Let’s miss the only unusual aspect of the 47th president’s swearing-in ceremony.
WASHINGTON (AP) — Donald Trump’s inauguration had to be held indoors because of a particularly frigid winter stretch across much of the United States, prompting significant changes to the event after years of tedious planning.
But the weather wasn’t the only unusual aspect of the 47th president’s swearing-in ceremony.
Here are some memorable moments from a historic occasion.
Trump download
While Trump refused to attend Joe Biden’s inauguration in 2021, the outgoing president wanted to restore the tradition by showing his face.
He might well wish he hadn’t bothered, as Trump tore through his record, denouncing what the new Republican president said had been a “betrayal” of Americans by a “radical and corrupt system.” They apparently got along well during the previous formalities, and Biden didn’t know that his successor was about to eviscerate his legacy.
But the veteran Democrat could only smile in disbelief, and occasionally grimace, while his Vice President Kamala Harris seemed unfazed as Trump launched volley after volley.
“As of this moment, America’s decline is over,” Trump declared.
awkward air kiss
The new president and first lady attempted to celebrate their return to the White House with a public display of affection, but were unable to make contact thanks to Melania’s wide-brimmed hat.
Eric Javits’ helmet collided with the incoming president’s forehead as he leaned in, thwarting his efforts to land the blow and forcing the pair to kiss in the air as they linked hands.
The moment immediately went viral, with an “Intelligent woman.”
Who runs Silicon Valley?
Never was the convergence between money and politics more obvious than at Trump’s inauguration audience, where Silicon Valley princelings rubbed shoulders with Washington’s elite.
About a dozen billionaires were present at the ceremony, with some commentators on social media putting their total worth at around $1 trillion, the approximate GDP of Switzerland.
Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos, Meta founder Mark Zuckerberg, Google boss Sundar Pichai, Apple boss Tim Cook and the world’s richest man, Tesla CEO Elon Musk, They were sitting nearby as Trump was sworn in.
Goodbye Bible
Trump did not put his hand on a Bible or the US constitution when he took the presidential oath, either because he had decided to break with protocol or perhaps because he simply forgot.
Incoming first lady Melania Trump stood next to him holding a Trump family Bible and the so-called Lincoln Bible, which was used by the 16th president in 1861 and by Barack Obama in 2009 and 2013.
But Trump stood with his left arm at his side as he raised his right hand to take the oath.
Touching sacred texts is not a legal requirement: the constitution simply requires that presidents declare allegiance to it “by oath or affirmation.” It does not specify what they should do with their hands.
“But no religious test shall ever be required as a qualification for any office or public office in the United States,” the charter states.
Missing
Washington’s version of royalty was also present as three former presidents (Bill Clinton, George Bush and Barack Obama) attended, along with a pair of former vice presidents, Mike Pence and Dan Quayle.
Joe Rogan even managed to snag a seat, presumably as a thank you for the valuable support he provided to Trump during the election campaign as host of the world’s biggest podcast.
But there were notable absences, including former first lady Michelle Obama and former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
Both women attended Trump’s inauguration in 2017, although Trump himself skipped Biden’s inauguration in 2021. Pence’s wife, Karen, who pointedly disparaged Trump this month at Jimmy Carter’s funeral, also missed Monday’s ceremony.
Published in Dawn, January 21, 2025
