President-elect Donald Trump arrived in the Washington, D.C., area Saturday evening to kick off celebrations marking his return to power, ahead of his second inauguration ceremony on Monday.
Trump landed at Washington Dulles International Airport aboard an Air Force plane dispatched by outgoing President Joe Biden. Accompanied by his wife, Melania, his daughter Ivanka, and her husband, Jared Kushner, Trump then traveled to his golf club in Sterling, Virginia.
Fireworks and Elvis Impersonator Highlight Celebrations
The festivities began Saturday night with a fireworks display and musical performances for around 500 guests. Entertainment included tenor Christopher Macchio and Elvis impersonator Leo Days, both of whom have performed at Trump’s past events.
The celebrations will continue Sunday with a rally at the Capital One Arena in downtown Washington, where Trump will address supporters on the eve of his inauguration.
Record Cold Forces Venue Change
Due to frigid weather, Monday’s inauguration ceremonies were moved indoors to the Capitol Rotunda, marking the first indoor inauguration since Ronald Reagan’s second term in 1985. Trump will be sworn in at 12 p.m. ET, followed by a scaled-down parade to the Capital One Arena.
The decision to move the event indoors means most of the 220,000 ticketed guests who planned to attend on the Capitol grounds will not be able to witness the ceremony in person. Only a fraction will fit in the 20,000-seat arena, where the event will be broadcast.
Some attendees expressed disappointment at the last-minute change.
“It’s so disappointing because all of us traveled so long and far to get here,” said Arthur Caisse, a retired professor from Connecticut.
Others, however, were optimistic.
“I’m not disappointed because on Monday we’re getting our country back,” said Arthur’s brother, Richard Caisse, a small business owner.
Trump’s Priorities for His Second Term
Following the ceremony, Trump is expected to return to the White House to sign a flurry of executive orders focused on curbing migration, increasing U.S. energy production, and addressing other key priorities.
A Divisive Return
Trump’s return to power comes four years after his first term ended in 2021. He notably declined to attend Joe Biden’s inauguration that year, leaving Washington after his supporters stormed the Capitol on January 6, 2021, in an effort to overturn Biden’s victory.
President Biden is scheduled to attend Trump’s inauguration, marking a symbolic gesture amid continued political division in the U.S.