Donald Trump’s inauguration as the 47th President of the United States is set to take place in Wahington, D.C., marking his return to the presidency after previously serving as the 45th President from 2017 to 2021. The event promises to be a star-studded affair, with several high-profile global and Indian dignitaries in attendance. Here’s all you need to know:
The inauguration ceremony
Time and location: the swearing-in ceremony will take place at noon ET at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. Presiding Official: Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts will administer the presidential oath of office to Trump.Vice President-Elect swearing-in: before Trump takes the oath, Vice President-elect JD Vance, will be sworn in.
The event’s theme, our enduring democracy: a constitutional promise, reflects a commitment to preserving America’s democratic traditions. Announced by the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies (JCCIC), the theme honors the Founder’s vision of a resilient government system.
Inauguration timing as per India
The inauguration ceremony will held on Monday, January 20, in Washington, D.C. For Indian viewers, the event will take place during the late hours of the same day, beginning at approximately 10:30 PM IST. The swearing-in will be live-streamed on major news networks and online platforms.
Who will represent India?
India will be officially, represented by External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) confirmed that Jaishankar would attend the swearing-in ceremony on the invitation of the Trump-vance Inaugural committee. In addition to attending the event, Jaishankar is expected to hold meetings with members of the incoming administration and other global leaders present at the ceremony.
The MEA’s statement reads: “On the invitation of the Trump- Vance Inaugural Committee, External Affairs Minister (EAM) Dr. S. Jaishankar will represent the government of India at the Swearing-In Ceremony of president-Elected Donald J. Trump as the 47th President of the United States of America.
Indian VIP attendees
Apart from official representation, Indian business tycoons Mukesh Ambani, chairman of Reliance Industry, and Nita Ambani, chairperson of the Reliance Foundation, will also attend the inauguration. The Ambanis have been invited to participate in several exclusive events surrounding the inauguration, including:
- A candlelight dinner with President-elected Donald Trump and Vice President-elect JD Vance, along with their spouse Usha Vnace and Melania Trump.
- The pre-inauguration reception and fireworks display at the Trump National Golf Club in Virginia.
- A black-tie reception hosted by Meta chief Mark Zuckerberg and Republican mega-donor Miriam Adelson.
- The Ambanis will have a prominent seating arrangement at the ceremony, alongside Trump’s Cabinet nominees and other global dignitaries.
International guest list highlights
The guest list for Donald Trump’s swearing-in features some of the world’s most influential figures:
- Elon Musk (CEO, of Tesla and SpaceX)
- Jeff Bezos (Founder, Amazon)
- Xavier Neil (French Billionaire and tech entrepreneur)
- Foreign Ministers from QUAD countries, including India’s Dr. S Jaishankar and Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya.
Inauguration Highlights
The inaugural festivities kicked off on January 18, with a series of receptions and a fireworks display at Trump’s golf club in Virginia. On the eve of the inauguration, guests attended the much-anticipated candlelight dinner, offering an intimate opportunity to interact with the President-elect and his administration.
Trump’s return to the presidency is seen as a pivotal moment in U.S. politics, and his inauguration promises to be a historic event, bringing together global leaders, business magnates, and political figures from round the world