Trump will arrive in Washington to celebrate his inauguration, marking his return to power

WASHINGTON (AP) — Donald Trump returns to Washington on Saturday to kick off days of festivities to herald his second inauguration as president, four years after he left the city in the shadow of a attack by his followers on the US capital.

The ritual change of power will get underway while Washington’s solemn pomp is paired with Trump’s brand of celebration: a fireworks display at one of his luxury golf estates, guests including tech industry titans, friends from the business world and conservative media stars, and thousands of his supporters pouring in from all over the country.

With a blast of arctic air expected to leave the country’s capital face cold temperatures on the inauguration day, the organizers were also busy move inside most of Monday’s outdoor eventsincluding the graduation ceremony.

Trump, a Republican, left office in 2021 as a political pariah after his refusal to accept his loss prompted a mob to overpower the US capital. He then broke tradition by skipping Democrat Joe Biden’s inauguration as his successor.

In stark contrast to Trump, Biden will stick with one of the most potent symbols of the Democratic handover, welcoming Trump to the White House and joining him on the trip to the Capitol before taking the oath of office.

When Trump was first sworn into office eight years ago, the billionaire former reality TV star came in as an outsider who upset Washington’s norms and delivered a dark opening speech when he was sworn in there were large protests and some clashes in the streets.

This time, the protests are expected to be far less noticeable, overshadowed by the ceremonies and celebrations surrounding Trump’s inauguration. In another marker of Trump’s remarkable comeback, the events surrounding his inauguration will be more celebrity-studded than last time, along with a noticeable turnout from a cadres of the tech world’s billionaires.

Country music stars Carrie Underwood, Billy Ray Cyrus and Jason Aldean, disco band the Village People, rapper Nelly and musician Kid Rock are all scheduled to perform at inauguration-related ceremonies and events. Actor Jon Voight and wrestler Hulk Hogan are also expected to appear, as are a cast of Trump-embracing business leaders: Tesla and X CEO Elon Musk, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew.

The party begins Saturday, when the president-elect leaves his home in Florida to head to Washington. Trump’s advisers have not detailed how he will spend the first part of the day, and the only public event on Trump’s schedule is an evening reception and fireworks display at the Trump National Golf Club in Sterling, Virginia, outside the city.

While Trump holds court in his club, newly elected vice president JD Vance will attend a reception for cabinet members and host a dinner in Washington.

On Sunday, the eve of his inauguration, Trump is scheduled to attend a wreath-laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery before attending a rally at Capital One Arena in Washington. The rally will be followed by a private dinner.

On Inauguration Day, Trump begins with the traditional prayer service at St. John’s Episcopal Church before heading to the White House for a customary tea with the outgoing president and first lady.

Trump will then head to the Capitol, where his ceremony has been moved indoors as temperatures are set to drop, making it the coldest Inauguration Day in 40 years. It’s not entirely clear how the ceremony will be adapted to the Capitol Rotunda, but only a fraction of the original audience will be admitted.

Eight years ago, Trump’s critics wrestled with whether to attend his inauguration, debating whether to ditch the longstanding practice and send a signal to the divisive new president. This year, much overt opposition to Trump has disappeared, though there will be two notable absences: former First Lady Michelle Obama and former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Neither offered an explanation as to why she skipped the ceremony.

After Trump takes the oath of office and delivers his inaugural address, there will be a ceremonial farewell to Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris. As the new Republican administration takes office, Trump will head to a signing ceremony at the Capitol to approve some of his first official actions, followed by a congressional luncheon and review of US troops.

The planned traditional parade down Pennsylvania Avenue has turned into an indoor event due to the cold, with Trump again planning to address his assembled supporters before heading to the White House for a signing ceremony in the Oval Office. A trio of glittering balls follows in the evening, punctuated by musical performances.

Trump’s arrival in Washington will once again be accompanied by protests and vigils on issues such as abortion, immigration rights and this time the Israel-Hamas war, but the feel and strength of these demonstrations are expected to be different from the beginning of his first term.

The Women’s March, spurred by women outraged by Trump’s 2017 victory, drew more than 500,000 people to Washington and millions more in cities around the country, marking one of the largest one-day demonstrations in American history.

The march returns on Saturday, renamed People’s Marchwhere organizers say their focus will be less on Trump and more on broader goals around women’s and reproductive rights, LGBTQ rights, immigration, climate and democracy. It is expected to draw around 50,000 people, far fewer than eight years ago.