Ceremonial military teams rehearse for the presidential inauguration in Washington. Getty Images / AFP
Ceremonial military teams rehearse for the presidential inauguration in Washington. Getty Images / AFP
Ceremonial military teams rehearse for the presidential inauguration in Washington. Getty Images / AFP
Ceremonial military teams rehearse for the presidential inauguration in Washington. Getty Images / AFP

What happens at the swearing-in ceremony? A guide to Donald Trump’s inauguration on January 20


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Donald Trump will be sworn in on Monday as US president, in a time-honoured ceremony that will officially herald the beginning of his second term in the White House.

Here, The National takes a look at what happens during the inauguration.

Inauguration Day schedule

The day a new president is inaugurated is a time for major celebrations, with events held over four days, beginning on Saturday. Events include a fireworks display, several dinners honouring the new president and vice president, and a “Maga [Make America Great Again] Victory Rally”, according to Mr Trump's transition team.

Inauguration Day, January 20, will begin with a service at St John’s Church, followed by tea at the White House. St John's sits opposite the White House, so Mr Trump and his retinue will not be spending much time in the bitter Washington cold.

After tea, Mr Trump and vice president-designate JD Vance will head to the US Capitol, where they are expected to be sworn in at noon, in keeping with rules laid out in the Constitution.

After the swearing-in ceremony is the official farewell for President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris and a departure ceremony, after which Mr Trump will head to the President's Room near the Senate chambers, where he is expected to sign a series of nominations.

Then Mr Trump will attend a luncheon at the Capitol, after which he will review troops in the presidential parade.

He will then participate in a signing ceremony at the White House. Three inaugural balls are on the schedule: the Commander in Chief Ball, the Liberty Inaugural Ball and the Starlight Ball.

Country singers Carrie Underwood and Parker McCollum, singer Kid Rock, country group Rascal Flatts disco group The Village People and tenor Christopher Macchio are scheduled to perform during this year's swearing-in ceremony, the rally and balls.

What will Donald Trump say at the swearing-in ceremony?

The vice president-elect is sworn in first and gives the same oath of office, in use since 1884, as members of Congress and federal employees: “I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter: So help me God.”

At about noon, the president-elect recites the following oath, in keeping with Article II, Section I of the US Constitution: “I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.”

The president-elect and vice-president elect may choose to make their oath while placing their hand on a Bible, though not all have chosen to do so. Mr Trump is then expected to give his inaugural address.

Trump inauguration 2025


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Where does the signing ceremony take place?

The first official actions taken by the newly sworn-in president take place in the President’s Room, off the Senate Chamber in the US Capitol.

After the departure of the former president and first lady, the new president gathers there with aides and members of Congress to sign nominations and sometimes memorandums, proclamations or executive orders, according to the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies (JCIC).

The tradition began in 1981, with President Ronald Reagan. Before then, nominations were often submitted to the Senate on Inauguration Day without ceremony.

What is the pass-in-review?

After the conclusion of the inaugural ceremonies and the luncheon is the parade. Typically, the new president and vice president make their way to the east front steps of the Capitol, where they review military troops before leading a procession of ceremonial military regiments, citizens’ groups, marching bands and floats on Pennsylvania Avenue to the White House, according to the JCIC.

But this year, due to extreme temperatures, the parade will take place at Capitol One Arena, where Mr Trump is expected to review the troops and groups participating.

Thousands of people are expected to descend on Washington for the parade and roads around the route will be closed off to traffic.

W.
Wael Kfoury
(Rotana)

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Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.

Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.

Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.

Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.

“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.

Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.

From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.

Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.

BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.

Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.

Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.

“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.

Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.

“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.

“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”

The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”

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Bert van Marwijk factfile

Born: May 19 1952
Place of birth: Deventer, Netherlands
Playing position: Midfielder

Teams managed:
1998-2000 Fortuna Sittard
2000-2004 Feyenoord
2004-2006 Borussia Dortmund
2007-2008 Feyenoord
2008-2012 Netherlands
2013-2014 Hamburg
2015-2017 Saudi Arabia
2018 Australia

Major honours (manager):
2001/02 Uefa Cup, Feyenoord
2007/08 KNVB Cup, Feyenoord
World Cup runner-up, Netherlands

Fight card

1. Bantamweight: Victor Nunes (BRA) v Siyovush Gulmamadov (TJK)

2. Featherweight: Hussein Salim (IRQ) v Shakhriyor Juraev (UZB)

3. Catchweight 80kg: Rashed Dawood (UAE) v Khamza Yamadaev (RUS)

4. Lightweight: Ho Taek-oh (KOR) v Ronald Girones (CUB)

5. Lightweight: Arthur Zaynukov (RUS) v Damien Lapilus (FRA)

6. Bantamweight: Vinicius de Oliveira (BRA) v Furkatbek Yokubov (RUS)

7. Featherweight: Movlid Khaybulaev (RUS) v Zaka Fatullazade (AZE)

8. Flyweight: Shannon Ross (TUR) v Donovon Freelow (USA)

9. Lightweight: Mohammad Yahya (UAE) v Dan Collins (GBR)

10. Catchweight 73kg: Islam Mamedov (RUS) v Martun Mezhulmyan (ARM)

11. Bantamweight World title: Jaures Dea (CAM) v Xavier Alaoui (MAR)

12. Flyweight World title: Manon Fiorot (FRA) v Gabriela Campo (ARG)

Sunday's fixtures
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Updated: January 17, 2025, 6:00 PM