President-elect Donald Trump is set to return to the White House in less than two weeks.
Trump won the 2024 presidential election against Democratic challenger, Vice President Kamala Harris, back in November. Trump takes office on Jan. 20
Looking to be a part of history? Here’s how you can score tickets for Inauguration Day and what it will look like.
What is Inauguration Day?
Inauguration Day is the day when the president-elect and vice-president-elect are sworn in and take office, according to USA.gov.
Typically, Inauguration Day occurs on Jan. 20 (or Jan. 21 if Jan. 20 falls on a Sunday), every four years. The inauguration ceremony is held outside the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C.
When does Trump take office? When is Inauguration Day 2025?
Inauguration Day will take place on Monday, Jan. 20. This coincides with Martin Luther King Jr. Day, making it a national holiday.
Trump won the 2016 presidential election, and his term in the White House was from 2017 to 2021. President Joe Biden defeated him in the 2020 presidential election. Trump is the second president in U.S. history to win two non-consecutive terms, with Grover Cleveland being the first.
How do you get tickets to Trump’s inauguration?
The Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies releases a select number of tickets that are made available to the public. These tickets are free and available to members of Congress.
To find and contact your members of Congress, use the search function on USA.gov.
The theme for 2025 presidential inauguration
The theme of the 60th Inaugural Ceremonies is “Our Enduring Democracy: A Constitutional Promise,” according to the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies.
The theme “recognizes the Founders’ commitment to future generations of Americans to preserve the continuity and stability of our democratic system of government.”
What time does the 2025 Inauguration begin?
The proceedings will begin around noon EST on the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C.
What events take place on Inauguration Day?
The inaugural ball is a tradition that has been part of presidential inauguration festivities since 1789 to celebrate the commencement of a new term. The number of inaugural balls can vary and they fall under two categories: official and unofficial. Traditionally, the president makes appearances at the official balls. President Donald Trump and his wife first lady Melania Trump dance at the “Salute to Our Armed Forces” inaugural ball in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 20, 2017.
The Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies (JCCIC) organizes the events, including the swearing-in, the inaugural address, and the pass-in review.
An exact schedule hasn’t yet been posted but here’s a general idea of events associated with the inauguration compiled from the Trump Vance Inaugural Committee, National Park Service, and the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies.
Here is a full rundown of Inauguration Day:
Do the president and vice president-elect take an oath?
According to USA.gov, the vice president-elect is sworn in first and repeats the same oath of office as senators, representatives, and other federal employees.
That oath, in use since 1884, goes as follows:
“I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter: So help me God.”
At noon, the president-elect takes the following oath as stipulated by Article II, Section I of the U.S. Constitution:
“I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States.”
How can I watch Inauguration Day in Florida?
You also can stream events of the day on:
The major broadcast networks will all air the inauguration live, including ABC, CBS, CNN, CSPAN, Fox News, MSNBC, NBC, and PBS.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Donald Trump’s Inauguration: How to get tickets, what to expect
