Here’s what you need to know about artists, guests, schedule and more

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President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration events begin Saturday at his golf club in Virginia and will feature four days of festivities and festivities surrounding Monday’s official swearing-in ceremony, with billionaires and three former presidents among the guest list.

Key facts

Reports of who is expected to perform and attend have poured in in recent days, with the latest news surrounding Michelle Obama’s absence and tech billionaires’ reported plans to attend.

The event will represent a bipartisan moment of acceptance of Trump’s recent election victory and his iron grip on America’s political psyche following the Covid-19 pandemic and Trump’s refusal to accept the 2020 election results — along with the Jan. 6 Capitol riots that took place for weeks . earlier — muted the festivities surrounding the inauguration of President Joe Biden in 2021, which Trump did not attend.

Despite his inauguration committee raising $170 million, Trump’s inauguration, which will feature three inaugural balls, is a relatively small event compared to previous inaugurations such as those of former President Barack Obama and former President Bill Clinton, according to CNBC.

What day is Trump’s inauguration and when does it start?

The inauguration ceremony for Trump and Vice President-elect JD Vance is scheduled for Monday at 12 EST, but the inauguration events officially begin on Saturday.

What is the timetable for the inauguration?

Here’s a full list of events for the inauguration weekend:

Saturday

  • Reception and fireworks at Trump’s golf club in Virginia
  • Cabinet reception and deputy chairman’s dinner

Sunday

  • Wreath Laying Ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery
  • Trump delivers remarks at a “victory rally” at Capitol One Arena in Washington
  • Trump makes remarks at a candlelight dinner

Monday

  • Morning service at St. John’s
  • Tea at the White House with the Bidens and Trumps in the morning
  • Main Event: Inauguration Ceremony at the Capitol
  • Goodbye to Biden and Harris
  • Signing ceremony in the President’s Room in the Capitol, where Trump is expected to sign nominations and other documents in his first official acts
  • Trump attends a luncheon hosted by the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies
  • The President’s Review of the Troops and the Presidential Parade down Pennsylvania Avenue
  • Oval Office signing ceremony at the White House
  • Trump speaks at the Commander in Chief Ball, the Liberty Inaugural Ball and the Starlight Ball

Tuesday

  • A national prayer service concludes the official inauguration activities

How can I watch the inauguration?

Major networks will stream the inauguration on live television, and the White House will stream the events on its website.

Will Biden attend the inauguration?

Yes. Biden said in December that he would “of course” attend Trump’s inauguration, despite Trump skipping Biden’s 2021 inauguration after Trump refused to concede his election loss.

Will Kamala Harris Attend Trump’s Inauguration?

According to her, that is expected Associated Pressas is customary for outgoing vice presidents and losing presidential candidates.

Which former presidents will attend the inauguration?

According to Barack Obama, George W. Bush and Bill Clinton will participate more reports. Former First Lady Laura Bush and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will also attend the event with their husbands.

Will Michelle Obama attend the inauguration?

No. Her office said in a statement released Tuesday, without explanation, that she would not attend. Michelle Obama also did not attend the funeral of former President Jimmy Carter, citing a scheduling conflict.

Who has skipped previous initiations?

At least six outgoing presidents — John Adams, John Quincy Adams, Martin Van Buren, Andrew Johnson, Woodrow Wilson and Trump — did not attend their successors’ inauguration ceremonies, according to The White House Historical Society. Most recently, Trump did not attend Biden’s inauguration after denying the outcome of the election, instead hosting a farewell at Joint Base Andrews before flying to Florida, while his Vice President Mike Pence attended.

Which world leaders will attend – and who was invited?

Several politicians from other countries must participate in the inauguration or send envoys. No world leader has attended an inauguration since 1874, according to State Department records cited by CBS Newswho reported that foreign ambassadors and their spouses typically represent their governments at the event. Thomas Balcerski, a presidential historian at Eastern Connecticut State University, said Miami Herald it is unprecedented for foreign leaders to attend the inaugurations, observing world leaders would not be given the pomp typical of their visits to Washington, and adding their participation could be seen as “a requirement to return favors and prove loyalty to President-elect Trump.”

  • Argentine President Javier Mileywho was the first foreign leader to meet with Trump after his victory in November is expected to attend Bloomberg reported last month, citing a Milei spokesman.
  • Trump has also reportedly invited the president of Salvador Nayib Bukele and the Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloniaccording to NBC News. It is unclear whether Bukele will attend, and Meloni said last week that she would attend if her schedule allows.
  • Chinese President Xi Jinping will send one official envoy to attend the inauguration in his place, according to Financial Times.
  • Indicted the former Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro also said the X that he is invited and is trying to get his passport back so he can attend.
  • French right-wing politician Eric Zemmour and his partner, a member of the European Parliament Sarah Knafo, has also been invited, Politico reported earlier this month, citing unnamed sources close to the couple, though it is unclear whether they will attend.

Which billionaires will attend – other than Elon Musk?

Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk (net worth: $423 billion), Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg ($205 billion) and Amazon founder Jeff Bezos ($232 billion) will attend the swearing-in ceremony and sit together on the platform with Trump’s cabinet, NBC News reported. director of OpenAI Sam Altman ($1.1 billion) too reportedly plans to attend the swearing-in. Zuckerberg will reportedly co-host a black-tie reception Monday night with billionaire Trump allies Miriam Adelson ($32.1 billion), a GOP megadonor and widow of casino magnate Sheldon Adelson; Tilman Fertitta ($10.2 billion), the owner of the Houston Rockets and Trump’s pick for US ambassador to Italy; and Chicago Cubs co-owner Todd Ricketts, the son by billionaire Joe Ricketts ($4 billion). Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi — who Forbes doesn’t list as a billionaire — will join some of the surrounding festivities, according to Bloombergwhich reported that Uber plans to host a launch party with Musk’s X and The Free Press. Musk is a key Trump ally who heads his administration’s Department of Government Efficiency. Bezos and Zuckerberg have drawn Trump’s ire in the past, but both Meta and Amazon said in December they planned to donate $1 million to Trump’s inaugural fund, among several other big companies and founders.

Who will perform at the inauguration?

Country singer Carrie Underwood will perform at the official ceremony, and the Village people—whose song “YMCA” is one of the main Trump rallies—will perform at several inaugural events, including Sunday’s “victory rally.” Here is a complete list.

Will flags still be at half-mast during the inauguration?

No. House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., announced Tuesday that flags would be raised Monday despite a presidential order for flags to be lowered to honor Carter, who died in December. Trump repeatedly complained that flags would still be lowered for his inauguration ahead of Johnson’s announcement.

Are banks, post offices and stock markets closed on inauguration day?

In many cases, yes. This year, the inauguration will take place at Martin Luther King Jr. Day, which means banks, post offices, the New York Stock Exchange and other employers that close on federal holidays will likely be closed. Government employees also typically get inauguration day off.

What is the weather forecast for Trump’s inauguration?

The ceremony will probably be one of the coldest in modern times – the National Weather Service predicts a high of 24 for Capitol Hill on Monday and a low of 8 the following night, which would be the coldest Inauguration Day since former President Ronald Reagan’s in 1985, according to Washington Post. The bitterly cold conditions for Reagan’s inauguration (the high was 17 and the low was -4) led to the cancellation of outdoor events, including the inaugural parade where Reagan took the oath of office inside the Capitol rotunda, according to Ronald Reagan Presidential Library. In terms of outdoor ceremonies, it will likely be the coldest since at least John F. Kennedy’s inauguration in 1961, as the National Weather Service reports was 22 degrees when he took the oath of office. Strong winds for Trump’s inauguration will make the subfreezing conditions feel even colder, with gusts near 30 mph pushing wind chills as low as the single digits, according to the Post, also making it one of the windiest inaugurations in the modern era.

What did George W. Bush say during Trump’s last inauguration?

Bush said “it was kind of weird st” after Trump finished his speech in 2017, That’s what New York magazine writesciting three unnamed sources who say they heard the comment. Hillary Clinton later confirmed an interview with Howard Stern, she heard Bush make the statement, an apparent reference to tensions between the three after a bitter campaign in which Trump threatened to have Clinton thrown in jail.

Further reading

All the Big Artists at Trump’s Inauguration Events: Carrie Underwood, Village People and More (Forbes)

Microsoft donates another $1 million to Trump’s record-breaking inauguration fund (Forbes)