Trump inauguration set to get underway as presidents arrive at Capitol

Mr. Biden wrote a letter to Trump, he told reporters before the two walked inside the White House. 

Asked what he said, the president responded, “That’s between Trump and me.”

It’s a tradition for outgoing presidents to leave their successor with a letter of encouragement, advice and exhortation. 

Sen. Mitch McConnell, the longest serving party leader in the Senate’s history who stepped down from leadership in the last Congress, has arrived in the Capitol Rotunda for Trump’s swearing in ceremony, alongside his wife, former Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao. 

McConnell has had a tumultuous relationship with Trump, condemning the president-elect after the attack on the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, though he voted to acquit Trump at his impeachment trial. But in March 2024, McConnell endorsed Trump’s reelection bid.

Chao served in Trump’s Cabinet and resigned one day after the Jan. 6 attack. Trump has repeatedly mocked Chao, often using racist language to describe his Taiwan-born former transportation secretary.

Mike Waltz of Florida, who Trump tapped to serve as his national security adviser, has resigned his seat in the House as he prepares to join the president-elect in the White House.

In light of Waltz’s resignation, there are 433 members of the House, including 218 Republicans and 215 Democrats. There are two vacancies.

A trio of former Republican speakers of the House are among the luminaries in attendance for Trump’s second swearing-in: Newt Gingrich, John Boehner and Kevin McCarthy.

Only McCarthy was in office during Trump’s first term. He was stripped of the gavel in a historic vote in October 2023. The speakership was vacant for three weeks following McCarthy’s removal as Republicans searched for a viable candidate to succeed him.

Speaker Mike Johnson ultimately was elected House speaker and reelected to the post earlier this month.

Trump is planning to invoke muscular presidential powers to begin a sweeping crackdown on immigration after his inauguration on Monday, tasking the military with border enforcement, designating cartels and gangs as terrorist groups, shutting down asylum and refugee admissions and attempting to terminate birthright citizenship.

Trump is expected to issue around 10 executive actions on his first day in office to start reshaping federal immigration and border policy, many of which are expected to face significant legal challenges, incoming administration officials said on a call with reporters on Monday morning.

Read the executive actions Trump is planning to take on immigration and border policy here.

Former Vice President Mike Pence says he is attending Trump’s inauguration, despite the soured relationship between the two men who once ran the White House together. 

The two men were in the same room for the first time since Jan. 6, 2021, at former President Jimmy Carter’s funeral several weeks ago.

“Today, I will attend the Inauguration of President Donald Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance at the U. S. Capitol,” Pence wrote on X. “This is a day when every American does well to celebrate our democracy and the peaceful transfer of power under the Constitution of the United States. We encourage all our fellow Americans to join us praying for President Trump and Vice President Vance as they assume the awesome responsibility of leading this great Nation. And May God Continue to Bless the United States of America.”

After attending a service at St. John’s, the president-elect and future first lady are attending a tea at the White House hosted by Mr. Biden and first lady Dr. Jill Biden.

“Welcome home,” Mr. Biden told Trump as he exited his vehicle.

The Trumps and Bidens posed for a photo before heading inside the White House.

After the gathering, they will travel together to the U.S. Capitol for the inauguration ceremony.

Trump told reporters before leaving St. John’s that he feels “great” ahead of his swearing-in.

Vance and Usha Vance also went to the White House, where they were greeted by Vice President Kamala Harris and second gentleman Doug Emhoff. The couples shook hands and posed for a photo before heading inside.

Harris told reporters that the events of the day were “democracy in action.”

Trump will sign multiple executive actions on energy and the economy his first day in office, including executive orders “unleashing American energy,” a national energy emergency, an executive order to excavate Alaska’s natural resources and a presidential memorandum addressing inflation, an incoming White House official told reporters on a call Monday morning. 

The incoming official Monday morning had few details on the memorandum on inflation, such as how the memo would help lower prices. The executive orders related to energy are meant to unleash “affordable and reliable American energy.” 

“That natural resource production is key to lowering costs for American consumers, both at the pump and the utility bills, but also, across the breadth of the economy, because energy prices permeate every single part of our economy,” the official said. “It’s also key to restoring our national security and asserting American energy dominance around the world.” 

Republican Sen. John Barrasso of Wyoming called Trump’s return to the White House “truly historic.” 

He said he spoke with the incoming president on Sunday about campaign promises, including immigration and the economy.

“President Trump has been really clear that what he’s going to do is actually prove himself by doing an incredible job, bringing safety and prosperity to this country, that he said is going to be his greatest revenge,” Barrasso told “CBS Mornings.” “Show the American people what it’s like to come back, to restore order at the border, to restore our strength around the world, as well as at home, to rebuild the economy.”

Trump is set to take about 200 executive actions Monday after being sworn in as the 47th president.

Barrasso, the Senate majority whip, also spoke about Jan. 6 pardons, saying each case will be looked at individually.

“Some people have been wronged by the justice system, denied due process. Others, criminal acts trying to take down the country, handled very differently,” he said of the Jan. 6 cases.

President Biden and first lady Jill Biden posed for a selfie at the White House before Trump and the incoming first lady Melania Trump’s arrival.

“One more selfie for the road. We love you, America,” Mr. Biden wrote in the post on social media. 

Mr. Biden is wrapping up more than five decades in public office, and departs the White House as his predecessor and former opponent is preparing to once again take office. Earlier Monday, the president preemptively pardoned several people who could be targeted in a Trump administration. 

Country superstar Jason Aldean is gearing up for a special performance at the Liberty Ball tonight. Known for his hit song “You Make It Easy,” Aldean will join the ranks of past performers at the inauguration, marking a milestone in his career.

“I’ve known President Trump now for a few years, and, you know, had a chance to spend a couple of New Years with him and play golf and different things,” Aldean told “CBS Mornings” today. “When he got elected, I just called and said, I don’t know what this looks like, but I would just love to be there in some capacity and help celebrate.”

Aldean’s relationship with Trump has grown over the years, and his support for the president has been clear.

“He wants to do great things for American people in the country. When he says something, he tries to get it done,” he said.

The singer expressed hope that the inauguration would mark the beginning of a new era.

“It’s a big day for our country,” he said. “I just hope this is kind of the beginning of a new era for our country.”

He continued: “Playing for, you know, the inauguration for one of our presidents is something that I’ve never done. It’s a special day for me. I’m honored to be here.”

Trump carried on an Inauguration Day tradition Monday, attending a service at St. John’s Church. CBS News political correspondent Caitlin Huey-Burns has more on the service: 

Trump’s inauguration is expected to be the tightest Washington, D.C., has ever seen with more than 25,000 law enforcement and military personnel in the city and more than 30 miles of anti-scale fencing installed for crowd control. CBS News homeland security and justice reporter Nicole Sganga has more on the security measures:

The president-elect and his wife, Melania Trump, as well as the vice president-elect and his wife, Usha Vance, are at St. John’s Church, Lafayette Square, attending a service before the inauguration.

Known as the “Church of the Presidents,” every president since James Madison has attended a service there, according to the church. Pew 54 is dubbed “The President’s Pew” and reserved for presidents when in attendance.

During Trump’s first term in office, protests against police brutality broke out in Lafayette Square next to the White House following the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis in May 2020. Law enforcement used tear gas and flash bangs to disperse the demonstrators just before Trump was set to deliver remarks from the Rose Garden.

After the remarks, the then-president left the White House and walked across Lafayette Park to St. John’s, where he held up a Bible and posed for photos. The church had been damaged by a fire during protests.

Trump’s visit to the church in June 2020 was condemned by Democrats, who accused him of using the historic church for a photo op.

Trump is expected on Monday to designate several cartels as foreign terrorist organizations through executive action. 

— Camilo Montoya-Galvez and Fin Gómez

Senior Trump adviser Jason Miller said today’s inauguration would be different from previous inaugurations, outlining what’s expected to be an action-focused day and noting that “President Trump has done this before.”

“We’ve had four successful years,” Miller said on “CBS Mornings.” “So he’s going to lay out in very direct terms the challenges that are facing the country, but he’s also going to go right to the very specific things that he’s going to do to fix it.”

Miller outlined that Trump “only moments after he is sworn in” will begin signing executive orders, saying that today is about “action” while specifically citing the issues of energy production and border security.  On immigration, Miller said Trump plans to reinstate border policies from his first administration, including a policy known as Remain in Mexico and ending the catch and release policy, along with plans to  begin deportations of criminals who are in the country illegally. 

“The action starts immediately,” Miller said.

As Trump prepares to take the presidential oath for the second time, it’s also a big day for one of his favorite performers: Christopher Macchio. A mainstay at Trump rallies, Macchio is set to sing the national anthem at the inauguration, joining the ranks of musical greats who have taken on the role at past ceremonies, including Aretha Franklin, Lady Gaga, and Jessye Norman. 

Macchio, who grew up on Long Island, New York, told CBS News his musical journey began as a teenager. 

“It was only in high school that my voice, that I had tried to keep secret, was discovered, and the trajectory of my life and aspirations changed radically after that,” Macchio said, adding that he credits his high school choir teacher for sparking his love of opera.

For Macchio, performing at the inauguration represents a big leap, both personally and professionally.

“[It’s] been a tremendous honor, and it really validates the faith that that teacher had in me all those years ago,” he said.

His talents would eventually lead Macchio to Trump. In 2015, he received a last-minute invitation to perform at Mar-a-Lago. After Macchio’s performance, Trump took the microphone and praised him, saying, “This guy’s got a tremendous voice, magnificent.”

Since then, Macchio has become close to the Trump family, which has led to performances at major events, including the 2020 Republican National Convention.

“His grace and generosity that I think other people might not have had a similar opportunity to observe,” the singer said about Trump. As he prepared for his inauguration performance, Macchio emphasized his intention to deliver a unifying message through his music.

Trump is expected to sign between 190 and 215 executive actions, which could encompass a large range of issues and campaign promises.

Executive actions encompass all presidential directives, executive orders, presidential memoranda and proclamations.

Trump will be sworn in on Monday as his inauguration ceremony is set to take place inside the U.S. Capitol in a break from tradition due to the record cold temperatures.

Expected to be in attendance at Trump’s inauguration were notable guests including foreign leaders and tech CEOs. But the large crowd of onlookers who had planned to view the swearing in ceremony from the Capitol grounds will be dramatically smaller Monday after the decision to move the swearing in ceremony to the space-limited Capitol Rotunda due to dangerously low temperatures. The last time the inauguration was moved inside due to cold weather was in 1985.

Read more about who is and isn’t expected to attend the inauguration here. 

President Biden announced early Monday before leaving office that he would be preemptively pardoning several people who could be targeted with Trump’s return to the White House, including Dr. Anthony Fauci, General Mark A. Milley and members of the House Jan. 6 committee and their staff.  

“These public servants have served our nation with honor and distinction and do not deserve to be the targets of unjustified and politically motivated prosecutions,” Mr. Biden said in a statement. 

The president noted that the pardons “should not be mistaken as an acknowledgment that any individual engaged in any wrongdoing, nor should acceptance be misconstrued as an admission of guilt for any offense.” He added that the nation instead “owes these public servants a debt of gratitude for their tireless commitment to our country.” 

Read more about Mr. Biden’s pardons here. 

Trump struggled to land big-name musical talent during his first inauguration in 2017. 

But this time, he’ll have one of the biggest names in country music — Carrie Underwood — performing at his 2025 swearing-in ceremony, which begins at noon on Monday. Other artists are scheduled to perform at various celebrations in Washington over the course of the weekend, and at inaugural balls later on Monday.

Read more about the performers here. 

• What: The inauguration of Donald Trump as 47th president of the United States 
• Date: Jan. 20, 2025
• Time: Swearing-in ceremony set for 11:30 a.m. ET, with Trump expected to speak around noon; coverage continues all day on CBS News
• Location: U.S. Capitol, Washington, D.C.
• Online stream: Live on CBS News in the player above and on your mobile or streaming device.

Read more about how to watch the inauguration here.

A majority of Americans are optimistic about the next four years with Trump, even more so than they were in 2017 before his first term. And most are hopeful about the coming year.

That’s bolstered by Americans’ expectations for a good economy in 2025 — higher than they currently rate it — along with wide belief among his voters that Trump will bring down grocery prices, make them financially better off and bring more peace and stability to the world. 

It all echoes many of the reasons Trump won in the first place.

In this hyper-partisan era, though, optimism for incoming presidents isn’t quite as high as it once was. For Carter and Reagan, both Bushes, Clinton and Obama, CBS News polling at the time showed higher optimism than either President Biden in 2021 or Trump today enjoys. That’s largely because these days, opposing partisans are less likely to express positivity. 

Read more from the poll here.

Trump’s day will begin with a service at St. John’s Church near the White House, known as the “church of the presidents.” He and Melania Trump will then head to the White House for tea with President Biden and first lady Jill Biden. 

Trump will then head to the Capitol for the swearing in ceremony, which will begin with a musical prelude performed by the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Combined Choirs and “The President’s Own” U.S. Marine Band.

Sen. Amy Klobuchar will issue a call to order, and Timothy Cardinal Dolan, the archbishop of New York, and the Rev. Franklin Graham will deliver an invocation. Christopher Macchio, an opera singer dubbed America’s Tenor, will sing “Oh, America!” 

Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh will then administer the vice presidential oath of office to JD Vance. Country singer Carrie Underwood, joined by the Armed Forces Chorus and the U.S. Naval Academy Glee Club, will perform “America the Beautiful.”

Following their performance, Chief Justice John Roberts will administer the presidential oath to Trump. The Naval Academy Glee Club will return to sing “The Battle Hymn of the Republic,” and then Trump will deliver his inaugural address. The ceremony will conclude with a benediction.

After he’s sworn in, Trump will attend a formal farewell to the outgoing president, then head back inside for a signing ceremony near the Senate, where he will formally sign nominations and other documents. A luncheon with lawmakers comes next, followed by a review of the troops passing outside the Capitol. 

Instead of the traditional parade down Pennsylvania Avenue, Trump said the parade would take place in Capital One Arena in downtown Washington, and he said he would attend. 

After the parade, he will head to the White House before attending several inaugural balls in the evening.

Read more about the schedule here.