people dead and injured more than 174 police officers. Trump was impeached for inciting an insurrection.

Trump talked about the Jan. 6 attack at the Emancipation Hall at the Capitol Visitors Center; vowing to pardon those involved in the violence whom he referred to as “hostages,” the Associated Press reported. More than 1,230 people were charged with federal crimes in the riot.

Las Hancock from Colorado was selling hats and buttons three blocks from Capital One Arena. “I support America, I don’t support any specific individual, but he’s right for America right now, he’s what we need,” he said. Hancock said he believes that Trump is not a politician but rather a businessman.

“He’s already negotiated a ceasefire and he has got deals going with China and with Russia,” he said, referring to the months-long deal to end fighting between Hamas and Israel that the Biden administration negotiated.  

Before he left office, former President Joe Biden issued sanctions against Russians and launched investigations into Chinese shipbuilding, which analysts have said could help Trump by giving him negotiating tools.

During his 30 minute speech, Trump said he will once again withdraw the U.S. from the Paris Climate Agreement, weakening global climate efforts. This move mirrors his 2017 decision to leave the accord, which aims to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees celsius. 

“The whole climate change to me is a joke because throughout history, climate has been changing, God is in control. The Earth has run in cycles,” said Hancock when asked about Trump’s recent withdrawal from the Paris Climate Agreement.

Shannon Kosky from Ohio was watching the inauguration from inside Urban Roast, a coffee near the Capital One Arena. After waiting three hours in line, she gave up after the shop stopped letting people in at 12. “I feel like whether it were Donald Trump or Joe Biden were president or Barack Obama or even Bush before him, I can only be hopeful. We hope that whatever he ends up doing, that it works out best for the American people and in turn the world. I just want peace,” Kosky said. 

Updated

3 days ago

After the outdoor ceremony was moved indoors due to sub-freezing temperatures, tens of thousands of ticket holders stood outside and waited in line for watch parties held outside the Capital One Arena.

This marks the first time in 40 years that the swearing-in ceremony will not be held on the Capitol steps. Instead, the Rotunda—typically reserved as an alternative for inclement weather—will host the event. However, the space can accommodate only 600 people.

One of the first high-ranking officials to arrive at the Rotunda was Gen. CQ Brown Jr., chairman of the joint Chiefs of Staff. 

All former living presidents arrived and were followed by the Supreme Court justices. 

Lisa Vaughn and her daughter, Lydia Vaughn, sat at a coffee shop near Capital One Arena after realizing they were not able to watch the inauguration in person. The two took an eight- hour flight from Ireland to celebrate President-elect Donald Trump’s second term in the United States Capitol as Irish citizens. 

Lisa Vaughn said that the trip was a Christmas gift for Lydia Vaughn, who has been following Trump since his first term as president. Although they are both avid Trump supporters, Lisa Vaughn said that she was nervous for his next term. 

“I suppose we’re just afraid of World War Three coming because he’s just literally capable of anything,” Lisa Vaughn said. “But we’re supporting today anyway.” 

Lydia Vaughn said that she agrees with Trump’s promises to control immigration laws, which is also an issue in Ireland, she said. 

Trump plans to oversee the largest deportation operation in American history, with his first planned raid in Chicago post-inauguration. “Operation Safeguard” was planned to begin Tuesday, Jan. 21 and last through the following Monday. Chicago was expected to see between 150 to 200 Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers; however, the administration was rethinking the plan this past weekend.

Lydia Vaughn was disappointed that they were not able to watch the inauguration in person, but was still excited to be in Washington D.C. for the first time. 

“I wish I could have actually gone down and see everything,” Lydia Vaughn said. “But I suppose we’ll just see how the day goes. It’s really nice to be around those Americans who are embracing him and everything.” 

Lydia said that some of Trump’s perspectives do not align with her own, including his take on abortion rights, but “if I was American, I would definitely have voted for him.” 

Abortion was one of the key voting issues during the 2024 presidential election, close to 32% of voters said they’d only support candidates who align on their views on abortion.  

She said that she took off Nov. 5 to watch the U.S. presidential election on TV, but she does not vote in the election in Ireland. She was excited to see how serious Americans were about politics. 

Beth Purdue and her family came from Florida and had been waiting in line for an hour for the Penn Social Watch Party. She was hoping to watch the inauguration from inside the arena but knew they weren’t going to make it since many have been waiting in line since last night. “It is disappointing but I get it, it’s cold out here, people at the Obama inauguration got sick and were treated for potential frostbite,” she said.

Supporters have filed into the Emancipation Hall, the viewing room in the Capitol Visitor Center, where Trump is expected to speak after the inauguration ceremony. 

“I do believe that some of [Trump’s] policies are going to help on grocery bills and maybe put healthier food out there for us to eat,” Purdue said. When asked to name a specific bill mentioning that Trump would do so, she could not.

“I like what he’s doing with the Middle East, and I like the fact that the day before he got inaugurated they decided to go ahead and do a ceasefire and release people, I find that to be a good omen,” 

A ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas took effect on Sunday, Jan. 19, ending more than 15 months of war. 

Remington Youngblood from Georgia was standing in line for the Penn Social Watch Party without knowing what the line was for and described it as “Republican Disney.”  

“I don’t think it really would have mattered for me what side the environment was at right now. It’s just very cool seeing exclusively one group of people in such a large area, especially a city that I visit,” he said. “Just seeing practically 100% this demographic is entertaining to say the least.”

Some notable attendees include AI billionaires Sam Altman and Alexandr Wang, Indicted New York Mayor Eric Adams and Youtube influencers and brothers Logan and Jake Paul. The CEOs of Meta, X and Amazon sat in front of Trump’s entire cabinet. Former Prime Minister Boris Johnson and newly elected Argentinian President Javier Milei were among a group of current and former foreign leaders showing up for the inauguration, according to pool reports. 

Outside the Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C., thousands stood in the freezing cold in the early morning hours ahead of the inauguration of President-Elect Donald Trump, lining up for a chance to watch a live-stream of the ceremony.

The swearing-in, scheduled for noon, was moved from outside the Capitol’s West Lawn to inside to Capitol Rotunda just three days before because of the cold weather.

More than 220,000 people had tickets to attend the outdoor ceremony on Monday, Jan. 20, many of those ticket holders were encouraged to go to other venues or keep those tickets as commemorative items. Another 250,000 were expected on the National Mall. Entry to the arena, which holds 20,000 people, was open to anyone. The presidential parade that is traditionally held after the swearing-in ceremony was also moved to the arena. 

Sylvia Houston took a four-hour bus ride from New York. She said she wanted more job opportunities for Americans and believed that Trump will provide more free schooling. “I love immigrants, I love cultural foods and everything. I think if the person is in a gang that can cause chaos but if they’re just regular people [taking refuge], then I think that’s good,” Houston said. 

Thousands of supporters filled the street around the arena as a row of supervisors and police officers were managing the crowd, dressed in full camo and yellow vests. At the corner of H and 10th streets, trucks blocked off the surrounding intersections to control traffic. 

Vendors lined the sidewalk with “Make America Great Again” merchandise, calling out to the crowd to stay warm by purchasing their hats and gloves with Trump’s signature logo.

Among those vendors was Spike Edwards, who came from New York city on a bus, bringing his beanies and hats with him to sell. Edwards was worried about immigrants taking his job. “I am a Black American. I descend from the people who were slaves in this country,” he said. “Freedom is not free, I’ve fought for my freedom, so if somebody comes over here to be free and equal, I don’t believe in that.”

At around 8:30 a.m., officials began letting people into the venue, nearly three hours before the swearing-in ceremony. The temperature was at 18 degrees this morning, with a forecasted high of 26 and low of 12 for the day.

Jake Thomas from New Jersey also took a bus to D.C. Dressed as John Hancock, he came with two friends who also dressed in historical costume, one as George Washington. “Whoever is president makes no difference to me because you can point your finger at anybody and say this is your problem. Because it is the greatest country, you can do anything within reason, but there’s a lot more opportunities which is a great thing,” he said. 

Trump won the presidency in November, beating his Democratic challenger, Vice President Kamala Harris. Trump, the first former U.S. president to be convicted of a felony, will return to the White House after refusing to concede to President Joe Biden in 2020. The lead-up to this inauguration was markedly different, with a peaceful transfer of power expected and Biden in attendance, as is tradition.

At a victory rally on Sunday, Jan. 19 at the same D.C. sports arena, Trump pledged to make good on some of his core campaign promises on the first day in office. He is expected to issue numerous executive orders as soon as he is sworn in. He hinted at them at the rally, including a plan for deportations.

The incoming Trump administration had been planning a large-scale immigration raid in Chicago, a sanctuary city, on Tuesday, Jan. 21, carried out by Immigration and Customs Enforcement. But The Washington Post reported over the weekend that the administration is rethinking the plan.

Miles de personas se reunieron en Washington, D.C., bajo temperaturas gélidas, para presenciar la investidura de Donald Trump, que se trasladó al interior de la Rotonda del Capitolio debido al frío. Las multitudes llenaron las calles cerca del Capital One Arena, donde se transmitió en vivo la ceremonia y se realizó el tradicional desfile. Los vendedores se alinearon en las aceras vendiendo productos de Trump mientras la policía controlaba la bulliciosa escena.

Trump, el primer expresidente condenado por un delito grave que recupera la presidencia, derrotó a la vicepresidenta Kamala Harris. En un mitin antes de la ceremonia, prometió una acción rápida sobre las promesas claves de la campaña, incluidas las redadas de inmigración dirigidas a inmigrantes indocumentados con delitos menores, que comenzarán el 21 de enero en Chicago. El evento marcó una transferencia pacífica del poder, en contraste con las polémicas secuelas de las elecciones de 2020.