Tue Jan 21 00:44:23 IST 2025: **Trump’s Second Inauguration: A Star-Studded Return to Power**
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Donald Trump was sworn in for a second term as President of the United States today in a ceremony held at the Capitol Rotunda. The inauguration, which began at noon local time (17:00 GMT), included a traditional prayer service at Washington National Cathedral on Tuesday.
The day’s events began with a service at St. John’s Episcopal Church, followed by a White House tea with outgoing President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden. The ceremony featured a diverse array of attendees, including foreign dignitaries, celebrities, and tech giants.
Confirmed attendees from the business world include Elon Musk (Tesla and SpaceX), Jeff Bezos (Amazon), Mark Zuckerberg (Meta), and Tim Cook (Apple). Each of Bezos, Zuckerberg, and Cook donated $1 million to the inauguration committee, as did OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and Uber and its CEO, Dara Khosrowshahi. The committee, chaired by Steve Witkoff and Kelly Loeffler, raised over $170 million for the event, exceeding the record $106.7 million raised for his first inauguration. Taxpayers covered the cost of the swearing-in ceremony itself.
A number of celebrities from the sports and entertainment worlds were also present. NBC News reported the attendance of athletes including Antonio Brown, Mike Tyson, Jorge Masvidal, and Evander Kane, along with musicians Anuel AA, Justin Quiles, Rod Wave, Kodak Black, Fivio Foreign, and the Village People, who performed their hit song “YMCA.”
While the decision to move the swearing-in ceremony indoors impacted the planned schedule, the overall event showcased a lavish return to power for President Trump, marked by significant fundraising and a high-profile guest list.
First Piper 