on monday, Donald Trump He will complete his amazing comeback when he is sworn in for a second term as President of the United States.

After his loss in the 2020 election, many believed that Trump’s political future was over. Critics also wondered whether the scandal would overshadow his legacy.

After all, his false claims of election fraud prompted a mob to violently storm the US Capitol January 6, 2021. He then faced four criminal indictments: one for allegedly withholding confidential documents, one for falsifying business records, and two for election interference.

But in November, Trump achieved his biggest electoral victory yet, taking the Electoral College votes and the symbolic popular vote.

His latest inauguration is set to bring together many former critics-turned-allies, including powerful members of the country. Technical elite.

What happens during the US President’s inauguration, who will attend, and what can it tell us about Trump’s return to power? We answer these questions and more in this brief explanation.

What is the opening?

In the United States, a presidential inauguration occurs when the president-elect takes the oath and officially begins his four-year term.

To take the oath, the president-elect usually places his hand on a Bible, although some have chosen another book of spiritual or political significance.

After reciting the oath of office, the new president delivers opening remarks to a crowd of supporters, government officials and foreign dignitaries.

What does the oath of office say?

The section comes from Article II, Section One of the US Constitution.

It read: “I do solemnly swear that I will faithfully execute the office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability to preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States.”

What book will Trump be sworn in on?

During his first inauguration in 2017, Trump took the oath on the same Bible that Abraham Lincoln used in 1861. He also used a second Bible, which was given to Trump by his late mother, Mary Ann McLeod.

Media reports indicate that Trump is likely to use a similar set of books this year: the Lincoln Bible, as well as a book from his mother.

Trump also used this occasion to promote sales of a special edition of the Bible titled “Inauguration Day,” currently priced at $69.99.

“The biggest thing we have to bring back to America to make it great again is God,” Trump said in a promotional video on the site.

When and where will the inauguration take place?

The opening will take place at 12 noon ET (17:00 GMT) on January 20, 2025.

The celebration was originally supposed to take place outdoors, on the west facade of the US Capitol Building, opposite a park called the National Mall, in Washington, DC.

But the icy temperatures forced Trump to reconsider. It was announced on Friday, due to safety concerns, that the ceremony would take place I moved inside To the Capitol’s rotunda, under the 88-meter (288-foot) dome.

However, this enclosed space will limit the number of attendees. Nearly 250,000 guests had tickets to the original outdoor event, but Trump encouraged his supporters to watch a live stream at Capitol One Arena, where he will appear later in the day.

How cold will it be?

Initial estimates indicated that Trump’s second inauguration may be one of the coldest in recent decades, as a polar vortex sweeps across the United States.

As of Friday, the National Weather Service forecast Monday afternoon temperatures would reach around -6 degrees Celsius, or 22 degrees Fahrenheit.

Has any other president held an inauguration in the Capitol Rotunda?

only one. In 1985, Ronald Reagan was also taking office for the second time, and was also facing icy weather. The temperature reached -14 degrees Celsius, or just 7 degrees Fahrenheit, which was even lower than expected on Monday.

So, like Trump, Reagan made the decision to move his inauguration indoors, to the Capitol’s rotunda.

However, other presidents have held their ceremonies in other parts of the Capitol, such as inside the Senate chamber, although outdoor ceremonies are becoming increasingly common.

Who will attend?

While presidential inaugurations always attract powerful people, this year’s list of attendees sparked additional interest.

Three former presidents – Barack Obama, George W. Bush and Bill Clinton – will attend the ceremony. The same applies to the leaders of the outgoing administration, Mr. President Joe Biden And Vice President Kamala Harris.

Both Biden and Harris confronted Trump during the campaign. While Biden won his showdown with Trump in 2020, he dropped out of the 2024 race, and Harris, who took his place, ultimately lost.

Trump’s guest list also includes prominent far-right leaders from around the world. Argentine President Javier Miley, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, French politician Eric Zemmour, and British Member of Parliament Nigel Farage are expected to participate in the conference.

Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro also tried to attend, but his country’s Supreme Court deemed him a member Flying riskDue to the legal proceedings he faces at home.

A number of prominent businessmen will also help put Trump back in power, including billionaire Elon Musk, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, Apple CEO Tim Cook, and Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg.

Critics saw the presence of tech billionaires as a sign of the industry’s embrace of Trump, despite caution and outspoken criticism in the past.

Although he previously called the January 6 insurrection a “shameful day,” Apple CEO Tim Cook donated $1 million to Trump’s inauguration.

Cook is not alone. In a sign of the business world’s efforts to curry favor with the incoming administration, Trump’s inaugural fund had raised a record $170 million as of January 8.

By the time the party starts, some insiders expect the total to reach $200 million.

These funds help cover expenses for the inauguration itself, as well as related events such as private parties and a parade.

Google, Amazon, Microsoft and Meta said they would donate $1 million, along with OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, who donated $1 million.

Other major donors include pharmaceutical company Pfizer, financial services company Intuit, stock trading app Robinhood, and automakers such as Ford and General Motors.

Trump’s previous inauguration also achieved a record number of donations, exceeding $106.7 million. By contrast, Biden received only $61.8 million in donations for his 2021 party.

Who will participate in the opening ceremony?

Trump famously struggled to find performers for his 2017 inauguration — but this year, that’s not the case.

Pop star Carrie Underwood is scheduled to perform “America the Beautiful,” while country singer Lee Greenwood will reprise his hit song “God Bless the USA,” a popular entry on Trump’s soundtrack during the campaign.

Meanwhile, opera singer Christopher Macchio will perform the national anthem.

The Village People will also appear to perform Trump’s favorite disco song, YMCA.

What is the controversy with the American flag?

On December 29, former President Jimmy Carter died at the age of 100, and in keeping with tradition, American flags at federal buildings were flown at half-mast for 30 days.

But that 30-day period overlapped with the inauguration, and Trump objected to flying half-staffed flags over the inauguration.

“Democrats are all ‘amazed’ that our wonderful American flag could be at half mast at my inauguration,” Trump said. books On social media this month. “No one wants to see this, and no American can be happy about it.”

Mike Johnson, the Republican Speaker of the House of Representatives, eventually sided with Trump. He asks The flags will be raised to their full height on Monday. However, he specified that it would be reduced again the next day.

This represents a break in presidential tradition. In the past, flags have remained at half-staff for the entire period of mourning, as was the case in 1973, when President Richard Nixon took his second oath of office as the country honored one of his predecessors, Harry Truman.

Will there be protests?

When Trump took office in 2017, he was met with widespread protests across the country, with demonstrators taking to the streets in opposition to his far-right policies.

More than 200 demonstrators They were arrested On the day of Trump’s first inauguration – although almost everyone saw the charges against them dropped.

Then, the next day, nearly 500,000 people joined the movement Women’s March In Washington, in one of the largest protests the city has ever seen in a single day. Nationally, nearly four million people participated in local versions of the Women’s March.

But this time the reaction seems calmer. While protests are expected, few expect demonstrations on the same scale as in 2017.

What about security?

Security measures are expected to be tight, especially after the attempted assassination of Trump last July, when he was shot in the ear while campaigning in Butler, Pennsylvania.

Nearly 48 kilometers, or 30 miles, of fencing have been erected around the Capitol, the most fencing ever installed. The fence, which is 2 meters (7 feet) high, is designed to deter those who might climb over the barrier.

An estimated 25,000 law enforcement personnel are also expected to patrol the capital, including 7,800 National Guard members.

City authorities in Washington, D.C., He said There will be road closures near the inauguration, and ticket holders will have to go through a security check before entering any related event.

What size crowd is expected to be?

Crowd size is an obsession for Donald Trump, and the crowd on his inauguration day is no exception.

In 2017, Trump spent weeks insisting that he had drawn the largest crowd ever at the inauguration, even though that was not true.

About 220,000 tickets were issued for this year’s opening, with space available for about 250,000 tickets.

But changing the location may be an obstacle. The original venue, the grassy National Mall, seats hundreds of thousands of visitors. Capitol One Arena, where the live broadcast will now take place, has a capacity of just over 20,000 spectators.