Trump’s second term begins: Inauguration timeline, highlights and key details (live)

Key highlights

• The inauguration ceremony for Donald Trump will begin at 7:00 PM Kyiv time.
• Trump and Biden will arrive at the Capitol together.
• Four former US presidents will attend the inauguration.

12:48 PM Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy congratulated Donald Trump on assuming office as President of the United States and called Inauguration Day a day of change and hope for resolving many issues, including global challenges.

Zelenskyy said he looks forward to active and mutually beneficial cooperation with the American leader. "Together, we are stronger and can bring greater security, stability, and economic growth to the world and our peoples," the head of state noted.

Screenshot x.com/zelenskyyua

12:45 PM Among the benchmarks for America's success as a nation, Trump mentioned "expands territories" and promised to send American astronauts to Mars.

According to Donald Trump, many doubted his ability to make such a "political comeback" (to become President of the United States again).

"As you see today, here I am. The American people have spoken," the head of state noted and told Americans that he would fight for them and win for them.

"Our power will stop wars and bring a new spirit of unity to a world that has been angry, violent, and totally unpredictable," Trump said.

The 47th President of the United States once again reiterated his statement about the beginning of the "golden age of America" and concluded his speech.

12:42 PM Trump promised to rename the Gulf of Mexico (Atlantic Ocean) to the Gulf of America.

He also raised the issue of control over the Panama Canal again.

According to the US president, the canal is currently being managed by China. “We're taking it (the Canal - ed.) back,” Trump said.

12:40 PM “Like in 2017, we will build the strongest military the world has ever seen,” Trump said. He says success will be measured not only in battles won but also “by the wars that we end and the wars we never get into.”

“Peacemaker and unifier - that's what I want to be,” the president emphasized.

12:37 PM Trump promises to create a “merit-based society,” and the official policy of the US government will be that “there are only two genders - male and female.”

Trump also says that he will return to service officials who were fired due to non-compliance with mandatory coronavirus vaccinations.

12:35 PM The US President promises to ”stop all government censorship and bring back free speech to America.”

In his inaugural speech, Trump also promised that the country's judicial system would never be used to persecute political opponents. “Something I know something about,” the US president emphasized.

12:32 PM Donald Trump promised to make every effort to fight the inflationary crisis.

“Drill, baby, drill,” the US leader also promised to declare a national energy emergency in the US energy sector. As part of the energy reforms, Trump plans to end the Green New Deal.

“We will tariff and tax foreign countries to enrich our citizens,” Trump also said.

12:30 PM Trump emphasized that all groups of the American population voted for him and that he managed to win all seven “swing” states.

He also promised to sign a series of “historic” decrees that will launch a “revolution of common sense.”

In particular, he will declare a national emergency at the southern border.

“We will begin the process of returning millions and millions of criminal aliens back,” Trump promised, adding that he would send troops to the southern border of the United States.

In addition, drug cartels will be declared foreign terrorist organizations.

The president promised to use the 1799 law to enable central and local authorities to take all measures to fight crime throughout the United States.

12:25 PM According to Trump, many Americans, including influential ones who are listening to his speech in the Capitol, have lost their homes as a result of the fires in California. “That's interesting,” the US president said.

“Over the past eight years, I've been tested and challenged more than any president in our 250-year history,” the leader of the state said.

He also recalled a failed assassination attempt during the election campaign: “I was saved by God to make America great again.”

12:20 PM According to Trump, his first priority is to make America proud, prosperous, and free. “During every single day of Trump administration, I will put America first,” the president promises.

Donald Trump emphasizes that the United States is facing many challenges. These include a crisis of confidence in the government, catastrophic events abroad, rising crime at home, etc.

12:17 PM “The golden age of America begins right now,” Donald Trump said in his inaugural speech.

Photo: Donald Trump's oath of office (Getty Images)

12:01 PM Donald Trump is sworn in as the 47th president of the United States.

Trump used Abraham Lincoln's Bible to take the oath of office. This is the same Bible that Lincoln had during the ceremony in 1861. Trump also used his personal Bible, as he did during his 2017 inauguration.

Photo: US President Donald Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance (Getty Images)

12:00 PM J.D. Vance takes the oath of office as Vice President of the United States.

11:39 AM The 46th President of the United States, Joe Biden, arrives at the Capitol Rotunda.

11:35 AM President-elect Donald Trump enters the Capitol Rotunda. Vice President-elect J.D. Vance also enters.

11:31 AM Ambassador of Ukraine to the United States, Oksana Markarova, is at the inauguration of Donald Trump. She posted a photo from the ceremony on her Facebook page.

Screenshot facebook.com/oksana.markarova

11:15 AM According to a CNN source, the transfer of the Oval Office in the White House is already underway - from Biden's office to Trump's office.

The carpet former First Lady Nancy Reagan designed is now back in the Oval Office. It was in Donald Trump's office during his first term.

The President's Resolute Desk is being reassembled. It had to be disassembled and taken away to replace the mats.

11:05 AM Future members of the President-elect's cabinet have entered the Capitol Rotunda.

Some of them have already had confirmation hearings in the Senate, including Marco Rubio, who will become Secretary of State; Christie Noem, who will head the Department of Homeland Security if confirmed; and John Ratcliffe, who Trump has chosen to be CIA Director.

Rubio's nomination is expected to be approved by the full Senate on Monday, making him the first confirmed cabinet member.

10:52 AM Donald Trump and Joe Biden have already arrived at the Capitol.

10:40 AM CNN reports that Joe Biden and Donald Trump are traveling in the same limousine to the US Capitol.

10:38 AM Joe Biden confirms that he left a letter for Donald Trump in the Oval Office.

10:30 AM The first guests arrive at the Capitol, including Argentine President Javier Milei, Tesla, X, and SpaceX owner Elon Musk, billionaire Jeff Bezos, and former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

10:20 AM About 800 people are expected to attend Trump's inauguration in the Capitol Rotunda. As a reminder, the ceremony was moved indoors due to severe frosts in the US.

9:56 AM President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden meet President-elect Donald Trump and Melania Trump at the White House.

According to media reports, Trump and Biden are scheduled to have a tea party at the White House, after which, according to tradition, the outgoing president will accompany the president-elect to the US Capitol for the swearing-in ceremony.

Photo: Trump arrives at the White House (Getty Images)

9:53 AM After the inauguration, the US Senate is expected to vote on the appointment of Marco Rubio as Secretary of State and Pete Hegseth as Pentagon chief.

9:50 AM According to media reports, Trump plans to issue 10 executive orders related to the border today. In particular, one of them may concern the declaration of a state of emergency at the border so that the Ministry of Defense can deploy the military and the National Guard.

9:45 AM CNN reports that Vice President Kamala Harris has met Vice President-elect J.D. Vance at the White House.

9:35 AM (Washington Time) Biden posts a farewell photo in front of the White House.

9:11 AM Washington is preparing for Trump's inauguration.

Photo: Washington on the day of Trump's inauguration (Getty Images)

9:06 AM What Trump said about Ukraine and Zelenskyy. RBC-Ukraine has collected Trump's main statements over 10 years.

8:50 AM According to CNN, Donald Trump and Melania Trump attend a service at St. John's Episcopal Church near the White House. They are accompanied by Vice President-elect J.D. Vance and his wife, Usha Vance.

7:55 AM Trump is preparing a phone call with Russian dictator Vladimir Putin. According to CNN, the call may take place in the coming days. What Ukraine should expect from the first contact between Trump and Putin, read in RBC-Ukraine's article.

7:45 AM Outgoing President Joe Biden, in his final hours in office, issued preventative pardons for former Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Mark Milley, Dr. Anthony Fauci, members and staff of the January 6th investigation committee, as well as Capitol Police officers and D.C. law enforcement who testified before the committee.

7:05 AM The key figures in the incoming administration are already known, although some appointments still require confirmation. For instance, the Senate must approve nominees for Secretary of State and Secretary of Defense.

6:55 AM After taking the oath of office, Trump plans to sign approximately 100 executive orders. These include reversing some of Biden’s policies. According to Bloomberg, Trump may also declare an emergency in the energy sector.

6:39 AM Pope Francis sent a message to Trump, expressing hope that the US will foster unity under his leadership, avoiding "hatred, discrimination or exclusion."

"At the same time, as our human family faces numerous challenges, not to mention the scourge of war, I also ask God to guide your efforts in promoting peace and reconciliation among peoples," the message reads.

Timing of Trump's inauguration

The events will begin around 10:30 AM local time (5:30 PM Kyiv time). Donald Trump and Joe Biden will head to the Capitol by car after a tea meeting at the White House.

Vice President-elect J.D. Vance will take the oath first, followed by Trump.

At noon local time (7:00 PM Kyiv time), Trump is expected to take the presidential oath. The ceremony will be held indoors in the Capitol Rotunda due to the extremely cold weather.

The exact duration of the inauguration ceremony is not specified, but Trump’s inaugural address in 2017 lasted about 17 minutes.

Inauguration schedule:

• Procession to the Capitol.
• A swearing-in ceremony for the Vice President.
• A swearing-in ceremony for the President.
• Inaugural speech.
• Honorary departure of the outgoing President and Vice President.
• Signing ceremony for nominations, memoranda, proclamations, or executive orders by the new President.
• Inaugural luncheon.
• Troop inspection.
• The presidential parade will be held indoors at the Capital One Arena due to the cold weather.

Trump's inaugural speech

According to CNN, Trump plans to declare a “revolution of common sense” during his speech. One aide familiar with the address called it a “unifying” message.

"I return to the presidency confident and optimistic that we are at the start of a thrilling new era of national success. A tide of change is sweeping the country. My message to Americans today is that it is time for us to once again act with courage, vigor, and the vitality of history's greatest civilization," reads an excerpt from the prepared speech.

Who will attend Trump's inauguration

Four former US presidents, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, Barack Obama, and Joe Biden, will attend the ceremony. Vice President Kamala Harris is also expected to be present.

However, former First Lady Michelle Obama and former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi will not attend.

Leaders of major tech companies are also expected to attend, including Mark Zuckerberg (Meta), Jeff Bezos (Amazon), Elon Musk (Tesla), Tim Cook (Apple), Shou Zi Chew (TikTok), and Sundar Pichai (Google).

Donald Trump – Elected President of the United States

Republican Donald Trump secured a decisive victory in the US election on November 5, 2024. He won 312 electoral votes, while his opponent, Democratic candidate Kamala Harris, received 226 votes. Trump’s victory in all seven battleground states was critical in determining the election outcome.

Sources: CNN, BBC, CBS News, NBC News.

Earlier, we wrote about what Ukraine should expect after Trump's inauguration and whether he has a peace plan.