Sun Jan 19 12:07:20 UTC 2025: ## Trump’s Controversial Second Inauguration: A Cold, High-Security Affair

**Washington, D.C.** – Donald Trump will be sworn in for a second term as President of the United States on Monday, January 20, 2025, marking a stunning political comeback following his 2020 election loss and subsequent legal battles. This inauguration, initially planned as an outdoor event on the National Mall, has been moved indoors to the Capitol Rotunda due to frigid temperatures.

The ceremony, scheduled for 12 pm ET, will feature a significantly smaller attendance than initially anticipated. While nearly 250,000 tickets were distributed for the outdoor event, the Rotunda’s limited capacity will restrict attendance. Supporters are encouraged to watch a live broadcast at the Capitol One Arena, where Trump will appear later in the day.

The guest list is notable for its mix of former adversaries and staunch allies. Former Presidents Barack Obama, George W. Bush, and Bill Clinton are expected, along with current President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris. However, the presence of several far-right international leaders, including Argentinian President Javier Milei and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, has drawn criticism. A number of prominent tech CEOs, such as Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, Tim Cook (who reportedly donated $1 million to the inauguration), and Mark Zuckerberg, will also be in attendance. This has sparked debate about the tech industry’s apparent embrace of Trump. The inauguration fund has reportedly raised a record-breaking $170 million, expected to exceed $200 million by the ceremony’s start.

This year’s inauguration will feature performances by Carrie Underwood, Lee Greenwood, and the Village People, a stark contrast to the difficulties Trump faced securing performers in 2017. A dispute over lowering the flags to half-mast in mourning for former President Jimmy Carter resulted in a break from tradition; the flags will be raised to full mast for the inauguration before being lowered the following day.

Security will be extremely tight, with an estimated 25,000 law enforcement officers deployed, including 7,800 National Guard members, and 30 miles of fencing surrounding the Capitol. This heightened security is partly in response to the attempted assassination of Trump last July. While protests are anticipated, they are not expected to reach the scale of the widespread demonstrations that occurred during Trump’s first inauguration in 2017. The change in venue will also dramatically reduce the potential crowd size compared to the hundreds of thousands the National Mall could accommodate.

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