We are hours away from President-elect Donald Trump and Vice President-elect JD Vance taking their oaths of office inside the Capitol building.
White House moving day
Update 10:43 a.m. ET, Jan. 20: The moving process has begun in earnest CNN reported on air as personal items of the Trump family are being moved from the Blair House into the White House.
The incoming and outgoing moving trucks are staged to move the Bidens out and then the Trumps in. They have about five hours to pack up the Bidens’ possessions, clean the mansion, and then get the Trumps’ items in place, CNN explained on air.
Biden, Trump leave together for Capitol
Update 10:37 a.m. ET, Jan. 20: The incoming and outgoing presidents have left the White House together en route to the swearing-in ceremony at the U.S. Capitol Rotunda. Just before they left, the incoming and outgoing first ladies left the executive mansion.
Final posts from Biden, Harris
Update 10:28 a.m. ET, Jan. 20: President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris have made their final social media posts in office.
Biden wrote, “It has been the honor of our lifetimes to serve you, the American people.” It was accompanied by a photo of the president, the vice president and their spouses taken this morning at the White House.
It has been the honor of our lifetimes to serve you, the American people. pic.twitter.com/OvrCIyWBd3
— President Biden (@POTUS) January 20, 2025
The same post appeared on Harris’ official X account.
It has been the honor of our lifetimes to serve you, the American people. pic.twitter.com/mzZsuxW84B
— Vice President Kamala Harris (@VP) January 20, 2025
Trump arrives at White House
Update 9:54 a.m. ET, Jan. 20: Trump and his wife have arrived at the White House, greeted by outgoing President Joe Biden and his wife. It is one of the first true looks at the peaceful transfer of power when the outgoing president welcomes the incoming leader.
A similar scene did not play out four years ago when roles were reversed, CNN reported. Trump did not invite Biden to the White House when Trump left office in 2021.
Biden said he did write a letter to Trump, as is tradition. Trump did the same four years ago, leaving a note for Biden. The outgoing president did not say what he included in his message to the incoming president, the AP reported.
Trump’s family arrives at Capitol
Update 9:46 a.m. ET, Jan. 20: Trump family members are entering the U.S. Capitol in advance of the inauguration ceremony.
Executive orders expected today
Update 9:45 a.m. ET, Jan. 20: The Trump administration will issue 10 executive orders concerning the border on Monday, The Washington Post reported.
Among the expected orders will be, according to The Washington Post:
- Sending members of the military and National Guard to the border with Mexico and directing the completion of the border wall.
- To “seal our borders” to end illegal mass migration, drug trafficking and other crimes.
- Stop releasing illegal migrants in the U.S. even if they claim asylum.
- Restore “Remain in Mexico” which requires asylum seekers to stay in Mexico waiting for their hearings.
There will also be executive orders on domestic oil production, a directive instructing the government to bring down inflation, a directive saying that there are only two genders and no birthright citizenship among others, the AP reported.
CNN reported that two other orders will concern the renaming of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America and Denali to Mount McKinley.
Kamala Harris welcomes JD Vance
Update 9:33 a.m. ET, Jan. 20: Vice President Kamala Harris and her husband welcome Vice President-elect JD Vance and his wife to the White House. Harris did not issue the traditional invitation to the incoming vice president and his family to visit the vice presidential home at the Naval Observatory.
Confirmation votes scheduled for today
Update 9:27 a.m. ET, Jan. 20: Today is not only Inauguration Day but it is also a federal holiday, Martin Luther King Jr. Day. But the work of Washington will continue.
Several confirmation votes and meetings are scheduled to be held today.
The schedule according to CNN:
Around 3:15 p.m. the Senate Foreign Relations Committee will meet and vote on the animation of Sen. Marco Rubio as the secretary of state.
At 4:30 p.m., the Senate will be gaveled in.
At 5 p.m., the Senate Armed Service Committee will meet and vote on Pete Hegseth’s nomination for defense secretary.
At 5:30 p.m. the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee will meet on the animation of Kristi Noem and the nomination of Russell Vought for the Office of Management and Budget.
Service ends
Update 9:25 a.m. ET, Jan. 20: The service has ended with the singing of “America the Beautiful.” They will return to Blair House before proceeding to the White House for a tea with the Bidens.
Kamala Harris, husband Doug Emhoff arrive at White House
Update 9:17 a.m. ET, Jan. 20: Vice President Kamala Harris and her husband Doug Emhoff have arrived at the White House. They were welcomed by Biden and his wife, first lady Jill Biden, who escorted them into the executive mansion.
St. John’s service
Update 9:08 a.m. ET, Jan. 20: Trump and Vance and their families are attending a service at St. John’s Episcopal Church near the White House.
The tradition of attending the service prior to taking the oath of office started with the 1933 inauguration of Franklin D. Roosevelt. Normally it is held at the Episcopal church but in 2021, President Joe Biden attended the service at St. Matthew’s Cathedral, CNN reported.
There would be no live video stream of the service, the AP reported. The pastor welcomed attendees, saying, “Having the cameras off is a gift. The rest of the day will be very public.”
Among the guests are Elon Musk, several nominated members of Trump’s cabinet, his daughter Ivanka, his sons Eric and Barron and Argentina President Javier Milei, the AP reported. The Washington Post reported that Mark Zuckerberg, Jeff Bezos and former British prime minister Boris Johnson were also there.
A prayer offered for the new administration asked God to give the new president and vice president the “wisdom and strength to know and to do.”
Original report: Trump and his family will leave Blair House at 8:15 a.m. and will go to St. John’s Church for a service.
Trump and incoming first lady Melania Trump will then go to the White House and join President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden for a tea before they travel to the U.S. Capitol for the inauguration ceremony. Vance will go first, and then at noon Trump will take his oath of office, The New York Times reported.
CNN reported that the theme of Trump’s speech will be “restoring confidence” in America.
“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,” according to a portion of his speech that has been released, according to CNN.
“Today, I will sign a series of historic executive orders. With these actions, we will begin the complete restoration of America and the revolution of common sense.”
“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.”
He will participate in a signing ceremony and a luncheon before relocating to the Capitol One Arena for the parade, which was moved inside, like the swearing-in ceremony, due to the frigid temperatures.
Trump will sign several executive orders, including reinstating ones that had been revoked by Biden when he took office four years ago, the Times reported. Some of the orders expect to target immigration; drug cartels, classifying them as foreign terrorist organizations; and diversity, equity and inclusion policies within the federal government, CNN reported
The president and first lady will then visit three inaugural balls held in his honor.
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