Workers construct a stage in the rotunda of the U.S. Capitol in Washington on Jan. 17, 2025, for the 60th presidential inauguration, which was moved indoors due to expected cold temperatures Monday.
Morry Gash/AP
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Morry Gash/AP
President-elect Donald Trump will be sworn in Monday inside the rotunda of the U.S. Capitol. Trump is the second president to move his inauguration inside the Rotunda, from the West Front of the Capitol, due to forecasted freezing weather.
“I ordered that the inaugural address, in addition to prayers and other speeches, be delivered in the rotunda of the United States Capitol, like the one used by Ronald Reagan in 1985, also because of the very cold weather,” Trump said Friday.
Temperatures will reach a high of around 24 degrees Monday with wind gusts up to 31 mph, according to the National Weather Service.
Crews — who spent four months building the inaugural and presidential parade platforms outside — equipped the Rotunda and Capitol One Arena to host Trump’s inauguration events. Nearly a quarter of a million people had tickets to Trump’s outdoor inauguration, and many of them will not be able to attend the limited-capacity indoor events.
“It will be a great experience for everyone, and especially for the general television audience!” Trump posted on Friday.
How to watch the inauguration
NPR News will broadcast special live coverage of Trump’s inauguration starting at 11 a.m. ET on NPR.org and YouTube.
Other streaming options include the official inaugural committee live stream and C-SPAN.org.
All major television networks and cable channels will broadcast the inauguration. These programs can also be viewed on subscription streaming platforms, such as YouTube TV and Hulu + Live TV. Many news networks, such as CBS News, NBC News and ABC News, will broadcast their coverage online.
MSNBC’s coverage of the inauguration will be broadcast on its YouTube channel.
CNN and Fox News will also carry their coverage, but this requires a paid subscription.
Who is going to the inauguration
With the inauguration ceremony taking place in the rotunda of the U.S. Capitol – instead of the West Front – space is limited and the guest list is changing.
The inaugural platform on the West Front is more than 10,000 square feet and can accommodate about 1,600 people, according to the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies. The Capitol rotunda is smaller — measuring just over 7,000 square feet — and can accommodate only about 750 people, according to a source familiar with the planning who was not authorized to disclose the matter.
According to the JCCIC, the inaugural gallery is generally reserved for the president and vice president and their families; the president-elect and vice president-elect and their families; the Chief Justice and Associate Justices of the Supreme Court; former presidents; the diplomatic corps; cabinet members and candidates; members of Congress; governors; the Joint Chiefs of Staff; and other guests.
Despite space constraints, Tesla CEO Elon Musk, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman will all attend the inauguration of the rotunda, according to a source close to the planning which was not authorized. to disclose the matter.
Notably, Vice President of the People’s Republic of China Han Zheng will also attend the rotunda ceremony, according to the Trump transition team.
Prayer, parade and inaugural balls
While the Constitution requires that Trump’s inauguration take place at noon EST on Monday, the entire day is filled with events, traditions and inaugural ceremonies.
The day begins at St. John’s Episcopal Church with a morning prayer service – a 92-year-old tradition. Trump, Vice President-elect JD Vance and a small group of others will pray with the Rev. Robert Fisher in the small yellow church just across the street from Lafayette Square.
Trump will then have tea with President Biden at the White House before leaving for the U.S. Capitol.
After his swearing in, Trump will deliver his inaugural address inside the Rotunda.
Trump will then leave the U.S. Capitol and head to Capital One Arena for his indoor “presidential parade” starting at 3 p.m. ET.
The evening ends with three inaugural balls: the Commander-in-Chief Ball, the Inaugural Liberty Ball, and the Starlight Ball. Trump will be present and will speak to everyone.
Which artists are performing
Throughout the day’s activities, several renowned artists will perform.
Country music star Carrie Underwood will sign “America the Beautiful” during the swearing-in ceremony.
“I love our country and am honored to have been invited to sing at the inauguration and be a small part of this historic event,” Underwood said in a statement provided to NPR.
Classical tenor Christopher Macchio — who has performed at the Republican National Convention and Trump’s rally at Madison Square Garden — will perform the national anthem at the inauguration ceremony.
Lee Greenwood, whose song “IOU” won a Grammy for best country vocal performance, will also perform at the rotunda ceremony.
Monday night at the Liberty Ball, country singer-songwriter Jason Aldean, disco group Village People and rapper/singer Nelly will all perform.
Country music group Rascal Flatts and singer Parker McCollum will serenade attendees of the Commander in Chief’s Ball.
Finally, singer-songwriter Gavin DeGraw will perform at the Starlight Ball.
