On the momentous day of January 20, Donald Trump will step onto history’s stage, taking the oath of office to commence his term as the 47th President of the United States. Just as fascinating as this extraordinary event is the fact that this will be the second time he will be making history, having already served as the nation’s 45th President from 2017 to 2021. In the annals of American history, Trump’s achievement of serving two nonconsecutive terms is not a common feat, only being matched by one other President.
After making the solemn pledge of the oath, reaffirming his unyielding commitment to the public, Trump’s place in the Presidential relay race will be firmly established. With the swearing-in ceremony, the unstoppable and bold former business magnate will add yet another accolade to his name. This achievement will be even more remarkable given the adversities he has faced.
In response to the ebb and flow of Mother Nature, the organizers have shown adaptability by deciding to shift the Inauguration indoors, to the architecturally grand United States Capitol Rotunda. Originally scheduled outside, the possibility of extreme cold in Washington has prompted this change. Considering the anticipated attendance figures, this decision reinforces the dedication to ensuring the ceremony is a resounding success.
For his secondswearing-in, more than 220,000 tickets have been issued by the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies. As the tradition goes, the much-anticipated occasion ordinarily takes place outside the U.S. Capitol building. This change in venue, however, attests to a flexibility and out-of-the-box thinking that coincides so well with Trump’s leadership style.
The lead-up to Trump’s second inauguration witnessed a profound shift in perspective when compared to the somewhat strained transition of power in 2020. While the past certainly had its share of controversy characterized by Trump’s reluctance to concede, his unwavering resolve and determination undoubtedly ignited the spirit of his loyal supporters.
Trump, forging a path of his own, chose not to attend President Joe Biden’s Inauguration in the past. Such unconventional approaches to protocol can be seen as indicative of his commitment to prioritizing his convictions over tradition. Yet, the transition of power this time around promises to be smoother, with both Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris confirming their attendance at Trump’s Inauguration.
Since time immemorial, or rather since 1789, Inauguration Day used to fall on March 4. This tradition stayed unaltered until George Washington assumed office on April 30 of that year, the change owing to unfortunate weather delays. One cannot help but draw parallels with the present situation where weather once again is playing a role in Inauguration Day proceedings.
Historically, Inauguration Day was in March as counting votes and travel were time-consuming processes due to less advanced technology and infrastructure. However, this gap between Election Day and Inauguration Day sometimes created complications with transitions. To mitigate these issues, the date was moved up. The advancement in technology and infrastructure over the years made this shift possible.
The year 1933 marked a significant alteration in this tradition with the ratification of the 20th Amendment. This moved Inauguration Day to January 20. Holding the honor of being the first President to be sworn into office in January was Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1937. This was, in fact, the second of his four inaugurations.
On the upcoming day of inauguration, the paths of Trump and Vice President-elect J.D. Vance are slated to intersect at precisely 12 noon on the platform. The historic oath of office will be administered by none other than the Supreme Court Chief Justice, John Roberts, in the case of Trump, and Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh for Vance.
The grand event of Trump’s second inauguration at the U.S. Capitol Rotunda is bound to attract the who’s who of American society, including blue-chip billionaires, prominent politicians, celebrities, and even foreign dignitaries. The magnitude of Trump’s influence is witnessed in the high-profile nature of attendees who are keen to mark their presence at this epoch-making event.
In light of the venue change, there may be an overflow of guests, and it remains to be seen how this will be managed. Vice President-elect J.D. Vance, despite his humor about potentially missing the event for a college football national championship game, will indeed be in attendance. Vance, being an alumnus of Ohio State University, will undoubtedly be balancing his loyalties that day!
In the midst of hustle, Vance will solemnly recite the oath of office just before Trump. The enormity of the occasion is not just in the roles they undertake, but in their journey to get here. Vance’s wife, Usha, had once served as a clerk for Kavanaugh during his tenure on the U.S. Court of Appeals’ D.C. Circuit, adding an extra layer of meaning to the proceedings.
Historically, the President and Vice President were not always sworn in at the same location. Prior to 1937, Vice Presidents took their oath in the Senate Chamber before the President’s ceremony. Even such historical nuances further underscore the significance of the upcoming day when Trump and Vance ascend the same platform to solemnly affirm their dedication to the American people.