Trump arrives in the nation’s capital for inaugural celebrations marking his return to power

WASHINGTON (AP) — Donald Trump will return to Washington on Saturday to kick off days of pageantry to announce his second inauguration as president, four years after leaving the city amid an attack by his supporters on the Capitol.

The ritual shift of power will begin as the solemn pomp of Washington combines with Trump’s party style: fireworks at one of his luxury golf properties, guests including titans of industry technology, friends from the business world and conservative media stars, and thousands of people. his supporters flocked from all over the country.

With a blast of arctic air expected to leave the nation’s capital facing freezing temperatures on Inauguration Day, organizers also hurried to move indoors for most of Monday’s outdoor events, including the inauguration ceremony.

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Opera singer Christopher Macchio, chosen by Trump to sing the national anthem at the ceremony, told The Associated Press on Saturday that an indoor performance would improve the sound of the music and his vocal performance.

But Macchio added: “I have to say, I was looking forward to seeing 100,000 people spread out across the National Mall. Unfortunately, I won’t have this visual while I play, but it will still be a huge honor.

On Pennsylvania Avenue leading to the White House, crews were dismantling metal bleachers that would have been used for the inauguration’s outdoor viewing stands.

Even before Trump arrived in town, groups of protesters began taking to the streets in the morning as a light torrential rain fell.

Washington resident Melody Hamoud wore a pink hat that she wore during a 2017 march to protest Trump’s first inauguration.

“I just didn’t want to stay home and worry in front of the TV,” she said. “I wanted to feel like our movement still had energy and to be surrounded by other people who felt the same way. »

Trump, a Republican, left office in 2021 as a political pariah after his refusal to accept his defeat to Democrat Joe Biden led a mob to invade the Capitol. He then broke with tradition by skipping Biden’s inauguration.

Biden will embrace one of the most powerful symbols of the democratic transfer, welcoming Trump to the White House and joining him in the ride to the Capitol before he is sworn in.

The first time Trump was sworn in eight years ago, the billionaire former reality TV star presented himself as an outsider disrupting Washington’s norms, delivering a somber inaugural address as his swearing-in sparked widespread controversy. demonstrations and some clashes in the street.

This time, the protests are expected to be much less visible, overshadowed by the ceremonies and celebrations surrounding Trump’s takeover. In another sign of Trump’s remarkable comeback, the events surrounding his inauguration will be more celebrity-rich than last time, with notable participation from a group of tech billionaires.

Country music stars Carrie Underwood, Billy Ray Cyrus and Jason Aldean, disco group The Village People, rapper Nelly and musician Kid Rock are all expected to perform at inauguration-related ceremonies and events. Actor Jon Voight and wrestler Hulk Hogan are also expected to make appearances, as is a team of pro-Trump business executives: Tesla and X CEO Elon Musk, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, CEO Mark Zuckerberg of Meta, and Shou Zi Chew, CEO of TikTok.

The pageantry begins Saturday, when the president-elect leaves his Florida home to travel to Washington. Trump’s advisers have not detailed how he will spend the first part of the day, and the only public event planned on Trump’s schedule is an evening reception and fireworks display at the Trump National Golf Club in Sterling, Virginia. , outside the city.

While Trump holds court at his club, Vice President-elect JD Vance will attend a reception for Cabinet members and host a dinner in Washington.

On Sunday, the day before his inauguration, Trump is expected to participate in a wreath-laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery before heading to a rally at the Capital One Arena in Washington. The gathering will be followed by a private dinner.

On Inauguration Day, Trump will begin with the traditional prayer service at St. John’s Episcopal Church before heading to the White House for a customary tea with the outgoing president and first lady.

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Trump then heads to the Capitol, where his ceremony has been moved indoors as temperatures are expected to plummet and make it the coldest Inauguration Day in 40 years. It’s unclear how the ceremony will fit into the Capitol rotunda, which can only accommodate 600 people. More than 250,000 guests received tickets to watch the inauguration from around the Capitol.

Eight years ago, Trump’s critics debated whether to attend his inauguration, wondering whether they should depart from long-standing practice and send a signal to the divisive new president. This year, much of the open resistance to Trump has faded, although there will be two notable absences: former first lady Michelle Obama and former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Neither explained why she skipped the ceremony.

After Trump takes the oath of office and delivers his inaugural address, there will be a farewell ceremony for Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris. As the new Republican administration takes power, Trump will attend a signing ceremony at the Capitol to approve some of his first official acts, followed by a congressional luncheon and a review of U.S. troops.

The traditional parade planned on Pennsylvania Avenue turned into an indoor event because of the cold, with Trump again planning to speak to his gathered supporters before heading to the White House for a signing ceremony in the Oval Office. A trio of sumptuous balls will follow in the evening, punctuated by musical performances.

Trump’s arrival in Washington will once again be accompanied by protests and vigils on issues such as abortion, immigration rights and, this time, the war between Israel and Hamas, but the The atmosphere and strength of these demonstrations should be different from the start of the year. his first term.

The Women’s March, spurred by women outraged by Trump’s 2017 victory, drew more than 500,000 people to Washington and millions more to cities across the country, marking one of the largest demonstrations in a United States History Day.

The march returns Saturday, renamed the People’s March, with organizers saying they will focus less on Trump and more on broader goals around women’s and reproductive rights, LGBTQ rights, immigration, climate and democracy . It is expected to attract around 50,000 people, far fewer than eight years ago.

Associated Press writers Lindsay Whitehurst, Ashraf Khalil, Gary Fields and Lindsey Bahr contributed to this report.