Biden pardons Fauci, General Milley and members of the January 6 committee
U.S. President Joe Biden delivers remarks during a farewell ceremony for the Department of Defense Commander in Chief at Joint Base Myers-Henderson Hall in Arlington, Virginia, January 16, 2025.
Roberto Schmidt | AFP | Getty Images
On his final morning in office, President Joe Biden issued preemptive pardons to General Mark Milley, Dr. Anthony S. Fauci, members of Congress and J6 committee staff, as well as the officers who testified before them .
“These officials have served our nation with honor and distinction and do not deserve to be the target of unwarranted, politically motivated prosecutions,” Biden said in a statement.
“These are exceptional circumstances and, in good conscience, there is nothing I can do. Baseless and politically motivated investigations are wreaking havoc on the lives, safety and financial security of those targeted and their families,” Biden said.
“That is why I am exercising my authority under the Constitution to pardon General Mark A. Milley, Dr. Anthony S. Fauci, the members of Congress and staff who served on the select committee, and the officers of the Metropolitan Police of the United States Capitol and Washington DC who testified before the select committee.
-Christina Wilkie
Trump calls for a ‘common sense revolution’
United States President-elect Donald Trump attends the launch of the sixth test flight of the SpaceX Starship rocket, November 19, 2024, in Brownsville, Texas.
Brandon Bell | Getty Images News | Getty Images
Trump’s inaugural address will feature a memorable line calling for a “common sense revolution,” reports Kristen Welker, host of NBC News’ “Meet the Press.”
“I return to the presidency confident and optimistic about the start of an exciting new era of national success. A wave of change is sweeping the country,” Trump will say, according to a new White House official.
“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,” Trump will tell the audience gathered in the rotunda.
“My message to Americans today is that it is time for us to act once again with the courage, vigor and vitality of the greatest civilization in history,” the new president will say.
— Christina Wilkie and Kristen Welker of NBC News
The Trumps had a late night on the town
Elon Musk (left), Ivanka Trump (left) and Jeff Bezos (right) talk before US President-elect Donald Trump speaks at a candlelight dinner at the National Building Museum in Washington, DC , on January 19, 2025, one day before his election. inauguration ceremony.
Jim Watson | Afp | Getty Images
Trump and new first lady Melania Trump were in town late last night, attending a black-tie “candlelight dinner” at the National Building Museum with the who’s who of Washington’s new Trump institution.
Guests included Musk, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and his fiancée Lauren Sanchez, philanthropist and Trump mega-donor Miriam Adelson, new Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, Donald Trump, Jr. and his girlfriend Bettina Anderson, Eric Trump and his wife Lara Trump , and Ivanka Trump and her husband Jared Kushner.
Vice President-elect JD Vance and new second lady Usha Vance were also in attendance, along with House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., and Trump HHS pick Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.
Melania Trump watches as her husband, U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, speaks during a candlelight dinner at the National Building Museum in Washington, DC, January 19, 2025, one day before his inauguration ceremony.
Jim Watson | Afp | Getty Images
The new president arrived at the museum around 9 p.m. ET and left shortly after 11:30 p.m. He delivered brief remarks and thanked his supporters. Except for a few minutes of Trump’s remarks, the dinner was closed to the press.
-Christina Wilkie
Elon Musk met with Chinese vice president on the sidelines of the inauguration
Tesla CEO Elon Musk, co-chair of the new Department of Government Effectiveness (DOGE), arrives on Capitol Hill on December 5, 2024 in Washington, DC.
Anna Moneymaker | Getty Images
Elon Musk met with Chinese Vice President Han Zheng, who is in town for Trump’s inauguration.
According to a statement from Beijing’s Foreign Ministry, Han “welcomed Tesla and other American companies to seize opportunities and share the fruits of China’s development. »
In turn, Musk expressed Tesla’s “willingness to deepen investment and cooperation in China and play an active role in promoting Sino-US economic and trade exchanges,” the ministry said.
Tesla’s largest assembly plant is in Shanghai, and the company is a fierce competitor in China’s electric vehicle market.
Han also met with Vance and U.S.-China business groups.
-Christina Wilkie
Theme of Trump’s inaugural address will be ‘unity’
U.S. President-elect Donald Trump speaks after a meeting with congressional Republicans at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, January 8, 2025.
Jeenah Moon | Reuters
Trump will deliver his second inaugural address immediately after being sworn in today around noon. The theme of the speech will be “unity,” Trump told Kristen Welker, host of NBC News’ “Meet the Press.”
“It will be a message of unity,” Trump said. “We’re going to talk about unity, and we’re going to talk about success, about making our country safer,” he said. “It’s basically going to be about bringing our country together.”
“And no “American carnage”? asked Welker, quoting the most memorable line from Trump’s first inaugural address.
“No American carnage, no,” Trump replied.
-Christina Wilkie
Here is the full schedule of inauguration events
The Rotunda is prepared for the inauguration of United States President-elect Donald Trump at the United States Capitol in Washington, United States, January 18, 2025.
Kevin Lamarque | Reuters
Trump Vance’s inaugural committee has proposed a sequence of events for today.
Much of the timing is fluid, but we know that Trump will assume the presidency at precisely 12:00 p.m. ET and that his oath of office will be taken just before that.
Below is the committee’s schedule, modified slightly to add an event at Capital One Arena in place of the traditional outdoor parade.
Monday January 20, 2025
– Service of the Saint-Jean church
– Tea at the White House
– Swearing-in ceremony: United States Capitol
– Farewell to the former president and vice-president
– Departure ceremony from the US Capitol
– President’s Dedication Room Ceremony
– JCCIC Congress Luncheon
– Event at Capital One Arena (added to schedule)
– Oval Office signing ceremony at the White House
– Commander in Chief Ball: President Donald J. Trump delivers remarks
– Liberty Inaugural Ball: President Donald J. Trump delivers speech
– Starlight Ball: President Donald J. Trump delivers remarks
-Christina Wilkie
