Donald Trump signs an executive order during his first term as US president
JOSHUA ROBERTS/REUTERS
• What are the executive orders that Trump could sign on day one?
Owing to bitterly cold weather, Donald Trump’s inaugural address will be made in the US Capitol Rotunda for the first time since 1985. Just over four years ago, the building was the scene of an attempted insurrection by his supporters.
Washington was filling with the unusual sight of legions of red-hatted supporters, many disappointed that they would not get to watch the swearing-in from the central Mall as the thermometer dipped to minus 7C.
• Read in full: It was meant to feature 250,000. Indoor inauguration means more like 700
But the venue’s capacity of 20,000 is far short of the number expected to travel to celebrate. The Capitol Rotunda holds only 700 people, while more than 250,000 guests were ticketed to watch from the Capitol grounds.
Donald Trump danced with the Village People at a rally on Sunday evening
Donald Trump is expected to sign as many as 200 executive orders on his first day as the 47th US president.
Speaking to a crowd of about 25,000 that had queued for hours in temperatures below freezing, Trump, 78, said his new America would be radically different to the one he is about to inherit.
“Every radical and foolish executive order of the Biden administration will be repealed within hours of when I take the oath of office,” Trump said. “Somebody said, ‘Sir, don’t sign so many in one day, let’s do it over a period of weeks’. I said, ‘Like hell we’re going to do it over a period of weeks’. We’re going to sign them at the beginning. We’re doing them tomorrow.”
• Read in full: Donald Trump vows to start destroying Joe Biden’s legacy within hours
To mark Trump’s historic return to the White House, The Story podcast gathered two US experts from The Times and The Sunday Times — one who attended Trump’s first inauguration in 2017, and one who will be attending this one.
What, Manveen Rana asks Josh Glancy and Louise Callaghan, is so different this time around?
As disclosed to the White House press pool yesterday. All times local (ET) — for GMT, add five hours
8.15am: Trump departs for a church service at St John’s
9:15am: The Bidens welcome Kamala Harris and Doug Emhoff to the White House
9:40am: The Bidens welcome Donald and Melania Trump, and have tea
10:25am: Biden departs for the Capitol, arriving about ten minutes later
11.15am: Trump arrives at the Capitol
11.35am: JD Vance is sworn in as vice-president
11.45am: Trump is sworn in as president, and makes his inaugural address
12.40pm: Address is due to end, and a farewell ceremony is held for Biden and Harris
1pm: Five-minute signing room ceremony at the Capitol for Trump and Vance, followed by lunch
2.30pm: Trump and Vance review the troops
3.30pm: Parade is due to begin
5.05pm: Second signing ceremony, this time in the Oval Office of the White House
7.50pm: Informal remarks and first dance at the Liberty Ball, followed by…
8.20pm: …the Commander in Chief Ball…
9.10pm: …and the Union Station Ball. Departure for White House soon after first dance
• What time is Trump’s inauguration? The day’s schedule and performers
The Times US newsletter is a guided tour through our best scoops and stories from America each week. In a briefing packed with the latest news, trends and ideas from politics, business, culture and sport, you’ll receive exclusive interviews, in-depth analysis and agenda-setting insights from our team of correspondents based around the country and the world.
Go with our reporters behind the headlines of their favourite stories of the week and enjoy a trip back in time with Times Trivia, a section that reveals our rich history covering America’s biggest stories.
All the must-read US stories of the week in one email that you can trust.
Sign up here, or on the app go to “More” then “My Newsletters” and tick the box next to “US”.
